PurposeThis study examines the gendered barriers faced by female entrepreneurs in the US healthcare sector, especially in securing investment and scaling ventures. Although women are increasingly active in healthcare, they remain underrepresented in leadership due to systemic bias, investor homophily and gendered perceptions of risk and financial competence.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was used, involving in-depth interviews with 19 female healthcare entrepreneurs seeking external funding. Thematic analysis identified common challenges and strategies used to navigate financing barriers.FindingsWomen face heightened investor skepticism, prevention-focused questioning, and limited access to follow-on funding. Capital is often allocated based on perceived potential – favoring men – while women must show proven results. Many avoid external funding, preferring bootstrapping to maintain control and avoid bias. While networking and confidence-building help, deeper structural changes in how investments are evaluated are needed.Research limitations/implicationsFindings are based on a small, non-random sample. Future research should use larger, more representative data and mixed methods to explore how these dynamics unfold across sectors. Further study should examine how intersecting identities like race and class influence women’s access to entrepreneurial capital.Originality/valueThis study adds to gender and management research by focusing on the financial hurdles specific to women in healthcare entrepreneurship – a sector with high female participation but low leadership and investment equity. It also highlights the roles of imposter syndrome and internalized perceptions of competence in shaping women's funding decisions.
PurposeThe purpose of our study was to explore and identify the type of work and life domain strategies that Korean small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs in the USA implemented to mitigate challenges for achieving a work–life balance (WLB).Design/methodology/approachA total of 17 Korean entrepreneurs volunteered to participate in our qualitative exploratory case study, who shared successful strategies they developed to mitigate work–life challenges. A thematic analysis supported the data collected from interviews and a focus group meeting.FindingsA total of four themes emerged from the data analysis. The findings revealed that successful entrepreneurs achieved work–life balance by (1) having sufficient money, preparation, experience and family, (2) having delegated quality time for recreational activities and hiring more employees and (3) prioritizing and scheduling quality time for culture, family, health and faith. The fourth theme revealed challenges to acquiring business knowledge, health, money, skills and sufficient time.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations indicated potential research weaknesses outside the researchers’ control (Theofanidis and Fountouki, 2018). The most significant limitation was the identification of participants from the Western region of Korean Association for the research. Originally, 20 participants were planned: ten for interviews and ten for a focus group meeting. Maybe due to the reserved personality of Koreans, very few participants volunteered. From these seed volunteers, additional participants were recruited through a snowball sampling method. Due to this limited recruiting process, participants were not selected in a random fashion. Thus, the research results might not be generalizable.Practical implicationsThe findings may help policymakers, Korean community leaders and other minority group leaders train ambitious future SME entrepreneurs to maintain WLB from the onset of their businesses.Social implicationsThe findings may shed light on how Korean minority entrepreneurs coped with WLB, which may answer research needs for minority groups. The findings may contribute to the scarce Western literature and provide intervention tools to practitioners. By discovering behaviors and the leadership skills of the struggling Korean SME entrepreneurs in achieving WLB, this study may provide some intervention strategies to practitioners helping future entrepreneurs.Originality/valueWhile there is an abundance of WLB research about American SME entrepreneurs, studies on Korean SME entrepreneurs in the Western region of the USA were exiguous. Our study contributes to expanding the knowledge and understanding of WLB among Korean SME entrepreneurs.
Purpose This study investigates the process of selecting the inaugural chief executive officer (CEO) in nascent social ventures, emphasizing the unique qualities required due to these ventures’ dual social and economic objectives. Design/methodology/approach This study integrates human capital theory and gender expectancy violation theory to examine how nascent social venture founding team members select their first CEO. It analyzes the influence of prior occupational experience in social mission-oriented organizations and commercial organizations on the likelihood of a team member taking the CEO post. Findings The findings indicate that founding team members with prior experience in social mission-oriented organizations are significantly more likely to be selected as the inaugural CEO. Additionally, while past commercial experience increases the chances of becoming the first CEO, this effect is notably stronger for female team members. Research limitations/implications The findings provide a foundation for future empirical exploration of CEO selection dynamics in social ventures. It contributes to the literature on social entrepreneurship by highlighting the interplay of human capital and gender in leadership decisions. Practical implications This study offers insights for social entrepreneurs, policymakers and scholars on the critical factors influencing CEO selection in nascent social ventures. Understanding these dynamics can help in forming effective leadership teams aligned with the venture’s dual mission. Originality/value This research enhances our understanding of CEO selection in nascent social ventures, shedding light on the role of gender and specific experience in leadership choices, thus advancing the fields of social entrepreneurship and organizational leadership.
Purpose Using firsthand insights from nonprofit executives, our study aims to contribute to a refined understanding of innovation within nonprofit organizations, particularly in the aftermath of a disruptive event – the COVID pandemic. Design/methodology/approach We adopted an inductive, qualitative approach based on in-depth personal interviews with executives of ten nonprofit organizations operating in the Northeast of the United States. Findings Our study uncovers the main challenges facing nonprofit organizations in the aftermath of the global pandemic. Our findings provide empirical evidence of how nonprofit organizations responded to these challenges through innovative efforts. We also have identified the innovation-enabling factors and types of innovation that allowed nonprofit organizations to sustain their services and social mission in the aftermath of this disruptive event. Originality/value By capturing the perspectives of nonprofit leaders, we contribute to the literature on how nonprofit organizations and nonprofit leaders pursue innovation after a disruptive event that dramatically alters routines and established practices.
