McBride and Wuebker's Socially Objective Opportunities: Do they move the field forward?

Abstract

McBride and Wuebker's (2022) “Social Objectivity and Entrepreneurial Opportunities” – published in Academy of Management Review and hence potentially influential – provides an improved philosophical basis for ‘creation theory’ compared to earlier attempts in that direction, and it undoubtedly reflects a considerable amount of hard work and an honest intent to make a meaningful contribution. Regrettably, it is also characterized by questionable premises, claims, and conclusions. In this article I identify and discuss these issues and explain why McBride and Wuebker may mislead our field rather than guiding it toward more productive knowledge accumulation and dissemination. I argue that much more is known about new venture creation than their narrow lens allows us to see, and that going forward based on their suggestions would lead to lopsided entrepreneurship research and education.