Entrepreneurial Path Research Articles

An Autoethnography of an Entrepreneurial University: Federal University of ABC Region (UFABC), Brazil

In the context of the role of an entrepreneurial university, in this paper the focus of our discussion is framed around the following research question: What are the main initiatives that make Federal University of ABC Region (UFABC) an entrepreneurial university? The chosen methodology is social constructionism using autoethnography as the method. Autoethnographies are highly personalized accounts that draw upon the experience of the author/researcher for the purposes of extending sociological understanding. Among several initiatives of UFABC, this article highlights the Institutional Development Plan; the CLIPS that innovates in the formation of new entrepreneurs; The Program Protagonist Entrepreneur; InovaUFABC, an innovation agency that through its incubator provides the necessary conditions to startups be created and begin to operate; and the Junior Enterprise in which students act as consultants to large companies. Conclusion: the universities of the 21st century expanded their missions initially limited to teaching and research for entrepreneurship. UFABC stands out for the high degree of innovation of its entrepreneurial initiatives, and thus becomes a benchmark for other national and international universities that want to follow the path of entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship skill acquisition: Perceptions of SAED graduates on employment outcomes and business startups in Nigeria

In the past, people regarded education as a solution to overcoming poverty. Regrettably, new graduates in Nigeria still have difficulty securing jobs after graduating due to many factors, including overpopulation, poor political administration, conflicting government policies, and an education framework not tailored and adjusted to industry needs. Studies have shown that one of Nigeria's educational system shortcomings is that schools fail to prepare graduates for independent work (Odia & Omofonmwan, 2007). The study's focus was to understand the role played by the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program in fostering positive experiences and employment outcomes for Nigerian graduates through the assessment of the effectiveness of the SAED program on graduate employment through post-project employment status and participants' development of other entrepreneurship skills and attributes (Almlund, Duckworth, Heckman, & Kautz, 2011; Premand et al., 2015; Propstmeier, Picot, & Schaller, 2012). Findings indicate that the SAED program positively impacts Nigerian graduates by providing alternative entrepreneurial paths, promoting awareness, and helping them start small businesses, despite not improving unemployment rates. Keywords: Nigeria, SAED, Graduates, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Policy.

Strategic Marketing Alignment-Competitive Advantage Nexus: Green Entrepreneurship Path in SMEs

Strategic Marketing Alignment-Competitive Advantage Nexus: Green Entrepreneurship Path in SMEs

Enhancing Entrepreneurship Education with Innovatively Designed YouTube Videos: Evaluating Student Learning and Effectiveness of Youtube Videos as Educational Tools

The use of video media, particularly YouTube videos, has emerged as highly popular and powerful educational tools in higher education due to its ability to provide rich and engaging content that enhances learners' understanding and retention of information throughout the learning process. Much of the current research highlights a need for more active learning strategies to maximize the educational potential of these videos because traditional Youtube videos tend to create passive learning experiences. However, when properly integrated with active learning strategies through innovative video design and development, Youtube videos can enhance student engagement, learning outcomes, and satisfaction. Therefore, this research aims to innovatively design and develop YouTube videos as educational tools and evaluate students' perceptions of their learning and the effectiveness of the video design and development in higher education involving 20 graduate students in the entrepreneurship education program. The data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and content analysis techniques. The findings showed that the innovatively developed Youtube videos were perceived to be highly appropriate (Mean= 4.52, S.D. = 0.13). Students reported that they learned entrepreneurship more effectively from various scenarios filled with choices and challenges in entrepreneurial paths. They also perceived the effectiveness of Youtube videos as educational tools to be very high (Mean= 4.58, S.D. = 0.72), noting that these videos were effective tools that promotes active and experiential learning experiences. In conclusion, this study indicates that Youtube videos, when innovatively designed and developed as educational tools with active learning strategies, can be implemented as a powerful tool in teaching entrepreneurship.

