The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Ahead of Print.
This paper expands and contextualises social perspectives on entrepreneurial learning by considering the informal learning dynamics and outcomes in a facilitated learning network (FLN) targeting micro-entrepreneurs within the local food sector. This research builds new theoretical and empirical knowledge on the contributions of FLN as a community of inquiry (CoI) to support entrepreneurial knowledge acquisition. Our research strategy was a single embedded case study with the units of analysis consisting of 12 micro-firms within the local meat industry in Norway. In retrospective in-depth interviews, founder-managers reflected on their learning from others from participation in a local-food learning network. Three main themes emerged from our analysis, reflecting the informal regulating mechanisms for knowledge sharing and how entrepreneurs acquired new entrepreneurial knowledge: (1) cultural norms stabilising the community of inquiry, (2) engagement in the practices of others regulates access to community knowledge and (3) from community inquiry to individual entrepreneurial knowledge. Based on these themes, we built a conceptual framework showing informal knowledge-sharing mechanisms and the individual micro-entrepreneurs’ entrepreneurial knowledge acquisition in a CoI. Our study contributes to the research stream on social entrepreneurial learning and how learning from others in a CoI enhances entrepreneurial learning.
Category Archives: The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Entrepreneurship and misconducting behaviors: A conceptual model of institutional divergence
The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Ahead of Print.
Over the last decades, scholars considered entrepreneurship as synonymous with thinking “outside of the box” and breaking the status quo. In this view, entrepreneurs are often viewed as heroes that try to improve the status quo. However, not all entrepreneurial rule-breaking are legal or moral a priori. The business landscape depicts a number of entrepreneurial ventures holding rebellious and anti-social postures. Despite the relevance of such a phenomenon, the motives and the dynamics beyond how and why some entrepreneurs deliberately diverge from laws and social norms has been overlooked. Accordingly, we introduce a novel conceptual model and framework using four propositions that contributes to the extant literature in two ways: first, we propose a logic through which entrepreneurs consciously diverge from legal and legitimate institutions, and second, we introduce antecedents and moderating variables explaining the behaviors of disobeying regulations and moral codes by leveraging cognitive and institutional theories. Finally, practical implications of the proposed model for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and business educators are discussed.
Over the last decades, scholars considered entrepreneurship as synonymous with thinking “outside of the box” and breaking the status quo. In this view, entrepreneurs are often viewed as heroes that try to improve the status quo. However, not all entrepreneurial rule-breaking are legal or moral a priori. The business landscape depicts a number of entrepreneurial ventures holding rebellious and anti-social postures. Despite the relevance of such a phenomenon, the motives and the dynamics beyond how and why some entrepreneurs deliberately diverge from laws and social norms has been overlooked. Accordingly, we introduce a novel conceptual model and framework using four propositions that contributes to the extant literature in two ways: first, we propose a logic through which entrepreneurs consciously diverge from legal and legitimate institutions, and second, we introduce antecedents and moderating variables explaining the behaviors of disobeying regulations and moral codes by leveraging cognitive and institutional theories. Finally, practical implications of the proposed model for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and business educators are discussed.
In with the old, out with the new! The more we keep pushing for theoretical novelty, the less informative entrepreneurship theory will become
The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Ahead of Print.
Field-wide editorial expectations for each entrepreneurship study to offer new and interesting theoretical insights or explanations discourage entrepreneurship scholars to conduct the type of research needed to secure a replicable, generalizable, and thereby useful knowledge base. I address the paradoxical – yet predictable – long-term consequences of the relentless push for theoretical novelty on the ultimate informativeness of entrepreneurship theory, and ask the entrepreneurship research community to consider our collective and individual responsibilities in improving the systematic empirical scrutiny to which we subject our field’s core assumptions.
Field-wide editorial expectations for each entrepreneurship study to offer new and interesting theoretical insights or explanations discourage entrepreneurship scholars to conduct the type of research needed to secure a replicable, generalizable, and thereby useful knowledge base. I address the paradoxical – yet predictable – long-term consequences of the relentless push for theoretical novelty on the ultimate informativeness of entrepreneurship theory, and ask the entrepreneurship research community to consider our collective and individual responsibilities in improving the systematic empirical scrutiny to which we subject our field’s core assumptions.
