Entrepreneurial Pursuits Research Articles

Women entrepreneurship: investigating the influence of emotional intelligence and innovativeness on entrepreneurial success

PurposeThe study is designed to investigate whether women’s entrepreneurial success is affected by their emotional intelligence. It also investigates the mediating role of innovativeness in influencing the relationship of their emotional intelligence with entrepreneurial success.Design/methodology/approachUsing a cross-sectional design, this study used a structured questionnaire to gather data from 274 women entrepreneurs spanning across various industries in north India. The data collected was analysed using the partial least squares structured equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique.FindingsThe findings demonstrate a notable and positive association between emotional intelligence and the entrepreneurial success of women. Additionally, innovativeness was found to partially mediate the relationship between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial success. Entrepreneurial experience moderates the relationship between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial success. Furthermore, age was not observed to moderate the connection between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial success.Originality/valueThis study provides valuable insights for female entrepreneurs seeking to achieve success by harnessing their emotional intelligence and fostering innovativeness in their entrepreneurial pursuits. The study mainly provides evidence on the conclusive role of emotional intelligence among women entrepreneurs in their success in the relatively underresearched context of India, thereby consolidating knowledge on gendered entrepreneurship.

Digital transformation and religious entrepreneurship in Nigeria: integrating artificial intelligence toward competitive advantage

PurposeBased on the technology acceptance model (TAM), this study contextually examines the level of willingness of religious entrepreneurs to accept and implement artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Furthermore, it aims to explore the challenges and prospects of AI adoption among entrepreneurs.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a qualitative approach, the data were collected from 12 informants from different segments of religious entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Semi-structured interviews and deductive thematic analysis were used to collect data.FindingsThe findings show that religious entrepreneurs demonstrate commendable level of awareness of the availability and usefulness of AI tools that support secular and sacred entrepreneurial pursuits. Furthermore, findings indicate that they have fully integrated AI in their secular entrepreneurial affairs but still demonstrate restraints in implementing it in certain sacred functions. Several challenges including shortage of finance, trained manpower and equipment are faced by the entrepreneurs.Originality/valueTheoretically, the findings demonstrate that AI awareness and perceived usefulness influence the intention of religious entrepreneurs to integrate AI into religious entrepreneurship, while perceived ease of use does not.

How ‘dark’ are Latino: Implications for nascent entrepreneurship

Nascent entrepreneurs, individuals in the initial stages of establishing new business ventures, play a crucial role in both the economy and society. By focusing on personality and workplace dynamics this study analyzes the antecedents of individual's intention to embark on entrepreneurship by using survey data from 1497 employees across nine Latin American countries including Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Cuba, and Brazil. Our cross-cultural results reveal that a higher presence of all three components of Dark Triad traits—Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism—significantly enhances an employee's inclination toward entrepreneurship. Additionally, workers who have higher scores in these three traits perceive themselves as being ostracized or marginalized in the workplace due to their personality characteristics. This perception, in turn, makes them more interested in seeking alternative paths, such as starting their own business. Interestingly, males generally scored higher on Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism compared to females. However, in Cuba, females scored higher than males on all three traits. Geographically, Chilean employees had the highest scores for Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism, while Peruvian employees had the lowest scores for Machiavellianism and narcissism. Cubans scored the lowest in terms of psychopathy. These findings highlight the complex relationship between personality traits and workplace dynamics in influencing entrepreneurial intentions, offering valuable insights into the motivations driving entrepreneurial pursuits.