THE MODEL OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SELF-DETERMINATION (BASED ON NARRATIVE INTERVIEW)

Questions of professional self-determination are increasingly concerning the younger generation. Choosing entrepreneurial activities and running one’s own business are gaining popularity among young people. In this regard, there is a need for a more detailed study of entrepreneurial self-determination (hereinafter - ESD). To identify possible socio-psychological factors of ESD, an exploratory study was conducted using the narrative interview method followed by qualitative analysis. 29 respondents aged 18 to 40 who have or had their own business participated in the study. The author developed a model of ESD including 9 stages: observation, premature identity crisis, first trial, start crisis, project start, leap of faith crisis, scaling, plateau crisis, and stability. It was concluded that the entrepreneurial path has a spiral nature. Groups of socio-psychological factors of ESD that encourage and hinder entrepreneurial activity were identified.

Diverging Entrepreneurial Paths of Survivalist Truckers: Migrants’ Ongoing Agency in US Trucking

This article explores the formation of migrant agency by scrutinizing the decision-making processes of owner-operator truckers. Drawing on qualitative data collected among male migrants from Turkey in the US, the main finding is that migrant truckers, by making various decisions at the turning points of their career, choose one of three trucking segments and decide the number of trucks that they own. To understand the differentiated ways agency is formed, the article utilizes forms-of-capital analysis, which reveals how truckers mobilize combinations of social, economic and cultural forms of capital. The study conceptually contributes to the scholarship on migrant entrepreneurship by developing the concept of ongoing agency that combines the temporal aspects of migrant agency with the forms-of-capital analysis. This concept is used to understand how migrant truckers reconfigure their agency as they move between segments and ownership statutes over time.

Optimization Method of College Students' Entrepreneurial Path Based on Improved Multi-Objective Gray Wolf Algorithm

The traditional entrepreneurial resource decision-making model that relies on empirical decision-making or simple template matching is difficult to adapt to the current complex social environment. Therefore, the multi-objective grey wolf algorithm (MOGWO) is used to solve the Pareto frontier of the problem model, replacing the optimal solution with the optimal solution set, and then selecting the optimal scheduling plan according to the actual situation, so as to make the decision-making plan more scientific and reasonable. In order to optimize this algorithm, two improvement strategies are proposed on the basis of analysing the movement of individual grey wolves. The research in this paper provides an important reference for the machine learning algorithm and the improved multi-objective grey wolf algorithm. The experimental results show that the MOGWO algorithm can overcome the shortcomings of the basic grey wolf algorithm (GWO) in terms of insufficient exploratory ability and local convergence, and has higher search efficiency, better optimality finding ability and stability.

Entrepreneurial Mindset and Intentions for Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship in Engineering and Business Students

With the shifting dynamics of the modern workforce, there is a growing recognition of the essential role that an entrepreneurial mindset (EM) plays in shaping future innovators, notably within engineering disciplines. Despite the acknowledged significance of EM, there remains a gap in understanding how it relates to entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial intentions (E/II). This research investigates the link between EM and E/II among business and engineering students. We also analyze how EM changes over time. Our findings indicate that in both domains, ideation correlated with entrepreneurial intentions (EI) and intrapreneurial intentions (II). In both domains, altruism was associated with II. Empathy and interest were related to EI in engineering students, distinct from their business counterparts, whereas open-mindedness and interest correlated with II. These differences emphasize the need for distinct educational strategies to prepare both business and engineering students for their entrepreneurial paths.

Sosialisasi Entrepreneurial Learning di Sekolah untuk Meningkatkan Kompetensi dan Jiwa Kewirausahaan Siswa di SMK N 8 Padang

The unemployment rate among SMKs is not balanced with the increasing number of SMK One of the causes of increased unemployment is due to the implementation of an education system that still emphasizes theory compared to practice. Therefore, it is important to improve the identity of prospective SMK graduates who have high quality human resources, skills and are able to compete, for example through entrepreneurship and digital marketing education. Students' interest in entrepreneurship is influenced by the lack of entrepreneurial spirit within them. Entrepreneurial skills are an ability that a person has as a form of assigning knowledge and applying it to real activities in his life. Efforts to realize these goals at the SMK level have been developed and implemented in entrepreneurship subjects in the national curriculum for vocational secondary levels. Then today's SMK students who grew up with technology, internet and social media have a preference to start an entrepreneurship. Some of the reasons high school students choose the entrepreneurial path are unwilling to be limited, college is not a guarantee of success, freelance and peer-to-peer service sites, ubiquitous social media, abundant access, and mentors.