How Managing Errors Facilitates Entrepreneurial Orientation: The Mediating Role of Ambidextrous Leadership
The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Ahead of Print.
Nascent academic entrepreneurs and identity work at the boundaries of professional domains
The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Volume 24, Issue 3, Page 167-177, August 2023.
Higher education institutions promote academic entrepreneurship through organizational arrangements such as innovation programs, incubators, and accelerators aimed at implementing the third mission of the university. While research has examined how these multi-professional arrangements support entrepreneurial efforts, less is known about their individual level implications which emerge as researchers are exposed to different professional values and practices. This article draws on a longitudinal qualitative study on an innovation program to investigate through what kinds of identity processes nascent academic entrepreneurs construct their professional identities and how as part of these processes they position themselves in relation to different professional domains. The analysis demonstrates three identity construction processes (hybridization, rejecting hybridization, and transitioning) and their associated identity work tactics (compartmentalizing, protecting, and reframing) at the boundaries of professional domains. Our contribution is in demonstrating how nascent academic entrepreneurs’ identity construction processes are influenced by internally and externally oriented identity work and their interactive dynamics. Moreover, the findings advance our understanding of how individuals can purposefully mould the fluidity of domain boundaries through identity work by making boundaries bridgeable, impermeable, or permeable. These findings have value for those developing organizational arrangements for the promotion of academic entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial identities.
Higher education institutions promote academic entrepreneurship through organizational arrangements such as innovation programs, incubators, and accelerators aimed at implementing the third mission of the university. While research has examined how these multi-professional arrangements support entrepreneurial efforts, less is known about their individual level implications which emerge as researchers are exposed to different professional values and practices. This article draws on a longitudinal qualitative study on an innovation program to investigate through what kinds of identity processes nascent academic entrepreneurs construct their professional identities and how as part of these processes they position themselves in relation to different professional domains. The analysis demonstrates three identity construction processes (hybridization, rejecting hybridization, and transitioning) and their associated identity work tactics (compartmentalizing, protecting, and reframing) at the boundaries of professional domains. Our contribution is in demonstrating how nascent academic entrepreneurs’ identity construction processes are influenced by internally and externally oriented identity work and their interactive dynamics. Moreover, the findings advance our understanding of how individuals can purposefully mould the fluidity of domain boundaries through identity work by making boundaries bridgeable, impermeable, or permeable. These findings have value for those developing organizational arrangements for the promotion of academic entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial identities.
Open innovation, dynamic organizational capacities and innovation performance in SMEs: Empirical evidence in the Tunisian manufacturing industry
The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Volume 24, Issue 3, Page 178-190, August 2023.
In this paper, the main objective is to examine inbound open innovation adoption by exploring its antecedents in terms of dynamic organizational capabilities, its implications on innovation performance, but also its mediating role between these capabilities and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) innovation performance. Therefore, a conceptual model was proposed and empirically tested on the basis of data extracted from a survey involving a sample of 228 Tunisian manufacturing SMEs and analyzed through the Structural Equation Modeling method. In doing so, this paper adds to the existing literature on open innovation in SMEs and fills a neglected theoretical gap by proposing a link between dynamic capabilities theory and the open innovation paradigm, two literatures that have little overlap, to improve current understanding of innovation performance in SMEs. Ultimately, by empirically confirming the significant relationship between dynamic organizational capacities and innovation performance through the mediating role of open innovation, our results are mainly relevant for entrepreneurs and innovation managers in SMEs who can find valuable guidance on how to strengthen innovation performance under the nexus between the dynamic capabilities perspective and open innovation by focusing on the development of three capabilities that are dynamic capabilities, absorptive capability, and appropriation capabilities.
