scholarly journals What entrepreneurs do? Entrepreneurial action guided by entrepreneurial opportunities and entrepreneurial learning in early internationalising firms

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1083-1119
Author(s):  
Shingairai Grace Masango ◽  
Paul Lassalle
Keyword(s):  
International Marketing ◽  
Learning By Doing ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Entrepreneurial Opportunity ◽  
Entrepreneurial Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Opportunities ◽  
Software Firms ◽  
Marketing Activities ◽  
Entrepreneurial Action

PurposeThere is a growing interest in exploring the interface between international marketing and entrepreneurial opportunities. This paper contributes by defining and elucidating entrepreneurial action in early internationalising software firms and the corresponding emergent international marketing activities. Entrepreneurial action in early internationalising software firms is explored through the operationalisation of a reconceptualised entrepreneurial opportunity construct and the associated entrepreneurial learning processes.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts an inductive approach, which traces the evolution of five early internationalising propriety software South African firms; from the new venture idea to the establishment of the international entrepreneurial opportunity.FindingsThe findings provide support for entrepreneurial action guided by: prior industry experience, entrepreneurial alertness, opportunity confidence and two levels of entrepreneurial learning; experiential and double-loop learning. Learning by doing allows for the continuous evaluation of the new venture idea leading to the international entrepreneurial opportunity. Market responsiveness and continuous product development resulting in the emergence of the firm's inward international marketing activities constitute the key outcomes of entrepreneurial action.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to a specific technology context, which is young software firms whose inward directed internationalisation activities coalesce around the development of their proprietary software technology.Originality/valueBased on an original dataset of early internationalising software firms from South Africa, this paper inductively operationalises and conceptualises entrepreneurial action as the combined interaction of four key constructs: contingent effects, attitudes to opportunities, learning by doing and entrepreneurial activities leading to the firm's inward international marketing activities and a diversified international client and end-user base.

Big data-driven strategic orientation in international marketing

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahriar Akter ◽  
Md Afnan Hossain ◽  
Qiang (Steven) Lu ◽  
S.M. Riad Shams
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
International Marketing ◽  
Strategic Orientation ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Orientations ◽  
Marketing Activities

PurposeBig data is one of the most demanding topics in contemporary marketing research. Despite its importance, the big data-based strategic orientation in international marketing is yet to be formed conceptually. Thus, the purpose of this study is to systematically review and propose a holistic framework on big data-based strategic orientation for firms in international markets to attain a sustained firm performance.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a systematic literature review to synthesize research rigorously. Initially, 2,242 articles were identified from the selective databases, and 45 papers were finally reported as most relevant to propose an integrative conceptual framework.FindingsThe findings of the systematic literature review revealed data-evolving, and data-driven strategic orientations are essential for performing international marketing activities that contain three primary orientations such as (1) international digital platform orientation, (2) international market orientation and (3) international innovation and entrepreneurial orientation. Eleven distinct sub-dimensions reflect these three primary orientations. These strategic orientations of international firms may lead to advanced analytics orientation to attain sustained firm performance by generating and capturing value from the marketplace.Research limitations/implicationsThe study minimizes the literature gap by forming knowledge on big data-based strategic orientation and framing a multidimensional framework for guiding managers in the context of strategic orientation for international business and international marketing activities. The current study was conducted by following only a systematic literature review exclusively in firms' overall big data-based strategic orientation concept in international marketing. Future research may extend the domain by introducing firms' category wise systematic literature review.Originality/valueThe study has proposed a holistic conceptual framework for big data-driven strategic orientation in international marketing literature through a systematic review for the first time. It has also illuminated a future research agenda that raises questions for the scholars to develop or extend theory in this area or other related disciplines.

scholarly journals An exploration of the Business Plan Competition as a methodology for effective nascent entrepreneurial learning

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayleigh Watson ◽  
Pauric McGowan ◽  
James A. Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Business Plan ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
New Venture Creation ◽  
Venture Creation ◽  
Nascent Entrepreneurs ◽  
Entrepreneurial Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nascent Entrepreneur