The ‘exodus’ from family businesses. How non-successor daughters form their entrepreneurial identity in the business families context

ABSTRACT Research suggests that business families may favour family members’ ability to act entrepreneurially and convey an entrepreneurial legacy to successors to ensure the continuity of family businesses. Nonetheless, families’ entrepreneurial imprinting can extend beyond successors, as non-successors can also pursue an entrepreneurial path. Little is known, however, about non-successor daughters’ entrepreneurial experiences outside of family businesses. Drawing on the family entrepreneurship field and adopting the identity work theory, this paper investigates non-successor daughters who decided to set up their own enterprises and analyses how they formed their entrepreneurial identities in the business family context. Based on the constructivist grounded theory, we analyse ten life story interviews with non-successor daughters and identify three processes through which they form their entrepreneurial identity: avoiding competition; defending; emancipation. Each process is articulated in three building blocks, i.e. Antecedents, Decision and Outcomes, and shows that daughters’ entrepreneurial identity can take shape through step-by-step processes in which interactions between daughters, business families and family businesses can occur differently, causing positive or negative effects at the individual, family and business level. In these processes, daughters’ identity work ranges from adapting to eluding families’ norms and expectations to forming their own entrepreneurial identity consistent with self-perception.

Investigating the entrepreneurial orientation of circular-social hybrid start-ups by assessing their path toward sustainability: Evidence from 20 European cases

Circular-social hybrid start-ups have a remarkable potential to create environmental, social, and economic value. Despite their relevance for the sustainability transition, there is a dearth of literature analysing their entrepreneurial orientation and how they create environmental and social value in their business models. Therefore, the present study, framed in the theory of entrepreneurial orientation, empirically assesses the dynamics of creating positive sustainable value by aligning the initial orientation with the sustainability activities and performance. The research is conducted through semi-structured interviews with the founders of twenty European start-ups. The study shows that circular-social hybrid start-ups have a strong sustainability orientation, but some display difficulties in achieving their initial mission. This entrepreneurial path from mission to reality is identified by uncovering business model dynamics and leverage points: scale-up and growth, use of digital solutions, improvement of working conditions, research and development, and alignment of business processes. These leverage points influence the potential mission drift of the start-up, i.e. its deviation from the path to sustainability. Entrepreneurs can use this study to identify leverage points to support their path toward sustainability.

Transgender Entrepreneurship: Challenges, Opportunities, And Impact on Developing Country Like India.

Transgender people, or those whose gender identity differs from the gender assigned to them at birth, have historically experienced considerable gender bias and obstacles in many aspects of life. Entrepreneurship, a field characterized by human freedom and self-creation, presents transgender persons with both distinct problems and opportunities. This article sinks into the experiences of transgender entrepreneurs, investigating at how concerns of identity, discrimination, and societal standards affect their entrepreneurial path. This study offers light on the resilience and innovation of transgender entrepreneurs who navigate complicated personal and professional terrains using qualitative interviews, statistical data, and case studies. While transgender entrepreneurs face numerous challenges, from access to financing to acceptance in business networks, the findings imply that they also use their unique identities and experiences to drive creativity. Community-building and social change. Implications for policy, practice, and further research are discussed, emphasizing the need for more inclusive and supportive ecosystems that recognize the potential of all entrepreneurs, irrespective of their gender identity. The findings suggest that while transgender entrepreneurs frequently encounter barriers, from access to capital to acceptance in business networks, they also leverage their unique identities and experiences to foster innovation, community-building, and social change. Implications for policy, practice, and further research are discussed, emphasizing the need for more inclusive and supportive ecosystems that recognize the potential of all entrepreneurs, irrespective of their gender identity.
 The findings suggest that while transgender entrepreneurs frequently encounter barriers, from access to capital to acceptance in business networks, they also leverage their unique identities and experiences to foster innovation, community-building, and social change. Implications for policy, practice, and further research are discussed, emphasizing the need for more inclusive and supportive ecosystems that recognize the potential of all entrepreneurs, irrespective of their gender identity.

