Frontiers in European Entrepreneurship series – serie

This timely book presents contemporary research on the key role of entrepreneurship in firm growth and development strategies. The contributors reveal that a high level of entrepreneurial activity contributes to economic growth, innovative activities, competition, job creation and local development. The contents of the book, although varied in terms of the topics covered and research methods used, demonstrate the role of entrepreneurship in relation to growth and economic development in a variety of different contexts. Drawing together leading-edge European research, the expert contributors analyze a number of different issues, such as whether firm growth and performance are different concepts in entrepreneurship studies, growth strategies of IT firms, the start-up funding process, cross-border cooperation between enterprises and SME competitiveness. Entrepreneurship, Growth and Economic Development will appeal to researchers and students of entrepreneurship and small business. Policy makers will also find this book a source of inspiration. Contributors: K. Balaton, K. Becker, M. Brannback, A. Carsrud, T.M. Cooney, H. Crijns, A. Fayolle, D. Finn, V. Gupta, T. Hogan, L. Hortovanyi, E. Hutson, K. Ikeuchi, N. Kiviluoto, F. Kronthaler, J. Lepoutre, C. O Gorman, H. Okamuro, M. Raposo, D. Smallbone, C. Streb, L. Szerb, O. Tilleuil, J. Ulbert, W. Van den Berghe, K. Wagner, F. Welter, O. Witmeur, M. Xheneti

The contextual turn in the field of entrepreneurship means it is crucial for scholars to integrate into their research the multifaceted contexts in which entrepreneurship is embedded. This insightful book explores the different spatial, social, digital, institutional and policy contexts for entrepreneurship and investigates their relevance for entrepreneurship theory and practice. Featuring cutting-edge research, Contextual Embeddedness of Entrepreneurship presents a wide range of theoretical approaches undertaken to study entrepreneurial behaviour and processes, analysing their relevance to policy and practice. Chapters examine these approaches through the lens of specific issues and circumstances related to digital, edtech, social, international and peripheral entrepreneurship, exploring diverse perspectives and illustrating how different contexts shape entrepreneurial activity and its outcomes. The book ultimately demonstrates how changing environmental conditions for entrepreneurship – including crises, societal challenges and increasing digitalisation – can open up new avenues for research into the embeddedness of entrepreneurship. Illustrating the continuous evolution of studies in entrepreneurship, this discerning book will stimulate the research of students and scholars of business and management. Its up-to-date empirical approaches and practical insights will also benefit entrepreneurship researchers and practitioners.

Navigating Entrepreneurial Contexts highlights the critical importance of understanding and adapting entrepreneurship to the diverse contexts in which businesses operate. The heterogeneity of the topics covered in this book reflects the richness of theories and methods employed in this interdisciplinary field of study.A team of expert contributors explore the nuanced interplay between entrepreneurship and context, illustrating how entrepreneurs not only shape and construct their contexts but also the lenses through which researchers scrutinise this relationship. Authors argue that this leads to the discovery of hidden aspects crucial for advancing entrepreneurship studies. Chapters delve into contextual factors that drive entrepreneurs to shape and adapt to their environments, with authors employing a range of methods such as case studies, surveys, and theoretical and conceptual models.This book is an essential resource for academics, researchers and students of business and management, entrepreneurship and the economics of entrepreneurship. Business professionals will also find this to be an indispensable guide due to the text’s practical implications.

Entrepreneurship in the Digital and Sustainable Era provides a timely exploration of the twofold development of entrepreneurship research: refining well-established concepts like social and human capital while responding to emerging trends such as digitalisation and sustainability. The book presents key findings in a variety of contexts, detailing the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs in today's complex business environment.Expert contributors employ diverse research approaches, including qualitative case studies, FsQCA analysis, and content analysis, to capture the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurship. They explore the critical influence of gender, networks, and entrepreneurial resilience in shaping business success and highlight the transformative impact of digital technologies and sustainable business models, addressing ethical concerns and the evolving role of digital platforms. While many discussions are rooted in the European entrepreneurship landscape, the book also presents case studies from other regions, including Africa, providing a broader international perspective.This book is of interest not only to those studying entrepreneurship but also to those exploring shifts in the economic landscape related to business practices. It is relevant to a broad audience, including doctoral students at the beginning of their research journeys as well as scholars seeking insightful findings in their respective fields.