Purpose Business Plan Competitions (BPCs) are readily prescribed and promoted as a valuable entrepreneurial learning activity on university campuses worldwide. There is an acceptance of their value despite the clear lack of empirical attention on the learning experience of nascent entrepreneurs during and post-participation in university-based BPCs. To address this deficit, the purpose of this paper is to explore how participation in a university-based BPC affords entrepreneurial learning outcomes, through the development of competencies, amongst nascent entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach Underpinned by a constructivist paradigm, a longitudinal qualitative methodological approach was adopted. In-depth interviews with nascent entrepreneur participants of a UK university-based BPC were undertaken at the start and end of the competition but also six months after participation. This method enabled access to the participant’s experiences of the competition and appreciation of the meanings they attached to this experience as a source of entrepreneurial learning. Data were analysed according to the wave of data collection and a thematic analytical approach was taken to identify patterns across participant accounts. Findings At the start of the competition, participation was viewed as a valuable experiential learning opportunity in pursuit of the competencies needed, but not yet held, to progress implementation of the nascent venture. At the end of the competition, participants considered their participation experience had afforded the development of pitching, public speaking, networking and business plan production competencies and also self-confidence. Six months post-competition, participants still recognised that competencies had been developed; however, application of these were deemed as being confined to participation in other competitions rather than the routine day-to-day aspects of venture implementation. Developed competencies and learning remained useful given a prevailing view that further competition participation represented an important activity which would enable value to be leveraged in terms of finance, marketing and networking opportunities for new venture creation. Research limitations/implications The findings challenge the common understanding that the BPC represents an effective methodology for highly authentic, relevant and broadly applicable entrepreneurial learning. Moreover the idea that the competencies needed for routine venture implementation and competencies developed through competition are synonymous is challenged. By extension the study suggests competition activities may not be as closely tied to the realities of new venture creation as commonly portrayed or understood and that the learning afforded is situated within a competition context. Competitions could therefore be preventing the opportunities for entrepreneurial learning that they purport they offer. Given the practical importance of competition participation as a resource acquisition activity for nascent entrepreneurs, further critical examination of the competition agenda is necessary as too is additional consideration about the design of such competitions and how such competitions should feature within university policy to support new venture creation. Originality/value This study contributes to the limited literature and studies on BPCs by focussing on its effectiveness as a means of providing entrepreneurial learning for participants. The key contribution taking it from an individual nascent entrepreneur participant perspective is that the competencies afforded through competition participation are more limited in scope and application than traditionally promoted and largely orientated towards future BPC participation. Learning is mainly situated for competition sake only and about participants securing further resources and higher levels of visibility. As the nascent entrepreneurs intended learning outcomes from competition participation are subsequently not realised, the study highlights a gap between the intended and actual outcomes of competition participation.

Entrepreneurial learning as an effectual process

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 631-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dag Håkon Haneberg
Keyword(s):  
Real Life ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Organisational Learning ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Entrepreneurial Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Characteristics ◽  
One Year ◽  
Multiple Actors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address how entrepreneurial learning may be understood as an effectual process in the early phase of venture creation. Design/methodology/approach Previous research is used to develop a conceptual frame of reference, which is further developed through a longitudinal qualitative case study of five new venture teams. Conceptualising these teams’ learning as sequences of events over a one-year period provides rich insight from real-life processes. Findings A conceptual model of how entrepreneurial learning may be understood as an effectual process is presented. The interactions and interdependencies between nine process characteristics along three main dimensions in the process, activity, multiple actors and context-dependent, demonstrate how the process tie together as a whole. Research limitations/implications The present paper argues for further cross-fertilisation of entrepreneurial learning and effectuation research and showcases how studies of entrepreneurial learning may contribute to organisational learning in entrepreneurial ventures. The conceptualisation of characteristics and dimensions aims to support future process studies by suggesting a framework for analysing process events in longitudinal studies. Originality/value Previous research has already established how activities are central to entrepreneurial learning and emphasised that what constitutes the two dimensions of multiple actors and context-dependence is important. The present paper contributes to entrepreneurial learning with an enhanced understanding of why and how the three dimensions are important as well as interdependent and mutually interactive. The present paper also contributes to organisational learning by extending the understanding of learning in emerging entrepreneurial organisations.

scholarly journals Entrepreneurial learning: what do we mean by it?

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 560-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadeu Fernando Nogueira
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
New Venture ◽  
New Venture Creation ◽  
Venture Creation ◽  
Entrepreneurial Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
Key Issues

Purpose Given the growing recognition that learning plays a crucial role in entrepreneurship, this paper aims to systematically review the literature on entrepreneurial learning (EL), take account of its progress and analyze the unique characteristics of EL as a concept. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a systematic approach to reviewing the literature on EL and critically assess the EL concept through the criteria of resonance, attributes (involving consistency, fecundity and differentiation), domain and causal utility. Findings A synthesis and assessment of extant literature reveals that a key challenge is the clear articulation of EL as a concept. This paper takes the first steps toward the specification of EL through a discussion of its unique properties. In this respect, the paper proposes the understanding of EL as an undertaking of entrepreneurial (i.e. proactive, exploratory and collaborative) learning behaviors (a crucial component of the EL concept) and recommends the context of new venture creation as an appropriate domain for the study of EL. Research limitations/implications This paper paves the way toward a more robust specification of EL as a concept. Originality/value This systematic literature review initiates a discussion about how EL literature can find convergence on key issues, thus helping the field move forward. It does so by articulating central attributes of the EL concept.

