Towards a search for the meaning of entrepreneurship

Abstract

PurposeThe primary purpose of this literature review paper is to address the question why it is difficult to define entrepreneurship despite the amount of research that has taken place in the field. In addition, the paper also aims to demonstrate how the struggle to define entrepreneurship has impacted on entrepreneurial careers in Kenya.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviewed literature on different approaches used by researchers in the struggle to define entrepreneurship. It focused mainly on the trait, behavioral and opportunity identification approaches. It critically examined the extent to which each approach has attempted to explain what entrepreneurship is, and suggests research questions, methodologies and techniques that will do justice to the complexity of defining entrepreneurship.FindingsThe findings of the literature review showed that none of the approaches used to define entrepreneurship gives a comprehensive picture of entrepreneurship. There is a lack of a common definition of entrepreneurship. Following the absence of this common definition, professionals in Kenya do not see themselves as entrepreneurs. The researchers and educators must define what they mean when attempting to define entrepreneurship. Rather than concentrate on one part – the entrepreneur; behavior or opportunity identification – they must focus on the whole entrepreneurial process. In addition, researchers and educators need to study the entrepreneur before, during and after the entrepreneurial process.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research should be conducted to relate entrepreneurship to other occupations. Each approach needs to expand in this direction.Originality/valueResearch on the impact of the meaning of entrepreneurship on careers in Kenya and other contexts so far has not been conducted.

Exploring entrepreneurial skills and competencies in farm tourism

“…Certainly, two key uses of the term competency exist, firstly, competency as the behaviour one demonstrates and, secondly, competency as minimum performance standard (Mitchelmore and Rowley, 2010). Moreover, Brinckmann (2007) acknowledges that the competency approach remains relatively underdeveloped within the entrepreneurship literature but can be distinguished from the traits approach (Kobia and Sikalieh, 2010). Whilst the traits approach concerns attitudes or pre-dispositions, a competency based approach takes a broader perspective in investigating competencies as antecedents to venture success.…”

Psychosocial Traits Characterizing EV Adopters’ Profiles: The Case of Tenerife (Canary Islands)

“…Following Das and Teng [46] and Rohrmann [47], risk-averse consumers will avoid the alternatives that may have results that vary far from their expectations. Other authors argue that tendency to take risk, together with proactivity and innovation, are three psychological features that characterize decision-makers [48][49][50].…”

Denyse Létourneau et Louis Jacques Filion, Vocabulaire de la création d’entreprise par essaimage, Montréal, Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal, 133 p.

“…À eux seuls, ceux d'entrepreneuriat et d'entrepreneur sont au centre des discussions depuis qu'on s'y intéresse (Hansen, Shrader et Monllor, 2011 ;Howorth, Tempest et Coupland, 2005 ;Kobia et Sikalieh, 2010 Au reste, comme l'observe si bien les auteurs de l'ouvrage Vocabulaire de la création d'entreprise par essaimage, force est de constater que « la langue anglaise exerce une grande influence sur les terminologies techniques et scientifiques en français » et cela ne fait pas exception dans les communautés scientifique et professionnelle oeuvrant en entrepreneuriat et en PME. Conscients de cette problématique, les terminologues de l'Office québécois de la langue française travaillent depuis 1974 à l'alimentation du grand dictionnaire terminologique, un outil conçu et développé en vue de favoriser la généralisation du français dans les grands domaines de l'activité humaine, dont celui des affaires (http://gdt.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/).…”