Exploring Entrepreneurship

This is a great book, a book that I long have searched for and wanted for my students. What I particular value in this book is the books discussion of pro and cons, and how it allows the reader to evaluate their options. The book offers a nice and balanced introduction to the variety of ways one could engage in entrepreneurship, both in practice and as a learner. Part I takes a “how to do” approach aiding the reader from an idea search to an emerging new venture. Part II addresses the learners need for guidance. Through the tales of entrepreneurship scholars, cases, elaborations on research questions and methods, the learner are offered a way into exploring essential emerging issues in entrepreneurship research themselves. The format of the book allows me as a teacher in entrepreneurship subjects to assist the learning of my students by inviting them into the entrepreneurial universe by themselves taking part in their own entrepreneurial endeavor through action and reflection.

A detailed and contemporary text offering a coherent outline of key concepts and practices in the field of entrepreneurship. This book explores a diverse range of issues relevant to all studying entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial behaviour; an excellent and comprehensive text. It is to be recommended to all those engaged with teaching, debating and theorising entrepreneurship.

This book provides an insightful grounded perspective on the rapidly evolving subject of entrepreneurship. The combination of the practical and the academic gives it a distinctive position in the marketplace for student texts on the subject.

This is a well written and accessible book on entrepreneurship which makes a welcome return in an improved second edition. Blundel, Lockett and Wang with their blend of practical coverage and perspectives on entrepreneurship make the subject come to life. This book will be invaluable to lecturers and students alike.

This is a great book which is easy to read for practitioners and offers a comprehensive insight for academic scholars and entrepreneurs.

Part Two explores the research dimensions of entrepreneurship and is more likely to appeal to the final year undergraduate or postgraduate student looking for deeper knowledge of different research perspectives and their interactions with both entrepreneurial and the learner’s experiences. Important economic, historical and political perspectives are addressed in an authoritative, yet accessible way, which also embeds international dimensions throughout. The final chapter addresses entrepreneurial learning, however the focus on learning is recursive throughout the book. Overall, this is a rare example of a very well researched, accessible and authoritative text which should appeal both to learners and to educators.

Exploring Entrepreneurship is a breakthrough textbook for students of entrepreneurship. No other textbook combines such a clear summary of the s...

Richard K. Blundel is Professor of Enterprise and Organisation in the Department for Public Leadership and Social Enterprise at The Open University.  He has been involved in creating and leading several new undergraduate and postgraduate courses in entrepreneurship and innovation.  Richards current research focuses on promoting environmental sustainability in SMEs.  He also examines growth and innovation in craft-based firms, such as cheesemakers, small boat builders, furniture designer-makers and brass musical instrument manufacturers. His work has been published in journals such as Business & Society, Business Strategy and the Environment, Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Enterprise & Society and The Journal of Small Business Management.  He has also contributed two articles, on artisan production and industrialisation, to The Oxford Companion to Cheese (Oxford University Press, 2016). Nigel Lockett is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Head of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship at the University of Strathclyde. He is a senior academic, experienced manager, serial entrepreneur and community leader. In 2015, he was awarded a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship for outstanding contribution to enterprise in higher education. Nigel also has over 25 years experience as a company director, with a track record in managing start-up, joint venture and social enterprises. His current research interests focus on academic entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial learning and the use of customer relationship management (CRM) technologies by SMEs. Recently, he was a Co-Investigator on the 7m GCRF RECIRCULATE project: Driving eco-innovation in Africa: capacity-building for a safe, circular water economy. Nigel is a Fellow and Past President of the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Catherine L. Wang is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at the Brunel Business School, Brunel University London. She has been involved in creating the undergraduate programme in entrepreneurship and innovation. Catherines research interests are at the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation and strategy, and in particular, how firms can turn strategic and entrepreneurial resources and capabilities into successful innovation and firm performance in both commercial and social enterprises. Her work has been published in journals such as Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, British Journal of Management, International Journal of Management Reviews, Journal of Business Research, International Small Business Journal, and Journal of Small Business Management. Catherine has also co-edited books on entrepreneurial learning and cross-cultural research methods. Suzanne Mawson is a Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the Hunter Centre for En...

Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Varieties of Entrepreneurship PART I Entrepreneurship in Practice Chapter 3 Visions: Creating New Ventures Chapter 4 Opportunities: Nurturing Creativity and Innovation Chapter 5 People: Leading Teams and Networks Chapter 6 Markets: Understanding Customers and Competitors Chapter 7 Operations: Implementing Technologies, Processes and Controls Chapter 8 Accounts: Interpreting Financial Performance Chapter 9 Finances: Raising Capital for New Ventures PART II Perspectives on Entrepreneurship Chapter 10 Research Matters: Introduction and Overview Chapter 11 Individual Perspectives: Beyond the 'Heroic' Entrepreneur Chapter 12 Social Perspectives: Understanding People and Places Chapter 13 Economic Perspectives: Influences and Impacts Chapter 14 Historical Perspectives: The 'Long View' Chapter 15 Political Perspectives: From Policy to Practice Chapter 16 Reflections: Entrepreneurial Learning