Drivers and obstacles on refugee entrepreneurship. The host country perspective

Refugee entrepreneurship encompasses the enterprising endeavors undertaken by individuals forced to flee their home countries. This research area has gained scholarly traction due to its profound relevance in the socio-economic perspective. To provide a comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon, a thorough systematic literature review was conducted, drawing upon the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The review scrutinized a corpus of 57 scholarly articles, which were analyzed and categorized into two main themes: the profile of refugees regarding their entrepreneurial intentions, and the contextual factors within the host countries that either facilitate or impede their entrepreneurial pursuits. Refugee entrepreneurship is associated with the necessity-driven perspective, as individuals often embark on entrepreneurial ventures due to the shortage of viable employment opportunities in their host countries. However, there exists a nuanced perspective wherein some refugees leverage their innate entrepreneurial traits, finding resonance between the economic landscapes of their home and host countries. Nevertheless, the inception of entrepreneurial endeavors is invariably accompanied by some obstacles, spanning legal, financial, and socio-economic domains. These obstacles do not deter the entrepreneurial spirit ingrained within many refugees. Instead, they serve as catalysts for resilience and innovation, prompting the formulation of adaptive strategies to surmount barriers and carve out pathways to success, underscoring the economic activity of displaced individuals and exemplifying their capacity to effectuate positive change amidst adversity.

From adversity to advancement: uncovering how race and class shape Black tech entrepreneurial experiences

Abstract Black people in the technology industry face various barriers, from encountering micro-aggressions from their coworkers to facing blocked advancement in their professional careers. These challenges are particularly pronounced in entrepreneurship, where Black founders receive just one percent of all venture capital funding. But amidst these shared struggles, questions arise as to what ways, if any, these experiences vary. Using an intersectional lens to inductively study forty-six Black tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, I reveal how class shapes Black entrepreneurial processes differently at various phases of entrepreneurship. Lower- and middle-class Black entrepreneurs faced more financial and network-based obstacles as they struggled to raise money from family and friends and had fewer effective networks when starting their businesses. Conversely, Black upper-class entrepreneurs had familial wealth and personal networks that aided their entrepreneurial efforts but faced challenges as they were not a “racial fit” within the industry. Consequently, they perceived that they confronted more instances of individual-level discrimination. Black lower and middle-class entrepreneurs were less likely to discuss instances of perceived individual-level discrimination because many had not reached the step of meeting with an investor. This research offers unique and nuanced insights into how class shapes the entrepreneurial pursuits of Black founders. Contributions to the sociology of race and ethnicity, intersectionality, and the sociology of entrepreneurship are also discussed.

Inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem for PwDs: a reflection on SDGs

PurposePeople with disabilities (PwDs) encounter several impediments to employment prospects, contributing to India's huge employment gap. Entrepreneurship offers a different avenue for PwDs to overcome these constraints. Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs) play a significant role in assisting PwD entrepreneurs. The present study aims to explore challenges encountered by entrepreneurs with disabilities (EwDs) in starting or sustaining a business in an Indian ecosystem. The study further aims to examine the status of entrepreneurial outcomes while comprehending the intersection of the challenges of disability and entrepreneurship. The study draws on stakeholder and social identity theories to understand this critical connection.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach is applied to study the phenomenon. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 EWDs and 5 ESOs to explore the challenges faced and the available support in the Indian context. The study explores the level of coordination and roles these organizations play in fostering an entrepreneurial culture for PWDs.FindingsThe research findings explore novel challenges and facilitators of entrepreneurial pursuits of EwDs. The study further offers implications for policymakers to foster inclusive infrastructure, financial institutions to provide accessible credit options, and ESOs to amplify tailored assistance. Importantly, these dynamics have implications for advancing relevant Sustainable Development Goals.Originality/valueThe intersectional lens of disability and entrepreneurial challenges offered to study PwD entrepreneurship highlights new directions for exploring the phenomenon in deeper detail. Further, the theoretical underpinnings of stakeholder and social identity theories provide practical and indispensable insights into the phenomenon.

