Theorizing Entrepreneurship for the Future: Stories from Global Frontiers

This book explores how entrepreneurs navigate the future through social practices, language, and rituals, offering a new interpretation of entrepreneurial behavior. It draws on ethnographic case material from global frontiers and has theoretical and practical implications for students and scholars in the social sciences and economics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 09 June 2023
Publisher: Berghahn Books

Entrepreneurial behavior is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that involves a range of social practices, language, and rituals that help entrepreneurs navigate the unknowns of the future. This book presents a new interpretation of entrepreneurial behavior, focusing on how entrepreneurs consider the future and neutralize or smoothen future unknowns through their social practices, language, and rituals. The study is grounded in ethnographic case material from global frontiers, including second-hand car dealers in West Africa, exporters of fresh fish from Lake Victoria, East Africa, farmed fish entrepreneurs in Greece, and investment bankers in Financial America. It targets students and scholars from the social sciences and economics and has theoretical and practical implications.

One of the key findings of the study is that entrepreneurs use social practices to create a sense of community and belonging among their stakeholders. This community is essential for the success of the business, as it provides support, feedback, and resources. Entrepreneurs also use language to communicate their vision and values to their stakeholders, and to build trust and credibility. Rituals, such as ceremonies and rituals, are used to mark important milestones and to create a sense of tradition and continuity.

Another important finding of the study is that entrepreneurs use social practices to manage risk. Risk is a critical factor in any business, and entrepreneurs must be able to identify and manage it effectively. Social practices such as networking, collaboration, and risk-taking can help entrepreneurs to mitigate risk and to achieve their goals.

The study also highlights the importance of innovation in entrepreneurial behavior. Innovation is the process of creating new products, services, or processes that can improve the quality of life for individuals or organizations. Entrepreneurs must be able to identify and develop innovative ideas, and to implement them effectively. Social practices such as brainstorming, experimentation, and feedback can help entrepreneurs to develop innovative ideas and to implement them effectively.

However, the study also identifies some challenges that entrepreneurs face in their efforts to neutralize or smoothen future unknowns. One of the biggest challenges is the uncertainty of the future. The future is constantly changing, and entrepreneurs must be able to adapt to these changes quickly and effectively. Social practices such as flexibility, adaptability, and resilience can help entrepreneurs to adapt to these changes.

Another challenge is the competition. The business world is highly competitive, and entrepreneurs must be able to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Social practices such as branding, marketing, and customer service can help entrepreneurs to differentiate themselves from their competitors.

In addition to these challenges, the study also identifies some opportunities that entrepreneurs can take advantage of in their efforts to neutralize or smoothen future unknowns. One of the biggest opportunities is the growth of the global economy. The global economy is growing rapidly, and entrepreneurs can take advantage of this growth by expanding their businesses into new markets. Social practices such as globalization, international trade, and investment can help entrepreneurs to expand their businesses into new markets.

Another opportunity is the rise of social entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurship is the practice of using business to address social and environmental problems. Social entrepreneurs can take advantage of the growing interest in social issues by creating businesses that address these problems. Social practices such as social media, crowdfunding, and community engagement can help social entrepreneurs to reach their target audience and to achieve their goals.

In conclusion, entrepreneurial behavior is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that involves a range of social practices, language, and rituals that help entrepreneurs navigate the unknowns of the future. This book presents a new interpretation of entrepreneurial behavior, focusing on how entrepreneurs consider the future and neutralize or smoothen future unknowns through their social practices, language, and rituals. The study is grounded in ethnographic case material from global frontiers, and it has theoretical and practical implications. Entrepreneurs must be able to adapt to the uncertainty of the future, manage risk, innovate, and take advantage of opportunities in order to succeed in the business world.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 158 x 239 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805390046