Entrepreneurial learning among practices: aesthetic and sensible knowledge in the life trajectory of entrepreneurs

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sérgio Vogt ◽  
Yara Lucia Mazziotti Bulgacov ◽  
Sara R.S.T.A. Elias
Keyword(s):  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Organization Studies ◽  
Entrepreneurial Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Life Trajectory ◽  
Entrepreneurial Action ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
Sensory Processes

PurposeUsing the concept of knowing-in-practice (KinP), and drawing from current understandings of aesthetic and sensible knowledge within organization studies, this study explores how the entrepreneurial learning (EL) process unfolds over time, throughout the lives of startup founders, well before entrepreneurial action takes place.Design/methodology/approachUsing a life histories approach, 25 interviews were conducted with the founders of 18 startups. Additional 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with other startups' founders, focusing on thematic stories. Data were analyzed using abduction and narrative analysis.FindingsAlthough each entrepreneur's history is unique, the authors show that entrepreneurs' lives are generally a texture of practices, resulting in aesthetic–sensible knowledge that is developed as entrepreneurs participate in various social practices. This includes KinP episodes where perceptive-sensorial faculties are fundamental for entrepreneurs to perceive the world, recognize/create opportunities and launch a business.Research limitations/implicationsThe historical approach did not allow the authors to witness firsthand the practices and KinP episodes that participants verbalized. Regardless, the results show that aesthetic and sensible knowledge provide a fruitful lens for investigating EL while highlighting the indissoluble relationship between practice and learning.Originality/valueAlthough the senses have been recognized as fundamental for learning in organizations, entrepreneurship scholars have yet to explore the aesthetic and sensory processes involved in EL. The primary contribution of this paper is to develop a new understanding of the situated nature of EL as a process that starts well before entrepreneurial action occurs, stemming from entrepreneurs' experiencing of certain practices and the aesthetic and sensible knowledge they build over their life trajectory.

THINKING AND SLACKING OR DOING AND FEELING? GENDER AND THE INTERPLAY OF COGNITION AND AFFECT IN NEW VENTURE PLANNING

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (02) ◽  
pp. 213-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
CRAIG E. ARMSTRONG
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Behavior Model ◽  
Business Planning ◽  
Entrepreneurial Opportunity ◽  
Sense Of Ownership ◽  
Entrepreneurial Opportunities ◽  
New Business ◽  
Planning Processes ◽  
The Relationship

Studies of the relationship between gender and entrepreneurship have shown that men are significantly more likely to start a new business than women. Because an individual's entrepreneurial intentions are shaped by the perceived feasibility and desirability of an entrepreneurial opportunity, these results have generally emphasized how men perceive themselves as more capable of pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities than women. In this study, men have a higher level of self-efficacy than do women regarding entrepreneurial abilities. At the same time, the higher levels of involvement in business planning processes caused women to have a higher sense of ownership in the plan than did men. This sense of ownership is positively and significantly related to the perceived likelihood of success of the new venture. The findings of this study suggest women adopt certain roles and affects in the development of entrepreneurial opportunities that provide alternative explanations to the beliefs-attitudes-intentions-behavior model of intentionality. The roles and affects women adopt during new venture planning may give them superior insights into the likelihood of success of the new venture.

The effect of experience and innovativeness of entrepreneurial opportunities on the new venture emergence in China

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Long ◽  
Nan Dong
Keyword(s):  
Mutual Influence ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Small Time ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Experience ◽  
Entrepreneurial Opportunities ◽  
Industry Experience

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the model that explains the new venture emergence in China by examining the effects of experience and innovativeness of entrepreneurial opportunities on the new venture emergence, as well as the moderating effect of munificence. Design/methodology/approach Based on the dynamic data from the Chinese Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (CPSED) where nascent entrepreneurs were randomly sampled and were followed for three years, this paper uses the COX proportional hazard model to answer the research questions. Findings Those who have successful entrepreneurial experience are able to more rapidly create new ventures, whereas the relevant industry experience and innovativeness of entrepreneurial opportunities have a negative effect on the new venture emergence. Moreover, munificence negatively moderates the effects of entrepreneurial experience and innovativeness of entrepreneurial opportunities on the new venture emergence. Research limitations/implications This paper only measures whether entrepreneurs have relevant industry experience, and does not reflect on the different degrees of it. In addition, small time interval of dynamic follow-up survey may bias the results. Practical implications This paper revealed that not all kinds of experience promote the venture emergence, and a more innovative entrepreneurial opportunity is not always better. Entrepreneurs should accumulate experience and evaluate innovativeness of entrepreneurial opportunities rationally. Originality/value New venture emergence relies on the mutual influence of entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial opportunities and entrepreneurial environment. However, most studies explored the new venture emergence from a single perspective which led to a plethora of conflicting conclusions. This paper attempts to examine the effects of experience and innovativeness of entrepreneurial opportunities on the venture emergence, as well as the moderate effect of munificence.