Entrepreneurial Knowledge, Motivation, Desires, and Intention: A Content Analysis Approach

Entrepreneurial marketing is widely recognized for its dynamic nature, characterized by innovation and adaptability in navigating intricate market dynamics. However, a significant gap persists in understanding how entrepreneurial knowledge intersects with market dynamics. This study aims to bridge this gap by exploring the influence of entrepreneurial knowledge on motivation, desires, and intentions. It emphasizes the pivotal role of entrepreneurial knowledge in shaping market outcomes, offering valuable insights for scholars and practitioners alike. Utilizing content analysis as a fundamental research method, the study delves into qualitative data to uncover themes, words, and concepts in entrepreneurship research domains. Through this methodological approach, it meticulously tracks antecedents, mechanisms, impacts, patterns, and trends in entrepreneurship, thus enriching the understanding of entrepreneurial dynamics. Moreover, the study explores the relationship between entrepreneurial knowledge and motivation within the context of entrepreneurship. Drawing on extensive research on entrepreneurial motivation and psychological mechanisms, it elucidates how entrepreneurial knowledge serves as a primary driver of motivation, influencing attitudes, intentions, and actions toward entrepreneurial pursuits. By integrating insights from diverse perspectives, this study contributes to a deeper comprehension of the interplay between knowledge and motivation in shaping entrepreneurial behaviors. Ultimately, the findings underscore the critical importance of fostering entrepreneurial knowledge and addressing socio-cultural influences to promote entrepreneurship across diverse contexts.

Digital and International Growth Hacking Business Models: Born Globals, Born Digitals, and Synergies

This research delves into growth hacking models embraced by Born Digitals, Born Globals, and other firms, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between innovation and internationalization. Despite their unique origins and focuses, these concepts frequently intersect in business strategies, models, and entrepreneurial pursuits. Growth hacking models can be conceptually categorized based on the degree of digital innovation and the scope of business, whether local or global. This study underscores the pivotal role of growth hacking across diverse company profiles, transcending the domain of Born Digitals reliant on digital platforms. Various strategic pathways within each company's business model showcase diverse innovation routes to achieving growth and global presence. The analysis accentuates the importance of hybridity or synergistic approaches in growth hacking business model innovation within today's market landscape, offering valuable managerial insights for growth-oriented companies from their inception. It advocates for companies to embrace innovative and international strategies for enduring success, while judiciously balancing considerations of scalability and profitability against novelty and efficiency in business model design.

Work Is Freedom: The Entrepreneurial Self Among Street Vendors

ABSTRACT Precarious work has risen worldwide in recent decades, affecting workers’ narratives about their economic activities. A key aspect of precarious work involves the combination of bad working conditions with increased autonomy and flexibility. This article examines how informal street vendors develop narratives that justify staying in their entrepreneurial pursuit despite precarious working conditions. Based on 35 ethnographic interviews and participant observation conducted with vendors in New York City, I show that vendors develop counter-narratives to standard employment based on prior working experiences and everyday experiences of autonomy in the streets. I argue that this combination leads them to reproduce narratives about the importance of autonomy and self-reliance, which strengthen an “entrepreneurial self.” I find that gender and age, and daily interactions, shape the narratives they employ. While women emphasize how autonomy enables them to take care of their families, men enjoy the benefits of being their own boss. These findings contribute to our understanding of the ideological framework of informal entrepreneurs in relation to more advantaged entrepreneurs and platform workers. I show how precarious entrepreneurs develop cultural understandings of their work through daily interactions and based on their structural position in the labor market. These narratives unintendedly reproduce neoliberal ideologies.

Leadership Succession and Transgenerational Entrepreneurship in Family Firms: an Evolutionary Perspective of Familiness

This article analyses how familiness influences the evolution of entrepreneurial actions undertaken by new-generation family leaders. Despite the recognised importance of familiness in family firms’ entrepreneurship, the mechanism by which it influences transgenerational entrepreneurship during leadership succession remains largely unexplored. Through qualitative analysis of the entrepreneurial processes carried out by five multigenerational family firms, we identify how resources associated with familiness shape strategic renewal and their evolution across the transgenerational entrepreneurship process. Our results shed light on the critical role of leaders’ managerial capabilities in orchestrating the resources of family firms and engaging key stakeholders to support entrepreneurial ventures and growth opportunities. Among the practical contributions, the article offers a set of strategies for assisting new leaders of family firms in their entrepreneurial pursuits.

