An Overview of the Field of

Entrepreneurship
Research
Emie Sarreal, DBA
Trends Associated with
Entrepreneurship Research
 Entrepreneurship is a relatively
young field (Cooper,2003);
 Some argue that it is in its
adolescence (Low, 2001);
 Others contend that it is still
emerging (Busenitz, West,
Shepherd, Nelson, Chandler, &
Zacharakis, 2003).
Trends Associated with
Entrepreneurship Research
 the search for a distinct theory of
entrepreneurship continues (Phan,
2004),
 characterized by low paradigmatic
development (Ireland, Webb, &
Coombs, 2005), and
 scholars have frequently evaluated it in
order to assess its progress and status
as an independent field of study
(Davidsson, 2003; Sarasvathy, 2004;
Smith, Gannon, & Sapienza, 1989).
Entrepreneurship Research
Domain
 entrepreneurship construct is
variously argued to concern
opportunity identification and
exploitation (Shane &
Venkataraman, 2000)
 corporate renewal (Guth &
Ginsberg, 1990), and
 the creation of firms (Alvarez,
2003; Vesper, 1982),
Entrepreneurship Research
Domain
 “corporate entrepreneurship,”
“intrapreneurship,” and “new technology
ventures”) are proxies for innovation.
 New entry (Lumpkin & Dess, 1996) and the
recognition and exploitation of opportunities
(Shane & Venkataraman, 2000) are among
the topics entrepreneurship researchers often
examine.
Focal Areas of Entrepreneurship
Research
Data Collection Methods Employed
Level of Analysis in
Entrepreneurship Research
Commonly Used Analytical
Tools
Commonly Used Dependent
Variables
Future Areas of Research
 Scholars appear to be increasingly
interested in studying questions
regarding new ventures, international
entrepreneurship, and initial public
offerings (IPOs).
 The questions studied could find
entrepreneurship researches specifying
a wide range of hypotheses that are
motivated by a number of different
theories at varying levels of analysis.
Future Areas of Research
 future entrepreneurship research may
also be influenced by researchers’
desire to examine a question Rumelt
(1987) (among others) raised: Where
do new businesses come from?
 The nexus of entrepreneurs and
opportunities [Shane &
Venkataraman, 2000]
Current Research
Perspectives/Paradigms
 Current predominant perspective:
 Functionalism – concentration on
objective facts ignoring the emotion and
personal angst of the entrepreneurs; no
attempt to change the prevailing
framework
 Interpretive – subjective views of the
researcher focusing on the regulatory
nature of society (i.e., no attempt to
change the prevailing framework just
interested in how society maintains order
and regulates status quo)
Current Research
Perspectives
 Functionalism aspires to employ
well-regarded scientific methods and
normally has the agenda of
improving some aspect of economy,
society, or entrepreneurship;
 for example, increasing innovation,
gross domestic product, employment
and self-employment, and reducing
business failure.
Alternative research
perspectives/paradigms:

 Radical Structuralist - concentration

on objective facts while exposing
structural issues (e.g. government
discourse on entrepreneurship and the
embedded structural issues)
 Radical Humanist – subjective views of
the researcher advocating the
emancipation of entrepreneurs without
imposing a specific agenda
Alternative research
perspectives/paradigms
 Academic tradition builds a
justification for radical research by
demonstrating the absence of
something; the research need
emerges from a gap in the
literature, which is then occupied
(Swales, 1990).
 Is the absence of something in
itself justification of a need?
My Future Research Direction
 Multidimensional growth model with
emphasis on how entrepreneurs
pursue opportunities
 Classify entrepreneurs into
opportunity entrepreneurs and
necessity entrepreneurs
 Take into account the window of
opportunity open to entrepreneurs
per type of industry/sector they are in
Thank you