In this paper, the main objective is to examine inbound open innovation adoption by exploring its antecedents in terms of dynamic organizational capabilities, its implications on innovation performance, but also its mediating role between these capabilities and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) innovation performance. Therefore, a conceptual model was proposed and empirically tested on the basis of data extracted from a survey involving a sample of 228 Tunisian manufacturing SMEs and analyzed through the Structural Equation Modeling method. In doing so, this paper adds to the existing literature on open innovation in SMEs and fills a neglected theoretical gap by proposing a link between dynamic capabilities theory and the open innovation paradigm, two literatures that have little overlap, to improve current understanding of innovation performance in SMEs. Ultimately, by empirically confirming the significant relationship between dynamic organizational capacities and innovation performance through the mediating role of open innovation, our results are mainly relevant for entrepreneurs and innovation managers in SMEs who can find valuable guidance on how to strengthen innovation performance under the nexus between the dynamic capabilities perspective and open innovation by focusing on the development of three capabilities that are dynamic capabilities, absorptive capability, and appropriation capabilities.
Does Innovative Millennial Entrepreneurship have a role in fostering cyber learning on business performance? A perspective of entrepreneurial agility
The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Ahead of Print.
Millennials have the uniqueness of active learners and work with freedom. Millennials are the first generation to put the fun in work-life. Social media is a strategic instrument in Cyber Learning (CL) in work-life and lifestyle. Learning on Business Performance (BP) in many studies has an insignificant effect and is still inconclusive. The purpose of this study is to offer Innovative Millennial Entrepreneurship (IME), which will be tested empirically in its role in pushing CL to BP significantly. Data collection was carried out by employing a purposive sampling method on 159 millennials who hold owner/manager positions in business organizations. Data analysis used a quantitative approach with Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The empirical results in the model provide evidence that IME fully mediates, becoming a bridge that strongly fosters the role of CL (β = 0.83) on BP (β = 0.42) and Marketing Capability (MC) through Agile Teamwork (AT) provides an excellent total effect when compared with the direct effect between CL (β = 1.01) and BP (β = 0.79). In the Entrepreneurial Agility perspective, IME and MC through AT have encouraged millennials CL to be converted into better performance through opportunity foresight, systemic insight, and entrepreneurial mindset.
Millennials have the uniqueness of active learners and work with freedom. Millennials are the first generation to put the fun in work-life. Social media is a strategic instrument in Cyber Learning (CL) in work-life and lifestyle. Learning on Business Performance (BP) in many studies has an insignificant effect and is still inconclusive. The purpose of this study is to offer Innovative Millennial Entrepreneurship (IME), which will be tested empirically in its role in pushing CL to BP significantly. Data collection was carried out by employing a purposive sampling method on 159 millennials who hold owner/manager positions in business organizations. Data analysis used a quantitative approach with Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The empirical results in the model provide evidence that IME fully mediates, becoming a bridge that strongly fosters the role of CL (β = 0.83) on BP (β = 0.42) and Marketing Capability (MC) through Agile Teamwork (AT) provides an excellent total effect when compared with the direct effect between CL (β = 1.01) and BP (β = 0.79). In the Entrepreneurial Agility perspective, IME and MC through AT have encouraged millennials CL to be converted into better performance through opportunity foresight, systemic insight, and entrepreneurial mindset.
Social media entrepreneurship as an opportunity for women: The case of Facebook-commerce
The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Volume 24, Issue 3, Page 191-201, August 2023.
This paper examines a new type of entrepreneurship conducted via social networking sites named as social media entrepreneurship. In Tunisia, the number of women entrepreneurs operating on social media platforms such as Facebook is noteworthy. Thus, in this study it is aimed to determine the factors that prompted women to develop businesses on Facebook, and how this social network is a venue for female entrepreneurship. Particular attention is paid to identify individual-related (push/pull entrepreneurial motivation), technology-related and institutional factors that bear on the use of social media. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 24 female entrepreneurs. The research findings provide relevant information and support the idea that social media has opened up new horizons and entrepreneurial opportunities for women to pursue their entrepreneurial intention. Pull motivations are really behind the decision to start up social commerce. Facebook advantageous features have empowered women to create customer networks, used nature marketing tool at no cost and acquire positive attitude towards entrepreneurship. Finally, although the informal nature of business on Facebook is attractive, formalization remains a challenge for the majority of women. It seems that ambition to grow their businesses brings them to formal economy.