Gender and sustainable entrepreneurship intention: Insights from Malaysian undergraduates

AbstractSustainable entrepreneurship is believed to be the solution to the detrimental impact of entrepreneurial activities. The concept underscores the necessity to discover, create and utilise business activities that positively contribute to environmental and societal sustainability. This article seeks evidence of which factors influence sustainable entrepreneurship intention (SEI) and how gender moderates the relationship among sustainability attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control and SEI. The survey was administered to 390 undergraduate students at Malaysian public universities. By performing structural equation modelling analysis, results showed that SEI is influenced by sustainability attitude and perceived behavioural control, whereas subjective norms do not have such an impact. The moderation analysis further discovered that gender only moderates the relationship between sustainable attitude and SEI; the strength of the relationship is stronger among female students. The results of this study offer practical guidance for policymakers and industry stakeholders. Policymakers can use these findings to craft focused initiatives and educational programmes to nurture sustainable entrepreneurship among students, cultivating a future workforce dedicated to ethical business conduct. Industry leaders can draw on the understanding of gender differences in the link between sustainability attitudes and SEI to formulate strategies for attracting and retaining talent inclined towards sustainable practices in their entrepreneurial pursuits.

Defying the odds? Multiple disadvantage as a source of entrepreneurial action

Purpose The link between entrepreneurial intention and positive attitudes towards entrepreneurship for established and nascent entrepreneurs has been well documented in the extant literature, with the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) viewing entrepreneurial intention as a pre-requisite for entrepreneurial pursuit. Whilst scholars generally agree on these insights, little empirical evidence exists on how marginalised social groups can convert their intentions into action. This study aims to understand to what extent the elements of TPB, the attitudes towards entrepreneurship, self-efficacy and subjective norms, help explain the emergence of entrepreneurial activity amongst marginalised demographic groups.Design/methodology/approach This research focuses on unemployed women residing in social housing located in a deprived urban area of the United Kingdom to empirically examine how multiple layers of disadvantage faced by this group shape their motivations and intentions for entrepreneurial pursuit. A multi-source qualitative methodology was adopted, drawing upon inductive storytelling narratives and extensive fieldwork on a sample of unemployed ethnic minority women residing in social housing in a deprived urban area of the United Kingdom. Community organisation representatives and housing association employees within the social housing system were included to assess the interpretive capacity of TPB.Findings The findings display that TPB illuminates why and how marginalised groups engage in entrepreneurship. Critically, women’s entrepreneurial intentions emerge as a result of their experiences of multiple layers of disadvantage, their positionality and the specificity of few resources they can activate from their disadvantageous position for entrepreneurial activity.Originality/value By illuminating the linkages between marginalised women’s positionality and their associated access to the limited pool of resources using the TPB lens, this study contributes to emerging works on disadvantaged populations and entrepreneurial intention-action debate. This work posits that despite facing significant additional challenges through their positionality and reduced ability to mobilise resources, women in social housing can defy the odds and develop ways to overcome limited capacity and structural disadvantage.

Research on the Construction of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Platform for College Students in the Context of Digital Technology

Amidst the thriving backdrop of digital progression, the entrepreneurial pursuits of university students are revealing unprecedented vitality and promise. This study delves into the construction of an innovation and entrepreneurship platform tailored for college students within the context of digital technology. It explores the evolving landscape of digital advancement, particularly how it has transformed the traditional paradigms of innovation and entrepreneurship among university students. The study highlights the unprecedented vigor and potential that digital technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence have unleashed in fostering entrepreneurship among the youth. The research focuses on the methodologies, trajectories, and ecological environments that have been significantly altered by the integration of digital technologies into the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. It analyzes how these technologies reshape the way students approach problems, collaborate, and create new ventures. Additionally, the study examines the opportunities and challenges that arise from this digital transformation, discussing potential strategies to overcome barriers and maximize the benefits for student entrepreneurs. By providing a comprehensive analysis of the current state and future implications of digital technology in innovation and entrepreneurship education, this thesis aims to contribute to the existing knowledge base and inform the design of more effective platforms that foster the growth and success of student entrepreneurs.