Coopetition within the entrepreneurial ecosystem: startups’ entrepreneurial learning processes and their implications for new venture performance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junping Yang ◽  
Mengjie Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem ◽  
Entrepreneurial Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Relationship Of

Purpose This paper aims to explore coopetition within the entrepreneurial ecosystem and answer the following two fundamental questions: How does coopetition affect the entrepreneurial learning and performance of startups? and What learning strategies should startups adopt to promote their growth in the coopetition activities? Design/methodology/approach Using the structural equation model and instrumental variable, this study used a sample of 371 startups to test the hypotheses. Data comes from startups in Jiangsu, Shanghai and Zhejiang, China. Findings This study finds that the coopetition-performance relationship of startups is marginally negative. This study also finds that exploitative learning and exploratory learning positively mediate this relationship. Ecosystem’s social capital can enhance the coopetition-exploration relationship, but the coopetition-exploitation relationship is not affected. Originality/value Many studies propose that the coopetition-performance relationship is ambiguous, which makes it meaningful to explore startups individually. Based on the resource-based view and the knowledge-based view, this study deepen the works of Bouncken and Fredrich (2016c), that is, how startups can learn and grow through coopetition activities. This study proposes that coopetition is one of the foundations of the ecosystem and explore the coopetition-performance relationship in this special context. Thus, the present paper adds to the budding literature on the effects of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and to the literature on coopetition.

Re-contextualizing Entrepreneurial Opportunity as artefact Signalling for Entrepreneurial Action

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Leong
Keyword(s):  
Building Blocks ◽  
Dynamic Approach ◽  
Entrepreneurial Opportunity ◽  
Entrepreneurial Opportunities ◽  
Signalling Theory ◽  
Entrepreneurial Action ◽  
Over Time

<p>This paper reviews the concept of entrepreneurial actions arising from the opportunities using signalling theory as the building blocks to discuss the process from perception, recognition to enactment. By adopting a dynamic approach to study how entrepreneurs see opportunities, particularly the initial opportunities beliefs, over time, beliefs change. The perceived potentialities from the signals arising from opportunities also change. Strength of the initial opportunity beliefs, morph-ability of opportunities, frequency of opportunity appearances, multiple interpretations of opportunity, latency of opportunity, observability (intensity, visibility, strength and clarity), distortions of opportunity and false opportunity are topics that are scarcely addressed in entrepreneurial opportunities studies. We argue that the signalling effects open new veins of inquiry related to opportunity and entrepreneurial actions. Instead of seeing opportunity from either the discovery or creation approaches, opportunity should be viewed as opportunity-as-artefact with embedded perceived potentialities.</p>

Antecedent factors of business planning in the new venture emergence in China

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 510-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Long ◽  
Lan Geng ◽  
Muhammad Shakeel
Keyword(s):  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Continuous Variable ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Business Planning ◽  
Entrepreneurial Opportunity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Entrepreneurial Growth

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to build a research model from the perspectives of entrepreneur and entrepreneurial opportunity examining the effects of entrepreneurial growth aspiration and the innovativeness of entrepreneurial opportunity and their interactive effect on the business planning in the new venture emergence. Design/methodology/approach Six hypotheses are put forward and examined by hierarchical multiple linear regression and multiple logistic regression. The data of this paper are based on the first two rounds of survey data from Chinese Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics. Findings The empirical results show that entrepreneurial growth aspiration has significant positive effects on the business planning, namely, compared to the comfortable size entrepreneurs, the growth-oriented entrepreneurs are more likely to do the business planning in the new venture emergence. Different from prior discoveries, the innovativeness of opportunity has no effect on the business planning, but it positively influences the time of doing business planning, and entrepreneurial growth aspiration has a positive moderate effect on this relationship. Research limitations/implications Entrepreneurial growth aspiration in this paper is divided into growth-oriented entrepreneur and comfortable size entrepreneur from the single perspective of scale. Future research should define growth aspiration as a continuous variable in light of several dimensionalities. Practical implications The findings are useful for entrepreneurs to make rational and effective decisions whether to do business planning and when to do on the basis of their growth aspiration and the innovativeness of opportunity. The growth-oriented entrepreneur should do the business planning in the new venture emergence. The higher innovative the opportunity is, the latter the entrepreneur had better do the business planning. Besides, it provides the theoretical foundation for entrepreneurship training courses about business planning offered by governments, educational institutions and social training institutions. Originality/value This paper absorbs growth aspiration into the analysis framework about business planning based on expectancy theory, making up for deficiencies that prior researches excessively focus on entrepreneurial experience and opportunity. Additionally, the study will inspire scholars to research the mechanism of action relative to business planning from the interactive relationship between entrepreneur and entrepreneurial opportunity.

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