This insightful book presents leading-edge European research on entrepreneurial processes in a changing global world. The contributors take a closer look at what constitutes entrepreneurial processes; how entrepreneurs develop their businesses and access critical resources in times of crisis; and which roles knowledge and innovation play in continuous venture development. The chapters included in this volume give a flavor of the themes and approaches featuring in contemporary entrepreneurship and small business research in Europe. Entrepreneurial Processes in a Changing Economy will prove invaluable for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of entrepreneurship and small business. Entrepreneurship and small business researchers as well as policy makers will also find plenty of relevant information in this important resource. Contributors: O. Belousova, M. Brand, A. Campos, T.H. Clausen, E. Croonen, B. Gailly, P.M. Garcia-Villaverde, D. Helleboogh, E. Hormiga, E. Laveren, R. Leenders, N. Lybaert, C. O'Gorman, G. Parra-Requena, E. Rasmussen, M.J. Ruiz-Ortega, V. Schutjens, B. Sleutjes, D. Smallbone, A. Van Gils, F. Van Oort, F. Welter, M. Wright

Entrepreneurial Business and Society summarizes contemporary research in the field of entrepreneurship and small business and explores the interplay between the entrepreneur, the entrepreneurial firm and society.The contributors highlight that entrepreneurship may also contribute to social change and that welfare and success could be measured in terms of their effect on society. Topics explored throughout the volume are the promotion of entrepreneurial businesses, entrepreneurial people and entrepreneurial sectors.The book will prove invaluable for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of entrepreneurship and small business. Entrepreneurship and small business researchers as well as policy makers will also find plenty of relevant information in this important resource.Contributors: B.W. Åmo, F. Bertoni, M. Bianchi, R. Blackburn, M. Brettel, D. Chiaroni, J. Collis, A. Croce, P. Eckerle, F. Frattini, J. Grande, M. Guerini, J. Heinonen, L. Hurmerinta, U. Hytti, E. Ka perová, J. Kitching, E. Ljunggren, R. Mauer, T. Minola, Ö. Örge, E. Paavilainen-Mäntymäki, R.K. Pati, E. Vuorinen, F. Welter, S.A. Zahra, L. Zhao

By combining high-quality and in-depth research in the field, this book provides a state-of-the-art analysis of the current topical issues in European entrepreneurship and small business research.With contributions from international experts, the book provides a particular focus on the behaviour between individuals and groups within different contexts; the personal and structural factors that shape entrepreneurial and small business activity; and a focus on gender in entrepreneurship within different contexts.Students and academics interested in gender and entrepreneurship will benefit from this far-reaching book. The contextual and practical approach will also be of use to national and regional policy makers.Contributors: S. Aaltonen, R. Blackburn, J. Byrne, A. Chepurenko, O. Duygulu, S. Fattoum, C.I. Gögüs, M. Guerrero, J. Hermes, U. Hytti, T. Mainela, S. Marlow, J. Mitra, Ö. Örge, S. Tegtmeier, D. Urbano, F. Welter

The role of resources is pivotal in entrepreneurship for the success of new and small ventures, though most face resource constraints. The book offers multiple perspectives on analyzing and understanding the importance of resources in entrepreneurship development. Approaching the subject with both a practice-theory and research-based approach, the contributors analyse topics such as processes and structures in social entrepreneuring; entrepreneurship and equity in crowdfunding; and forming alliances with large firms to overcome resource constraints. The contributors provide evidence, for example, on how business angels can contribute more than finance to small ventures and how the flexibility of resources is important in internationalisation.Students and scholars of entrepreneurship, business and management, and other related subjects will find this book to be of interest. It will also be of use to practitioners in the field looking for practical advice.Contributors include: J. Alpenberg, R. Blackburn, Y. Chu, P. Eriksson, D. Fletcher, B. Giordano, S. Horner, T. Huynh, U. Hytti, S. Joensuu-Salo, B. Johannisson, P. Karhunen, O.-M. Nevalainen, I. Olimpieva, K. Salamonsen, H. Sapienza, P. Strandberg, E. Varamäki, A. Viljamaa, F. Welter

