Envisioning Entrepreneurship’s Future: Introducing Me-Search and Research Agendas

Shepherd, Dean A.; Wiklund, Johan; Dimov, Dimo

doi:10.1177/10422587211026872

Cited by 24 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…These two collaborative pathways complement Shepherd et al’s (2021) inward-looking approach, whereby entrepreneurship researchers should frame agendas for impact by engaging with a ‘me-search', that is, “scholarly attention on the future based on one’s personal experiences” (p. 956). The problem formulation pathway we label as “inward-looking” aligns with this take on research opportunities based on the personal interests and experience of the researcher.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most notably, we offer two alternative pathways that can be integrated into the methodological toolkit of entrepreneurship researchers. These two pathways complement Shepherd et al’s (2021) inward-looking approach, whereby entrepreneurship researchers should frame agendas for impact by engaging with one’s personal experiences, what they call “me-search.” Second, our study contributes to the literature on research impact (Kieser et al, 2015) by describing problem formulation as processual and collaborative. Whereas prior research focuses on the static attributes of a relevant problem or singularly focuses on the role of researchers in defining such problem (Avenier & Cajaiba, 2012; Van de Ven, 2007), we describe problem formulation as a process of continuous interaction between researchers and practitioners.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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In Pursuit of Impact: From Research Questions to Problem Formulation in Entrepreneurship Research

Chen

Sharma

Muñoz

2022

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice

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In this paper, we address recent calls to increase the societal relevance of entrepreneurship research. We explore how entrepreneurship researchers and practitioners work together in the formulation of a research problem for impact. Leveraging process-tracing, we analyzed six entrepreneurship research projects, from early conceptualization to publication, all part of the Journal of Business Venturing Insights’ Entrepreneurship Rapid Response Research Initiative. We made two discoveries, as it pertains to the formulation of problems in entrepreneurship research. First, we found four critical change dimensions, along which a problem evolves throughout the research process: worthiness, divisibility, centrality, and specificity. Second, we found two equifinal problem formulation pathways in impact-oriented entrepreneurship research: inward-looking iterative and outward-looking joint problem formulation. These are marked by drivers of the research project, timing of involvement of the practitioner, and interactions between researchers and practitioners, which influence the sequence of the four change dimensions in problem formulation. Our study contributes by theorizing problem formulation as a process, not a point in time, and hence intertwined with solutions, making the process consequential. We also offer concrete implications for entrepreneurship scholars wanting to engage in research that impacts practice.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Pursuit of Impact: From Research Questions to Problem Formulation in Entrepreneurship Research

Chen

Sharma

Muñoz

2022

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice

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“…It describes a fuzzy boundary between the classical and quantum worlds where no certainty exists yet (Monroe et al, 1996). resources on hand, entrepreneurs work on the available means and resources to create new opportunistic ends incrementally and experimentally (Alvarez & Barney, 2007;Foss & Klein, 2020;Shepherd et al, 2021). Effectuation is closely associated with the creation approach.…”

Section: Epistemological Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Probabilistic Interpretation of Observer Effect on Entrepreneurial Opportunity

Leong

2022

Organizacija

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Background: In quantum mechanics, the observer effect categorically states that observing a phenomenon changes it. This research explores a probabilistic interpretation of entrepreneurial opportunity and explains the observer effect reflecting on Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment. This approach addresses opportunity as a “possibility” concept reinterpreting it from multiple observers’ perspectives and the cruciality of action to cause wave function collapse to an emergent reality. This paper intends to resolve the epistemological paradox and ‘opportunity’ war by re-contextualising opportunity as an artefact and positing it as a probability wave with a range of possibilities until alert entrepreneurs act on it. Method: This conceptual development relies on literature review as a research methodology, using reasoning by analogy for the progress of theory and metaphors for theorisation. Results: This conceptual narrative strengthens the epistemological foundation focused on possibility and probability (illustrated through wave function) to sharpen the definition of opportunity and action theory. The observer effect in opportunity is underexplored in entrepreneurial scholarship. This study features how the observer effect influences the evolving state of opportunity. Opportunity is affected by other observers and the entrepreneur’s imagination, social construction and effort. Each involved agent relates and interacts to give rise to possibilities in opportunities. The interrelations and interdependence are complex, giving rise to superposition with a mixed state with many possibilities. Conclusions: The contribution of this research is manifold from a theoretical and practical level. It presents a quantum-like model where an ‘un-acted’ opportunity is in superposition (multiple possibilities emerging simultaneously until it is enacted), expanding on Ramoglou and Tsang’s (2016) view on propensity. The interactional effects – interfering and entangling between agents observing the same opportunity generate possibilities. The potentiality and the many-possibilities states in the opportunity artefact hold great promise in entrepreneurial research.

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“…Thus, an intrinsic interest in an issue that the researcher finds intriguing, engaging and fascinating will be crucial for sustaining the intensive effort over a long period (Tsui et al. , 2007; Shepherd et al. , 2021).…”

Section: Interestingness As An Important Part Of Scholarly Conversati...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research takes time, as an article may take a couple of years to complete, while a PhD thesis requires even more time. Thus, an intrinsic interest in an issue that the researcher finds intriguing, engaging and fascinating will be crucial for sustaining the intensive effort over a long period (Tsui et al, 2007;Shepherd et al, 2021). The oppositea research project that the researcher does not find interestingoften turns out to be a self-inflicted torture, the reason for unfinished papers and dissertations and failure to build a sustainable research profile over the course of one's career.…”

Section: Interestingness In Researchwhat Do We Know?mentioning

confidence: 99%

What's interesting in entrepreneurial education research? Identifying conversants sharing common interests in the field

Gabrielsson

Politis

Sørheim

2022

IJEBR

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PurposeIn this study, the authors develop knowledge and insights on how the perception of interestingness influences the structure and focus of conversations in entrepreneurial education (EE) research. In particular, the authors elaborate on what is perceived as interesting among different subgroups of EE researchers, and not least, how EE researchers can identify and engage in scholarly conversation within the field.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a unique database with web-based responses from 465 EE researchers from around the world. The authors conduct analyses of both open-ended and closed questions. The open-ended questions are analyzed by inductive categorization. The closed questions are subject to factor and cluster analyses.FindingsThe findings suggest that EE research is a topic-oriented field, characterized by a strong focus on novel and challenging research issues. In addition, the field is individualistic and fragmented, and the perception of interestingness differs between five subgroups of EE researchers, whose members have a somewhat different perception of interestingness. Accordingly, the authors also find different core conversations going on within the field. Obviously, these conversations tend to be triggered by the field's obsession with novelty and challenging research, but several conversations are related to practically relevant research, as well as methodological and theoretical discussions.Originality/valueThis is the first study to elaborate on the perception of interestingness among EE researchers and the conversations going on within the field. In the study the authors have explored the characteristics of EE research based on the perception of interestingness among the researchers within the field. In this respect, this study contributes insights on how current and aspiring EE researchers can find and build scholarly conversations embedded in passionate interest, while concurrently disseminating and accumulating knowledge on EE together with like-minded peers.

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Envisioning Entrepreneurship’s Future: Introducing Me-Search and Research Agendas

Cited by 24 publications

References 23 publications

In Pursuit of Impact: From Research Questions to Problem Formulation in Entrepreneurship Research

In Pursuit of Impact: From Research Questions to Problem Formulation in Entrepreneurship Research

Probabilistic Interpretation of Observer Effect on Entrepreneurial Opportunity

What's interesting in entrepreneurial education research? Identifying conversants sharing common interests in the field

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