This paper examines a new type of entrepreneurship conducted via social networking sites named as social media entrepreneurship. In Tunisia, the number of women entrepreneurs operating on social media platforms such as Facebook is noteworthy. Thus, in this study it is aimed to determine the factors that prompted women to develop businesses on Facebook, and how this social network is a venue for female entrepreneurship. Particular attention is paid to identify individual-related (push/pull entrepreneurial motivation), technology-related and institutional factors that bear on the use of social media. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 24 female entrepreneurs. The research findings provide relevant information and support the idea that social media has opened up new horizons and entrepreneurial opportunities for women to pursue their entrepreneurial intention. Pull motivations are really behind the decision to start up social commerce. Facebook advantageous features have empowered women to create customer networks, used nature marketing tool at no cost and acquire positive attitude towards entrepreneurship. Finally, although the informal nature of business on Facebook is attractive, formalization remains a challenge for the majority of women. It seems that ambition to grow their businesses brings them to formal economy.
The Academic Spinoff Theory of the Firm
The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Ahead of Print.
This paper reviews the key theories of the firm and considers their relevance to studying and understanding academic spinoffs as a special case of firms. The theory of the firm is an important aspect in entrepreneurship literature, as without clear understanding of the parameters influencing firm's behaviour, it remains difficult to predict its decisions to secure sustainable growth and ensure development of the economy overall. The paper considers the contribution of transaction cost theory, managerial theory, resource-based view, knowledge-based view, and dynamic capabilities, to the understanding of the academic spinoff. In essence, these theoretical explanations lend multiple perspectives that offer a greater insight into the academic spinoff firm by illuminating the issues of its boundaries, entrepreneurs, resources, knowledge, and networks. It is concluded that understanding academic spinoffs requires acknowledging this theoretical plurality. In response to this challenge, the paper proposes the Academic Spinoff Theory of the Firm.
This paper reviews the key theories of the firm and considers their relevance to studying and understanding academic spinoffs as a special case of firms. The theory of the firm is an important aspect in entrepreneurship literature, as without clear understanding of the parameters influencing firm's behaviour, it remains difficult to predict its decisions to secure sustainable growth and ensure development of the economy overall. The paper considers the contribution of transaction cost theory, managerial theory, resource-based view, knowledge-based view, and dynamic capabilities, to the understanding of the academic spinoff. In essence, these theoretical explanations lend multiple perspectives that offer a greater insight into the academic spinoff firm by illuminating the issues of its boundaries, entrepreneurs, resources, knowledge, and networks. It is concluded that understanding academic spinoffs requires acknowledging this theoretical plurality. In response to this challenge, the paper proposes the Academic Spinoff Theory of the Firm.
Entrepreneurship during crisis: Innovation practices of micro and small tour operators
The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Volume 24, Issue 3, Page 155-166, August 2023.
Innovation as a response strategy to a crisis needs further understanding for small enterprises. This exploratory research investigates if, why, and with whom entrepreneurs in micro and small enterprises engage in innovation activities during the atypical context of the COVID-19 crisis in the tourism sector. The multiple case study with three German entrepreneurs in the tour operator market shows that micro and small enterprises despite their size hold the capacity to initiate and manage several innovation projects of different types and in different stages of the innovation value chain simultaneously during a crisis. To do so, the entrepreneurs preferably engage participants with strong social ties, independent from a place. The perceived benefits are both related to the innovation output (e.g. generate income), and the innovation activities (e.g. increased motivation of staff, increased trust of customers during the crisis). Further research is encouraged on the long-term effects of innovations resulting from a crisis.
Innovation as a response strategy to a crisis needs further understanding for small enterprises. This exploratory research investigates if, why, and with whom entrepreneurs in micro and small enterprises engage in innovation activities during the atypical context of the COVID-19 crisis in the tourism sector. The multiple case study with three German entrepreneurs in the tour operator market shows that micro and small enterprises despite their size hold the capacity to initiate and manage several innovation projects of different types and in different stages of the innovation value chain simultaneously during a crisis. To do so, the entrepreneurs preferably engage participants with strong social ties, independent from a place. The perceived benefits are both related to the innovation output (e.g. generate income), and the innovation activities (e.g. increased motivation of staff, increased trust of customers during the crisis). Further research is encouraged on the long-term effects of innovations resulting from a crisis.