Pioneers In Entrepreneurship And Small Business Research

Around the world there is increasing interest in issues of small business and entrepreneurship. This book encapsulates the knowledge that can be gained from the most significant research contributions in this field. In addition it provides a historical-doctrinal review of the development of entrepreneurship and small business research, and presents some of the key pioneers that have shaped the research field.

Collectively, the authors present an informative overview of some of the best European research in entrepreneurship that exists at present. In addition, the variation in research traditions and approaches offer the reader an interesting insight into the various disciplinary perspectives that can shed light on entrepreneurial activities, including insights from psychology, sociology, finance and strategy. The attempt to examine both individual and firm-level analysis is also a strength of this book, given that the majority of entrepreneurship research tends to focus on just one of these streams and there is a dearth of work that is able to integrate and understand both dimensions simultaneously. . . the book provides value for money for those whom entrepreneurship research within a European context is a particular interest. Jean Clarke, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research This book brings together some of Europe s finest scholars, showcasing the richness, diversity and quality of European entrepreneurship research. Collectively, the authors present an authoritative overview of state-of-the-art research on current entrepreneurship themes. This book is a must read for scholars, policymakers, and students interested in staying updated about the current state of entrepreneurship research. Johan Wiklund, Syracuse University, US The 20th edition of the RENT conference took place where it started 20 years ago: in the European capital , Brussels. The current volume presents the best papers of this conference and offers a grand view of the state of the art of European entrepreneurship research. Drivers as well as consequences are dealt with from many different angles. Taken together it gives a thorough description of the scarcest and most essential of all input factors of the modern economy: entrepreneurship. Roy Thurik, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands This book provides an invaluable, state-of-the-art overview of current European research in the field of entrepreneurship. It focuses on four themes, each of which illustrates a key dimension in the overall theme: entrepreneurs and their role in entrepreneurship entrepreneurship in family businesses performance of new ventures and entrepreneurial processes. Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Growth and Performance is written from various perspectives by eminent academics with different methodological approaches. It is an invaluable resource for researchers, scholars and students as well as consultants and policymakers with an interest in entrepreneurship and small businesses.

This thought provoking book builds on existing research traditions that make small business, entrepreneurship and family business a resource rich arena for study.

This insightful Handbook focuses on behaviour, performance and relationships in small and entrepreneurial firms.

Pioneering Entrepreneurship Research lists the seminal and pioneering research efforts conducted by a limited group of scholars from different disciplines that challenged traditional thought on small business and entrepreneurship - these pioneers and their specific contributions transformed our thinking about entrepreneurs. This monograph also discusses the drivers that motivated their entrepreneurial endeavors, their influence at the firm/micro-level and their role in fostering economic development and growth. It explores how their breakthrough contributions increasingly gained acceptance in several disciplines, thereby toppling previous views with profound implications for theory, empirics, methodology and policy. Research on entrepreneurship has witnessed a tremendous renaissance and continues to rapidly evolve. This monograph identifies scholars who have played a particularly important role in pushing the research frontier through their seminal work in the entrepreneurship field. Following an introduction, the authors discuss the definition of entrepreneurship and the academic domain of entrepreneurship research. Next is a chronological account of the early pioneers and the origin of entrepreneurship research. The monograph provides a more detailed description of contemporary pioneers, defined as those that contributed to shaping and defining the research field in the latter decades. It then groups pioneers into specific research categories aiming to give a comprehensive picture of how the advances made has served to deepen our understanding of how the economy works. This is followed by a discussion of avenues for future entrepreneurship research and a conclusion with references.

Interest in and attention to entrepreneurship has exploded in recent years. Nevertheless, much of the research and scholarship in entrepreneurship has remained elusive to academics, policymakers and other researchers, in large part because the field is informed by a broad spectrum of disciplines, including management, finance, economics, policy, sociology, and psychology, often pursued in isolation from each other. Since its original publication in 2003, the Handbook of Entrepreneurship Research has served as the definitive resource in the field, bringing together contributions from leading scholars in these disciplines to present a holistic, multi-dimensional approach. This new edition, fully revised and updated, and including several new chapters, covers all of the primary topics in entrepreneurship, including entrepreneurial behavior, risk and opportunity recognition, equity financing, business culture and strategy, innovation, and the impact of entrepreneurship on economic growth and development. Featuring an integrative introduction, extensive literature reviews and reference lists, the Handbook will continue to serve as a roadmap to the rapidly evolving and dynamic field of entrepreneurship.

This textbook familiarises students with the theory and practice of small business management and challenges assumptions that may be held about the way small business management can or should adopt the management practices of larger firms. For students interested in establishing and managing their own small firm, this book helps them to focus their thinking on the realities of life as a small business owner-manager – both its challenges and its rewards. For postgraduate students that are keen to ‘make a difference’, this text enables them to understand how they might consult to small firms and assist owner-managers to establish and grow their ventures. In addition to students, this book is also useful to small business owner-managers as a general guide on how they might better manage their operations. Managers in large corporations and financial institutions who deal with small businesses as clients or suppliers, and professionals such as accountants, lawyers and consultants who provide advice and other services to small businesses will also find the book of interest.