Stimularea intenţiilor antreprenoriale în contextul şcolar

This article explores the multifaceted concept of entrepreneurial intention within the context of entrepreneurial behavior, grounded in the theory of planned behavior proposed by Ajzen, highlighting the significance of attitude, societal norms, and perceived behavioral control in shaping entrepreneurial intentions. We underscore the necessity of a comprehensive understanding of intention, particularly in the entrepreneurial domain, considering its core components, determinants, and practical implications. We emphasize the crucial role of educational systems in fostering entrepreneurial intentions and propose specific strategies for enhancing entrepreneurial intentions in academic settings, integrating goal setting, positive attitudes, self-efficacy, visualization, implementation intentions, and social support. These educational strategies are presented as essential tools for cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit and capabilities among students, preparing them for future entrepreneurial pursuits. This comprehensive exploration provides valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting the dynamic interplay between individual intentions, educational frameworks, and the broader economic environment.

Anchoring the Anchor: Spirituality as an Entrepreneurial Competence

Spirituality is the fountainhead of many of the required and elemental entrepreneurial competencies, yet it seems to be out of the main stage in entrepreneurial-competence dialogue. Spirituality lays the groundwork for entrepreneurial success, as it builds eligibility for the same. It preludes, enables and sustains the phenomenon of entrepreneurship. Research confirms a huge overlap and integration between spiritual attributes, psychological capital and character-strengths. These together help entrepreneurial competencies and prospects. Spirituality should be accorded appropriate precedence in the scheme of competencies, though the extant literature denies any. Also, spiritual attributes give a meaningful and virtuous direction to entrepreneurial behaviors, rendering them beneficial to all holistically. This includes socioeconomic and ecological dimensions. Contrary to the misconceived dissonance between entrepreneurial interests and spiritual attributes, the pixie-dust of spirituality packs more punch in entrepreneurial pursuits. Absenting spirituality and the attributes associated with it in the entrepreneurial discussion will send the world hurtling into endless entropy.

Hidden costs of entering self-employment: the spouse’s psychological well-being

AbstractSpouses are known to play a critical supportive role for the self-employed, yet very little evidence is available concerning how entrepreneurial pursuits affect the spouse. The present analysis offers a contribution by evaluating short-term psychological well-being dynamics among spouses of individuals entering self-employment, using panel survey data from Australia. We construct matched control samples based on a range of relevant characteristics to mitigate selection bias and find that spouses of self-employed individuals report substantially higher levels of well-being before entry into self-employment and experience a modest but statistically significant decrease in well-being following entry. This is consistent with the hypothesis that self-employment demands substantial psychological capital from spouses. These patterns hold for both genders, with only moderate gender differences identified. In contrast, spouses of those entering self-employment from unemployment report improvements in well-being.

Navigating intimacy and queer entrepreneurship: Relational work in Taiwanese lesbian couples’ business endeavors