Context is everything in entrepreneurship research. This book compellingly demonstrates the ways in which the distinctive European cultural, societal and geographic environments enable research into new entrepreneurial phenomena. It also gives guidance as to how future research should endeavour to understand the influences of context. The Dynamics of Entrepreneurial Contexts explores the European methodological diversity encompassing various academic disciplines and research paradigms. Contributors suggest European entrepreneurship research should give priority to the local and individual to enable new research questions that are resonant with context. Finally, the book welcomes critical analyses of entrepreneurship that aim at questioning the taken-for-granted assumptions and analyses that increase our understanding of the counterproductive forms of entrepreneurship. Providing a unique insight into the emerging topics of entrepreneurship research, both European and international researchers will benefit from the different analytical and methodological perspectives provided to understand the differences, similarities and the configurations of context. With a variety of regional and industry examples, postgraduates will significantly benefit from the overview of new and important research.Contributors include: S. Aaltonen, E. Akola, K. Axelsson, R. Blackburn, F.M. Cesaroni, L. Höglund, U. Hytti, A. Isaksson, T. Jones, T. Lepistö, H. Löfsten, M. Mårtensson, M. Pospísilová, M. Ram, H. Rannikko, H. Rydehell, A. Sentuti, S. Tegtmeier, E. Tornikoski, M. Villares-Varela, D. Yar Hamidi

Entrepreneurship education is an area of growing importance within entrepreneurship research. This book critically discusses innovation and entrepreneurship in new and varied contexts in Europe.Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Education explores the need for researching innovation and learning in family firms, micro firms, SMEs and in rural and network contexts. The chapters offer new insights into the antecedents of business performance in SMEs by investigating social capital and marketing capabilities. The book includes a new typology for analysing entrepreneurship education programmes, discusses opportunities in embedding entrepreneurship in teacher education and explores entrepreneurship in the informal learning arenas in universities. This book includes a wide range of studies from different analytical and methodological perspectives and from various regional and industrial contexts. As such, it is a valuable tool for advanced students wishing to gain an overview of research on European entrepreneurship. Researchers in entrepreneurship would also benefit from the up-to-date research analysis in this book.Contributors include: L. Aaboen, T. Aadland, K. Axelsson, D. Aylward, M. Belarouci, R. Blackburn, A. De Massis, V. François, U. Hytti, S. Joensuu-Salo, E.J.B. Jørgensen, F. Kelliher, S. Kettunen, K. Kohtakangas, C. Lafaye, E. Laveren, M. Markowska, L. Mathisen, P. Parkkari, L. Reinl, P. Rovelli, K. Sorama, F. Welter, M. Westerberg

The applied nature of the field of entrepreneurship means it is crucial for scholars and researchers to connect with practitioners to ensure that their work has an impact on real-world activity. This insightful book examines the need to bridge the gap between scientific rigour in entrepreneurship research and its practical relevance to external stakeholders, and demonstrates clearly how this can be achieved in practice.Featuring cutting-edge research, Rigour and Relevance in Entrepreneurship Research, Resources and Outcomes presents and evaluates current critical approaches in the field, analysing their theoretical value and their relevance to policy and practice. Chapters examine these approaches through the lens of specific issues and circumstances such as intrapreneurship, freelancing, crowdfunding, family firms and technology-based start-ups, providing a variety of perspectives and exemplifying how pragmatic questions can productively influence research agendas.This book's up-to-date analysis and practical insight will prove invaluable to scholars and researchers in entrepreneurship as well as other business and management academics. Students at all levels in these fields will also find it useful for considering future research.

This insightful book explores the importance and influence of contextual heterogeneity in the field of entrepreneurship research, illuminating the circumstances, conditions or environments that may enable or constrain entrepreneurship. Expert contributors present the results of empirical studies in a wide variety of contexts, describing their depth and meaning both for entrepreneurship research and practice. Chapters illustrate a range of topics and research methods, including business model innovation in start-up companies, the challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in STEM, and the use of technology signalling in explaining the performance of immigrant entrepreneurship in market economies. Presenting new scientific evidence in the field, together with research-informed policy and practical implications, the book demonstrates that a multitude of research approaches must be used to reflect the multi-dimensional nature of context in entrepreneurship. Warning against simplistic interpretations and superficial conclusions of research, this book will prove to be an invaluable resource for scholars and students of entrepreneurship. Its use of empirical studies will also be beneficial for practitioners in this field.

Presenting cutting-edge research from Europe and beyond, The Role of Ecosystems in Developing Startups examines the diverse triggers of the entrepreneurial process and evaluates the richness of different entrepreneurial ecosystems.Novel approaches and methodologies in the field of startups, small business and entrepreneurship are provided, together with the conceptualisation of ecosystems in the managerial field. The book also demonstrates the importance of context in terms of actors and networks, the complete entrepreneurial journey as a set of complex processes and the role of time and resources supporting new companies. Furthermore, the use of social networks in both the early stages and in strategy execution are investigated as key to the entrepreneurial process and its ultimate success.The book’s up-to-date empirical approach and practical guidance will provide an excellent resource to scholars and researchers in entrepreneurship alongside other business and management topics, practitioners and policy analysts in the field of entrepreneurship and management.