The devil is in the e-tale: forms and structures in the entrepreneurial narratives

Smith, Robert; Anderson, Alistair R.

doi:10.4337/9781845421472.00012

Cited by 75 publications

(91 citation statements)

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“…The purpose is the moral of Berger sr.'s story. His autobiography contains two moral themes that are typical of tales of entrepreneurship (Smith & Anderson, 2004). The first idea is the social promotion of entrepreneurship, through an emphasis on independence, perseverance, and the importance of success.…”

Section: Analysis Of the Two Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The second theme is the promotion of particular values for entrepreneurship, through an emphasis on how it should be ethical (Ahl, 2007). This is communicated in Berger sr.'s autobiography by the 'falling from grace' of those who do not adopt entrepreneurial principles of hard work, independence, prudence, honesty, and decency (Smith & Anderson, 2004 (Astone, 2009, p. 126).…”

Section: Analysis Of the Two Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Burden of History in the Family Business Organization

Hjorth

Dawson

2016

Organization Studies

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In this paper we focus on the study of history through the use of narratives, within the context of the prevalent form of organization worldwide: the family business. Specifically we consider the dilemma of the impossible gift of succession using Nietzsche's discussion of the burden of history and paralleling the story of a family business succession with that of Shakespeare's King Lear. This way, we seek to make a contribution to organizational studies by answering recent calls to engage more with history in studies of business organizations.By implication, the study also initiates an integration of family business studies into organization studies.

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Section: Analysis Of the Two Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Analysis Of the Two Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Burden of History in the Family Business Organization

Hjorth

Dawson

2016

Organization Studies

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“…Methodologically, social construction has proved useful in explaining how meanings (Fletcher, 2006) inform what we understand to be entrepreneurship. Thus, metaphor (Anderson et al, 2009;Drakopoulou Dodd and de Koning, 2002), narratives (Johansson, 2004;Smith and Anderson, 2004) and discourse (Ogbor, 2000;Anderson and Smith, 2007) have been employed in exploring the social constructions of entrepreneurship. A development has been the examination of how the press has engaged with reproducing the entrepreneurial discourse (Radu and Redien-Collet, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The entrepreneur as hero and jester: Enacting the entrepreneurial discourse

Anderson

Warren

2011

International Small Business Journal

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219

175

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Employing a social construction perspective, this article argues that entrepreneurs are uniquely empowered by entrepreneurial discourse to bring about creative destruction. Analysis of the representation of entrepreneurship in the media suggests that entrepreneurs have a distinctive presence in society that is shaped by cultural norms and expectations. These images create and present an entrepreneurial identity. Yet identity has two facets: the general, identified as ‘what’ but also a distinctive individual identity as ‘who’. This article explores the identity play of one flamboyant entrepreneur, Michael O’Leary, to show how he deploys the rhetoric and rationality of entrepreneurial discourse, but shapes it through emotional games to establish his unique entrepreneurial identity. It finds strong evidence that entrepreneurs are culturally stereotypical and that this is amplified by the press, but also how O’Leary employs this typification to engage with the rational and emotional, explaining how this is used for strategic advantage.

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“…Of course, many entrepreneurs fail with little fanfare, as there is not much of a market for discouraging stories. Yet some failures, like those of Horie, receive great attention, perhaps because as Smith and McElwee, (2011) and Smith and Anderson (2004) suggest, they can be rewritten as epic tales of tragedy, which might well attract readers. Whatever the reason, study of such cases can give us insight into the nature of rule-breaking behaviour and its fit with the mythology of entrepreneurship.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rule-breaking and legitimacy: a failure of artful navigation?

Warren

Smith

2015

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior &Amp; Research

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Section 6 of the "Repository policy for OpenAIR @ RGU" (available from http://www.rgu.ac.uk/staff-and-currentstudents/library/library-policies/repository-policies) provides guidance on the criteria under which RGU will consider withdrawing material from OpenAIR. If you believe that this item is subject to any of these criteria, or for any other reason should not be held on OpenAIR, then please contact openair-help@rgu.ac.uk with the details of the item and the nature of your complaint. ABSTRACT PurposeThis paper critically examines the tension between rule-breaking and legitimacy for entrepreneurs, who are expected to challenge and change social or business norms. In doing so, they may be presented as heroes in the media, or alternatively, are cast out as villains with attendant negative press with consequent loss of legitimacy. Design/methodology/approachThrough secondary data methods, the paper analyses the case of Vance Miller, an entrepreneur from the North of England who has achieved economic success amid reports of alleged criminality and poor ethical behaviour. Thus he spans rule-breaking and legitimacy. FindingsThe paper illustrates how rule-breaking directed towards demonstrable entrepreneurial achievement does not always result in media legitimacy. Miller's storyline both chimes with and clashes with the discourse of the enterprise culture, providing a cautionary note for aspirant entrepreneurs. Research limitations/implicationsThe hero-villain paradox remains relatively unexplored in the media, and thus further qualitative research is required, particularly for aspirant entrepreneurs with controversial or criminal backgrounds. Practical implicationsEntrepreneurs should question carefully the extent and potential consequences of rule breaking in regard to legitimacy. Social implicationsThe paper highlights and indeed questions the role of the media in their representations of entrepreneurship, and challenges the valorisation of rule-breaking behaviour by entrepreneurs. Originality/valueThe paper makes a distinctive contribution to the literature by examining the relation between rule-breaking and legitimacy for an entrepreneur who is represented negatively in the media, yet remains successful, counter to the heroic stereotype.

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The devil is in the e-tale: forms and structures in the entrepreneurial narratives

Cited by 75 publications

References 0 publications

The Burden of History in the Family Business Organization

The Burden of History in the Family Business Organization

The entrepreneur as hero and jester: Enacting the entrepreneurial discourse

Rule-breaking and legitimacy: a failure of artful navigation?

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