Narrating the Facets of Time in Entrepreneurial Action

Abstract

The current understanding of entrepreneurial action is grounded in time, but the different facets of this time remain to be sufficiently explored. We argue that entrepreneurial action has two temporal dimensions: world time and human time. World time reveals the prior contextual conditions giving rise to entrepreneurial actions that generate subsequent results. Human time reveals how entrepreneurs act on the basis of past experiences, attention to current conditions, and images of the future. Using a narrative framework to integrate world time and human time, we contribute to a deeper understanding of the different facets of time in entrepreneurial action.

The End of Resilience? Managing Vulnerability Through Temporal Resourcing and Resisting

“…Our findings also draw attention to the multiplicity of temporalities in entrepreneurship (Johnsen & Holt, 2021) and the extent to which previously taken for granted temporalities can become personable, controllable, and malleable (Amato et al, 2019). We believe working with time will become increasingly important for entrepreneurs facing different types of adversity.…”

“…They grappled with extreme levels of vulnerability (Doern, 2021; Thorgren & Williams, 2020). They experience extreme emotions (Slaughter et al, 2021), in human time (Johnsen & Holt, 2021). Yet given the abnormality of the global pandemic, bouncing back to pre-crisis level is no longer an option.…”

“…Time as a resource is often (narratively) mobilized by entrepreneurs (Fisher et al, 2019). They develop elaborate narrative accounts of time (Johnsen & Holt, 2021; Wood et al, 2021). Entrepreneurs facing chronic adversity asked, ‘What’s going on here?’ and ‘What do I do next?’ (Powell & Baker, 2014).…”

“…https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14647308 2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8176701.stm 3. We refer to our participants as protagonists to emphasize our focus on their first-person experience and the human aspects of time (Johnsen & Holt, 2021), promote a more integrative voice (Dimov et al, 2021) and solidarity (Dimov, 2020).…”

Factor markets, institutional quality and firm formalisation: The contingent effect of economic conditions at the founding stage

“…The founding stage represents only one dimension of temporality, whereas the time lapse and sequence of events that lead to desired outcomes (in this case, formalisation) are equally important (van Lent et al, 2020; Wood et al, 2021). Recent research on temporality and entrepreneurship suggests that chronological time must be considered in light of an entrepreneur’s anticipation, experience and orientation (Johnsen and Holt, 2021; Lippmann and Aldrich, 2016). Further investigation of this issue would require primary data from the entrepreneurs involved.…”