Innovative Entrepreneurship Program Design in Colleges and Universities Applying Ant Colony Algorithm

Abstract The ant colony algorithm, a heuristic algorithm that mimics ants’ foraging, can optimize problem-solving. Applying this algorithm to the design of innovation and entrepreneurship projects in colleges and universities can enhance the effectiveness and feasibility of these projects. Based on an analysis of the college innovation and entrepreneurship project design process, the article explores the entrepreneurial path through the use of big data analysis. Then, it discusses the ant colony algorithm’s basic concept and mathematical model and proposes a two-population ant colony algorithm for multi-objective resource-constrained project scheduling problems. When compared to the traditional algorithm, the improved ant colony algorithm runs 25–33 ms faster, and Company A’s operating costs drop by 1,176,000 yuan from 2020 to 2023. This shows that the improved ant colony algorithm suggested in this paper can make university innovation and entrepreneurship programs more efficient at allocating resources.

Entrepreneurial patterns and network leveraging in returnee entrepreneurship: a qualitative study of returnee entrepreneurs in Vietnam

Returnee entrepreneurship is one of the significant drivers for economic growth in emerging economies. Although returnee entrepreneurship research has provided a comprehensive picture of who returnee entrepreneurs are, little is known about the motivations behind their decision to return and the decision to engage in entrepreneurship. In addition, while the nature of motivation may affect how entrepreneurs leverage networks during their venture creation, the current returnee entrepreneurship literature has not studied this phenomenon in depth. As such, adopting a qualitative approach, we identified three returnee entrepreneurial patterns and their corresponding network leveraging among 13 cases of returnee entrepreneurs in Vietnam. Our study provides theoretical and practical contributions to the understanding of returnee entrepreneurial paths and network leveraging in returnee entrepreneurship context.

DIVING INTO GEN Z'S ECO-FRIENDLY BUSINESS VISIONS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEYS IN METROPOLITAN MALANG

In today's evolving business realm, sustainable entrepreneurship is paramount, especially in terms of social and environmental accountability. This study explores eco-friendly business visions and entrepreneurial paths among Generation Z in Malang's vibrant Metropolitan Area. Through descriptive analysis, it navigates the aspirations and journeys of young entrepreneurs towards sustainability. Utilizing questionnaire data from 250 participants, the research offers an overview of how education on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and familiarity with the Green Economy intersect with Generation Z's entrepreneurial spirit in Malang. By uncovering significant correlations between SDGs education, Green Economy knowledge, and entrepreneurial intentions, the study provides compelling insights. It also examines the catalytic effects of information technology infrastructure and local government support. Advocating for integrating sustainability principles into education and economic policies, the paper stresses collaborative efforts among businesses, academia, and government entities. Furthermore, it underscores equitable access to technology and the crucial role of local government in nurturing socially and environmentally conscious businesses. Lastly, the paper calls for further research to evaluate the efficacy of SDGs education in equipping Generation Z with entrepreneurial skills for the future.

Research on the innovation and entrepreneurship path of art and design college students returning to their hometowns in Hebei Province under the background of “digital intelligence”

With the rapid development of digital technology and the advent of the era of “digital intelligence”, it has become a new trend for art and design college students in Hebei Province to return to their hometowns for innovation and entrepreneurship. Based on the research on the innovation and entrepreneurship path of art and design college students in Hebei Province, this paper discusses the challenges, opportunities and development paths they face in the process of returning to their hometowns to start their own businesses under the background of “digital intelligence”, aiming to provide practical guidance and enlightenment for this group.

Nurturing the Entrepreneurial Path: Unraveling the Interplay Between Entrepreneurial Mindset and Intention Through the Lens of Entrepreneurial Culture

Purpose: Developing entrepreneurial intention (EI) among students is become an important phenomenon. This study explores the role of entrepreneurial education (EE) and entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) towards EI directly and indirectly through entrepreneurial culture (EC). Design/Methodology/ Approach: The researcher applied quantitative methods to assess the proposed aim of the study. The study's respondents are students of different public and private sector universities in Egypt. Finally, the investigation concludes the results based on 272 samples. Findings: In the outcome, EE and ESE have a notable impact on the development of an EI. Additionally, the study highlights the effects of EC and entrepreneurial mindset (EMS) on EI. In mediation, the EC acts as a mediator between EE and EI. However, the EC negatively mediates the connection between ESE and EI. Research, practical and social implications: The practical implications of this research point towards developing targeted educational programs to nurture an EMS and enhancing organizational cultures to support and encourage EI. Both approaches aim to create an environment that stimulates entrepreneurial thinking and action, whether at the individual or corporate level. Originality/ value: This study aims to fill the gaps in the empirical assessment of EI among university students in Egypt.

