Principal Topic

While Gartner (1988) altered the focus of the discussion from the person to the behaviour, and Bygrave and Hofer (1991) highlighted the notion of entrepreneurship as a process, the issue of context remains underdeveloped, receiving attention primarily through the perspective of ‘fragmentation’ within the literature. This paper examines the very different approaches of corporate, individual, and social entrepreneurship, as well as organisational issues such as whether entrepreneurship occurs within a commercial, government, not-for-profit, or international circumstance. Investigation is also undertaken of the macro and microenvironments from which entrepreneurship takes place, furthered by analysis of how the process is contingent upon the context. If entrepreneurial behaviour and endeavour emerges from, and is influenced by, the context within which the entrepreneur operates, then the process cannot be homogenous but instead reflects the particular environment in which it takes place. Thus, the paper breaks down context and searches for variations and patterns of divergence and convergence.

Method

The research method employed for this paper was multidimensional, since the work was of a exploratory developmental nature requiring viewing through multiple lenses. Building from an initial detailed mapping of the literature, the research employed case studies to generate a deeper understanding of the critical issues. Sixteen entrepreneurs were interviewed in-depth to analyse the person, process and context from which the enterprise was born. The case studies represent a balance regarding gender, age, ethnic background, industry sectors, establishment background, public/private organisation, and environment. The case studies additionally examined whether the firms were founded by lone actors or entrepreneurial teams, and the affect that multiple founders have on the entrepreneurship process.

Implications

The paper presents a new perspective on the typologies and processes of entrepreneurship, one that is fluid and contingent upon context. It is heterogeneous, evolutionary and emergent in nature, reflecting the wide variety of relationships between person, process, and context in terms of entrepreneurship. Such a model will have significant implications for policy makers, trainers, and other stakeholders seeking to engender entrepreneurial activity.

CONTACT: Thomas Cooney, Foundation for SME Development, University of Durham, Mill Hill Lane, Durham DH1 3LB, England.