This study addresses the significant gap in the entrepreneurship literature concerning the experiences of sexual minority groups, particularly Taiwanese lesbian entrepreneurs. The prevailing focus on heterosexual men has overshadowed the distinct motivations and dynamics in queer entrepreneurship. Drawing on Zelizer’s concept of relational work and incorporating feminist perspectives, this investigation explores how Taiwanese lesbian couples engage in entrepreneurial pursuits in unique local gender culture. Taiwan’s gender cultural context, mainly shaped by Confucianism and Taoism, contributes to the relative acceptance of lesbian relationships and marriages, reducing social criticism. By skillfully utilizing the cultural repertoire of filial piety, lesbian entrepreneurs strengthen their bonds with parents, facilitating both their business endeavors and intimate relationships. In addition, lesbian entrepreneurship is often overlooked and subsumed under gay entrepreneurship, leading to the assumption of ‘gay ordinariness’. The study highlights a significant difference between Taiwanese lesbian entrepreneurs and gay counterparts; the former perform intimate relational work and prioritize emotional ties in entrepreneurial pursuits, while the latter emphasize rational economic outlook. The findings underscore that entrepreneurial motivations are multifaceted, encompassing liberation, empowerment, family bonding, and self-identity construction. Taiwanese lesbian entrepreneurs exemplify the importance of intimate relational work, challenging the dominant masculine economic orientation in entrepreneurship. This research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of queer entrepreneurship and calls for greater recognition of diverse motivations and dynamics in entrepreneurial pursuits.

Business Owners’ Presupposition of Vision and Innovation Strategies: A Heidegger Phenomenology Review of Business World

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to gain deeper insights into how presupposition influences the vision and serves as a foundation for selecting effective innovation strategies among Tionghoa entrepreneurs in Indonesia. Theoretical Framework: The hermeneutics phenomenology approach used in this study focuses on understanding individuals' lived experiences and subjective interpretations of the world. It involves exploring the meaning and essence of human experiences, thoughts, and emotions within a specific context. Methodology: The study adopts a qualitative method focuses on investigating the practices and values among Tionghoa entrepreneurs in Indonesia. The emphasis is on interpretation, understanding, and the significance of subjective experiences rather than quantifiable data. As a qualitative approach, this study involves conducting interviews and content analysis. Findings: The result of this study shows that Tionghoa entrepreneurs' presupposition in Indonesia, which are founded on their day to day interactions, are critically important in determining how they interpret the business vision they pursue and how they explore business innovations. Research, Practical & Social implications: The study's findings provide novel insights that apart from statistical analysis, which yields numerical data, presupposition holds a fundamental role in shaping the perception of the business landscape. Originality/value: Through Martin Heidegger's hermeneutic phenomenology approach, the study offer deeper understanding into the role of presupposition as a fundamental component in defining the way Tionghoa entrepreneurs in Indonesia interpret the business world and its implications for their entrepreneurial pursuits.

Impact of Social Media Platform on Entrepreneurial Venture: A Technopreneurship Perspective

This conceptual research explores the impact of social media platforms on entrepreneurial ventures, specifically from a technopreneurship perspective. The study examines the ways in which social media platforms have become integral tools for technopreneurs, who leverage technology and innovation in their entrepreneurial pursuits. The study highlights key findings related to the influence of social media on business strategy, marketing, customer engagement, and overall venture success within the technopreneurial landscape. Additionally, the research examines challenges and opportunities arising from the relationship between social media and technopreneurship, shedding light on evolving trends and best practices. The findings will contribute valuable insights for entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers seeking to understand and harness the transformative power of social media in the dynamic realm of technopreneurship.

Navigating Post-Graduation Crossroads: Seeking Employment or Continuing Education

Hasan Syamsuddin, a native Indonesian, a recent graduate of a public university in Malaysia, faced a pivotal juncture post-graduation: choosing between entering the workforce or pursuing further education. His journey encompassed profound introspection and exploration. Returning to Malaysia for convocation, Hasan reflected on his undergraduate years, contemplating the crossroads between political science and entrepreneurship. He navigates the complexities of dual aspirations – a global career in international relations or entrepreneurial pursuits aligned with his passion for arts and crafts. Amid burnout and rest, Hasan proactively sought opportunities, delving into internships, volunteers and entrepreneurial endeavors. The weight of responsibility as a firstborn intensified the pressure to decide on a path shaping his professional trajectory. Hasan's intricate preparations and scholarship applications for Romania, the US, and the UK showcased his unwavering commitment to learn about and contribute towards global change in international relations.