From absorption to action: unraveling the entrepreneurial path in external rural tourism through bricolage and social support perception

ABSTRACT External rural tourism entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in fortifying the local economy through the creation of employment opportunities, stimulation of consumer spending, and the generation of income. In consonance with social capital theory, this study systematically gathered data over four stages to analyze the absorptive capacities and entrepreneurial actions of 213 external rural tourism entrepreneurs in Yuanjia Village, Shaanxi Province. Key findings include: (1) The significantly and positively impact of individual absorptive capacity on entrepreneurial performance; (2) The positive influence of entrepreneurial bricolage on performance, concurrently serving as a partial mediator in the nexus between individual absorptive capacity and entrepreneurial performance; (3) The critical moderating role played by social support perception in shaping the relationship between individual absorptive capacity and entrepreneurial performance. This study augments the existing theoretical discourse surrounding external rural tourism entrepreneurs, providing valuable insights that inform strategic decision-making aimed at cultivating an environment conducive to the success of such external entrepreneurs.

OLDER WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS ARE DRIVEN BY WANT RATHER THAN NEED

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, women ages 50+ pursued their dream of starting a business. This study contacted 278 women ages 50-plus by phone and online, examining the drivers and barriers of women entrepreneurs. Over a quarter (27%) of women said they always wanted to start a business, and 19% said they did it to follow their passion; another 17% were pursuing additional income, and 11% wanted flexible work options. Age, and perhaps the value of experience, has been an advantage in business ownership. Women entrepreneurs age 50-plus were less likely to have faced financial challenges since starting their business, with over two in five (45%) avoiding such challenges, compared to 29% of women entrepreneurs in their 40s. Nearly seven in 10 women (69%) surveyed poured their personal savings into their start-up. In addition, two in three agree that they face unique challenges in trying to access capital for their business that are different from men. Despite these challenges, most women were optimistic about their entrepreneurial path. The majority of women (97%) agreed that they made the right decision in starting their business – with about two in five (39%) saying their business is doing better than expected compared to when they first started. Respondents say they need resources on marketing, recruiting and hiring staff, and financing. And over two in five say they have not taken any type of training. Increasing awareness of business supports, funding sources, and training opportunities will help women as they grow their business.

Factors affecting entrepreneurial intentions among students in higher education institutions

PurposeThis paper investigates the factors affecting individual dispositions toward intentions. Specifically, this study aims to investigate the effects of emotional intelligence, entrepreneurial motivation and creativity on the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in Jordan.Design/methodology/approachThe data were gathered through self-administered questionnaires from a sample of 745 university students in Jordan. The hypotheses were tested using partial least squares (PLS) analysis.FindingsThe results indicate a robust relationship between entrepreneurial motivation and creativity and entrepreneurial intention. However, an insignificant relationship was found between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial intention. The findings of this study reveal that both creativity and emotional intelligence exert a significant and positive indirect effect on entrepreneurial intentions through the mediation of entrepreneurial motivation.Practical implicationsThis work suggests that university administrators should consider the significant roles that emotional intelligence, entrepreneurial motivation and creativity play in shaping the entrepreneurial intentions of university students.Originality/valueWhile there is limited existing research on this matter within the Middle Eastern context, especially in Jordan, this study aims to address this gap in the Jordanian entrepreneurial literature. As the first of its kind conducted within Jordanian universities, this study contributes significantly to the understanding of entrepreneurial dynamics in the region. Using the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, this study evaluates emotional intelligence in Jordan. The results contribute to social psychology literature and suggest actionable government measures, integrated into education systems, to encourage entrepreneurial paths for students and alleviate graduate unemployment.