Religiosity and spirituality in entrepreneurship: a review and research agenda

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to review the influences of spirituality and religiosity within the field of entrepreneurship. We review nearly 30 articles, exploring the dominant empirical contributions that exist within this emergent research area. Several main focus areas from the prevailing research are organized into a comprehensive framework that provides the foundation for further discussion and synthesis. Shortcomings and limitations to the field and an agenda for future research that contributes to our understanding of religion and spirituality within the realm of entrepreneurship are presented.

Taking/receiving and giving (TRG): A comparison of two quantitative pilot studies on students’ entrepreneurial motivation in Indonesia

“…Religious value or motivation may be included by existing researchers, for example, Nwankwo and Gbadamosi (2013), Balog, Baker, and Walker (2014), and Dougherty et al (2013) in their studies. However, what makes this study different with others that the findings include "the Prophet's sunnah (anything that was suggested and recommended by the Prophet Muhammad)", "to be like Mohammad the Prophet having own business", "to promote the good name of Islam", "to realise my pray", "to go to the pilgrimage of hajj using my own money", and "to take my parent to go to the pilgrimage of hajj".…”

Does religion influence entrepreneurial behaviour?

“…As noted at the beginning of this section, researchers in the fields of entrepreneurship and organizational studies have begun to pay increased attention to the role of religion (Dana, 2009;Tracey, 2012;Balog et al, 2014, Park et al, 2014. Most extant discussions of entrepreneurship and religion focus on the role of individual religious affiliation and orientation.…”

“…There is an extant research literature which addresses questions of religion and entrepreneurship, and wider questions about influence on organizations (Tracey 2012;Balog et al, 2014). These researchers tend to take as their starting point the significant body of sociology of religion that has emerged over the past century.…”

“…Although previous research has tended to focus on influences on belief formation at the individual level (such as parental and other role models), these influences might encompass a wide range of perspectives on ethical behaviour, corporate responsibility, environmental ethics and sustainability (Tracey, 2012). Entrepreneurship is a values-based phenomenon which may be framed by both intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientation (Balog et al, 2014).…”

“…The impact of religiosity and religious institutions is emerging as an acknowledged element for study (Balog et al, 2014). As one leading sociologist of religion notes: "religion is not something that can be safely or sensibly relegated either to the past or to the edge" (Davie, 2013, p…”