Outstanding Business Reference Sources

Abstract

Each year, Business Reference Sources Committee of BRASS selects outstanding business reference sources published since May of previous year. This year, committee reviewed sixteen entries; of these, two were designated as Outstanding, six as Notable, and one as a Notable New Edition. To qualify for award, title must meet conventional definition of reference: a work compiled specifically to supply information on a certain subject or group of subjects in a form that will facilitate its ease of use. works are examined for following: authority and reputation of publisher, author, or editor; accuracy; appropriate bibliography; organization; comprehensiveness; value of content; currency; distinctive addition; ease of use for intended purpose; quality and accuracy of index; and quality and usefulness of graphics and illustrations. Additional criteria for electronic reference titles are accuracy of links, search features, stability of content, and graphic design. Works selected must be suitable for medium to large-size academic and public libraries. OUTSTANDING Routledge Companion to Entrepreneurship. Edited by Ted Baker and Friederike Walter. New York: Routledge, 2015. 500 p. $240 hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-415-63176-1). This insightful collection of works, edited by Ted Baker (North Carolina State University) and Friederike Walter (University of Siegen, Germany), explores diverse ideas, perspectives, theories, and methods in field of entrepreneurship scholarship. There exists a strong interest in entrepreneurship, from both scholars and practitioners, and research has moved from being an outlier to mainstream. This volume provides wide-ranging look at issues surrounding entrepreneurship, such as exploring definition of term entrepreneurship in creative industries and developing countries. Baker and Walter are enthusiastic about current scholarship in this area, stating in their opening chapter: the domain of entrepreneurship is broader, more contested, more energetic and more promising than it ever has been. Organizationally, book is divided into six broad themes and includes a brief introduction to each section. Readers will find additional recommended readings and references at end of each chapter. first section, The Discipline of explores history of field, philosophy of entrepreneurship, and what term entrepreneurship means to different groups. Reasons and Motivations for Entering Entrepreneurship examines why people engage in entrepreneurship--investigating passion, differences between entrepreneurs and other people, and those who start business after business. Next, Resources and Resourcefulness contains chapters on creativity entrepreneurs demonstrate in using available resources, microfinancing, and commercialization of inventions and discoveries at universities. Included is an interesting investigation into how families and households influence business decisions. book continues with positive and negative impacts of entrepreneurship on entrepreneurs and their families, communities, and broader society in Entrepreneurship, Wealth, and Wellbeing. In this section there is a fascinating look at area of criminal entrepreneurship. One of strengths of this book is inclusion of future research questions and, within this chapter, author suggests that researchers develop a better understanding of whether criminal entrepreneurship is merely a sub-discipline at nexus between entrepreneurship and criminology. Next, in Entrepreneurial Opportunity, researchers discuss differences in opportunities facing various groups, such as women in global south. Finally, Towards a Broader Understanding looks at methodological future of entrepreneurship research. There are chapters outlining steps for conducting a content analysis, potential areas for research in developing countries, techniques for getting inside entrepreneurs' hearts and minds, and a critical examination of research scholarship in field of entrepreneurship. …