The Entrepreneurial Story and its Implications for Research

Anna Brattström,Karl Wennberg

doi:10.1177/10422587211053802

Anna Brattström, Karl Wennberg

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/10422587211053802

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Abstract

Research is not merely report-writing; it also involves elements of storytelling. In this essay, we reflect on two narrative archetypes in entrepreneurship research: the stories of entrepreneurship as a road to salvation and means to emancipation. We outline a framework to analyze research from a storytelling perspective, apply this framework to identify implicit assumptions and methodological biases in mainstream research, and discuss how a storytelling framework can be used to generate alternative stories. We argue for a more empirically grounded research agenda that continues the development of entrepreneurship research into a rich and diverse field.

Highlights

If research were to be conveyed only as reports without any elements of storytelling, it would substantially reduce our understanding of the phenomena we study (Merton, 1959)
The essay outlines a framework to analyze research from a storytelling perspective. We apply this framework to identify implicit assumptions and methodological biases in two stories that are very typical in entrepreneurship research: the story of entrepreneurship as a road to salvation, and the story of entrepreneurship as a means to emancipation
We offer a framework to analyze research from a storytelling perspective by breaking down academic storytelling in terms of moral, hero, setting, and plot

Summary

Introduction

If research were to be conveyed only as reports without any elements of storytelling, it would substantially reduce our understanding of the phenomena we study (Merton, 1959). By setting a plot and defining characters, stories enable researchers to foreground certain aspects of the empirical world and background others (Swedberg, 2012). In this way, stories help to identify implicit assumptions (Alvesson & Karreman, 2007). We believe that doing so helps to uncover implicit assumptions, address methodological biases, and broaden the range of stories we tell about entrepreneurship in academic research. The essay outlines a framework to analyze research from a storytelling perspective We apply this framework to identify implicit assumptions and methodological biases in two stories that are very typical in entrepreneurship research: the story of entrepreneurship as a road to salvation, and the story of entrepreneurship as a means to emancipation. We seek to foster a more empirically grounded research agenda that advances the development of entrepreneurship research into a rich and diverse field

A Storytelling Framework

Conclusion