Exhibiting entrepreneurial behavior at work: a lived experience of a millennial entrepreneur

Abstract

PurposeThis paper offers a story-based/narrative inquiry rooted in qualitative methodology, portraying a millennial entrepreneur in Uganda, a low-developed country that has successfully demonstrated entrepreneurial behaviors at work. The study of entrepreneurial behavior at workplaces by millennial entrepreneurs formed the basis for the real-life trials that entrepreneurs go through in their businesses. Besides, the produced empirical content gives a solid linkage between the story and the enterprise's work setting.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the authors used storytelling to get a clear view of reality and obtain a real-life experience of entrepreneurial behavior at work. The experiences and perceptions of the millennial entrepreneur were assessed by conducting in-depth interviews while focusing on the context, actions, results and lessons to generate a coherent story.FindingsThis paper reports that demonstrating entrepreneurial behavior at work by the millennial entrepreneur resulted in better performance that ultimately benefited the enterprise. Additionally, findings reveal that story-based narrative inquiry is appropriate for demonstrating the true reality at workplaces, especially in the context of exhibiting the behaviors of entrepreneurs. Other entrepreneurs can emulate what the actor did and benchmark on the findings to improve their performance and that of their enterprises.Originality/valueThis study is unique in its use of a positive story showing a real-life experience of how entrepreneurial behaviors are exhibited at workplaces in micro and small enterprises in a low-developed country like Uganda. The paper also offers evidence and insights into the use of a positive story to demonstrate a practical experience of how millennial entrepreneurs demonstrate entrepreneurial behaviors at work. Additionally, the study used multiple theories that best explained the current practice of entrepreneurial behavior among millennials at workplaces in micro and small enterprises.

Enhancing public accountability in a city authority

“…The context provides the prevailing situation that needed to be altered, the actions indicate what has been done to address the situation, the results are the outcomes obtained from the actions undertaken and the lessons entail the learning points drawn from the story. These themes comprised the unit of analysis in line with earlier scholars (Nalweyiso et al, 2022;Yiga et al, 2023). Initially, the principal researcher did the coding, but subsequently all the researchers converged to agree, hence ensuring objectivity (Straus and Corbin, 1990).…”

“…To analyze the data in this study, the authors used qualitative content analysis (Yiga et al, 2023). Based on the guidelines by Smith (2012), the researchers used predetermined themes in the form of context, actions, results and lessons to generate a comprehensible story on public accountability at KCCA.…”

“…(2012), storytelling is vital in explaining diverse perspectives about the phenomenon under investigation. Besides, previous scholars like Nalweyiso et al (2022) and Yiga et al (2023) assert that storytelling gives the researchers an opportunity to obtain real-life experience of practices narrated through interactions with participants.…”

“…In this study, individual players like directors (accountability providers) and councilors (accountability recipients) at KCCA had their own views regarding how KCCA has become an outstanding publicly accountable entity. As a result, the study used interviews to obtain knowledge about the unstructured nature of public accountability at the authority level (Knight and Cross, 2012;Yiga et al, 2023). Subsequently, the researchers used a qualitative methodology to investigate the phenomenon of public accountability.…”

“…To address the above gaps, the current study uses the positive story of a public entity in Uganda, a developing African country that has satisfactorily been able to promote effective public accountability practices. Such an entity can be used as a benchmark to promote proper accountability practices, as stories with positive outcomes are replicable and can help enhance performance (Rossetti and Wall, 2017;Nalweyiso et al, 2022;Yiga et al, 2023). To explain the living practices in the story, the authors use multiple theories.…”