Purpose Carbon offsets gained attention about 15 years ago, with numerous providers emerging under regulated and voluntary regimes. However, due to a lack of technical literacy among some market participants, no common quality or certification structure existed, leading to concerns over “worthless” credits. This paper critically assesses the voluntary carbon market’s evolution, aiming to identify top providers and evaluate them based on six criteria: project quality, additionality, certifications, single ownership, price transparency and social entrepreneurship. The last criteria are new research criteria since the purpose of this study is to determine how many projects are aimed at social entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach This study examines factors determining top carbon offset providers, with a focus on the role of social entrepreneurship. We ranked 73 providers based on criteria like project quality, additionality, certifications and social entrepreneurship. Our analysis found that project quality and certification were key differentiators, while social entrepreneurship had the lowest score. Despite many providers engaging in sustainable projects, few were women- or minority-owned. This study highlights the effectiveness of current criteria and key focus areas within the carbon offset sector. Findings Our results show that top carbon offset providers are distinguished by project quality, certifications and standardizations. While most focus on sustainable projects, there is little emphasis on women- and minority-owned initiatives. Social entrepreneurship is only correlated with project quality and price transparency, not with other factors like additionality or certifications. Top providers excel in project quality, additionality, certifications, single ownership and price transparency but not in social entrepreneurship. Probit regression analysis highlights project quality, additionality, price transparency and social entrepreneurship as the most important criteria, with social entrepreneurship scoring the lowest. Research limitations/implications Because the study was based on a web search, our team could only research carbon offset providers that had operational websites and that were in English. Hence, our study did not include those ventures that do not have a web presence or whose webpages are in other languages. Practical implications This paper can be used by individuals or organizations that are looking into carbon neutrality to understand the risks and misinformation in the market. We hope this study will provide background and guidance to social entrepreneurs and policy makers in the space of social entrepreneurship. Indeed, though there are examples of corporations purchasing carbon assets in the media, most of these are large-scale projects. Social implications In our survey, we included a question asking respondents to explore whether carbon offset providers’ projects were social ventures. If they were, respondents classified these projects into four categories: women entrepreneurship, minority entrepreneurship, sustainable entrepreneurship or development entrepreneurship. The goal was to determine if providers focus on social projects, such as those owned by women or minorities or projects within the sustainable or development spheres. Originality/value Our study is one of the first to link social entrepreneurship to the area of carbon offsets. To our knowledge, no prior study has linked these two domains of research. Given that these markets are largely unregulated, users must grasp how they function and be aware of concerns such as the lack of standardization and the risk of double-counting permits.
Purpose Building a new venture’s legitimacy can be considered an arduous task and maintaining that legitimacy is significantly important given the influence legitimacy has on access to scarce resources. There are many factors that may contribute to a new venture’s legitimacy and need to be investigated. The purpose of this paper is to explore how an entrepreneurial founder affects the legitimacy of a new venture and how employees may harm that legitimacy. Design/methodology/approach A review of the founder imprint, legitimacy and counterproductive work behavior literature was performed. Findings Based on a review of the literature, four testable propositions are developed. The first suggests that an entrepreneurial founder’s imprint will influence a firm’s legitimacy. The remaining propositions focus on how dysfunctional behaviors, which are often visible to the public given that they are reported in the media, may harm the development of the new venture’s legitimacy when employees engage in those behaviors. Originality/value The new venture literature has examined many drivers of new venture legitimacy; however, the literature lacks an examination of the impact an entrepreneurial founder’s imprint makes on the new venture’s legitimacy. Another important contribution to the entrepreneurship literature is the assertion that counterproductive work behavior may impact the founder imprint on the legitimacy relationship. The study of the issues presented in this paper aims to provide a framework that may spur new research on these topics which leads to a better understanding of these relationships.
PurposeThis paper aims to explore and analyze effective methods for measuring the impact of social ventures. By examining existing frameworks such as Social Return on Investment (SROI) and Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS) and through qualitative case studies of Turkish social ventures, the study aims to identify the limitations and adaptability of these methodologies. The goal is to provide actionable recommendations for social entrepreneurs, policymakers, and stakeholders to enhance the accuracy and relevance of impact assessments, thereby contributing to the sustainability and effectiveness of social ventures.Design/methodology/approachThis research employs a qualitative methodology, focusing on in-depth case studies of Turkish social ventures. Data collection involves a combination of direct interviews with social entrepreneurs, analysis of organizational reports, and review of relevant literature. The study examines existing impact assessment frameworks, such as Social Return on Investment (SROI) and Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS), assessing their applicability and limitations within the Turkish context. The research aims to identify context-specific challenges and innovative practices by analysing these case studies, offering insights into more effective and tailored impact assessment methodologies for social ventures.FindingsThe study reveals that while global impact assessment frameworks like Social Return on Investment (SROI) and Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS) are helpful, they often require adaptation to fit Turkey’s unique socioeconomic conditions. Key findings highlight the need for context-specific, resource-efficient, and participatory impact assessment tools. The case studies illustrate innovative practices in Turkey, such as integrating local cultural factors and leveraging technology for data collection. These insights underscore the importance of developing tailored methodologies that accurately capture social ventures' diverse impacts on varied regional contexts.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited by its focus on a few case studies, which may not fully represent the diversity of social ventures across Turkey. Additionally, the reliance on qualitative data may introduce subjective biases. The dynamic nature of social issues and the evolving socioeconomic landscape in Turkey further complicate the development of standardized assessment tools. Despite these limitations, the study offers valuable insights into context-specific challenges and innovative practices, highlighting the need for adaptable and responsive impact assessment methodologies. Future research should expand the scope of case studies and explore quantitative approaches to complement the qualitative findings.Practical implicationsThis study provides practical recommendations for social entrepreneurs, policymakers, and stakeholders to improve impact assessment practices in Turkey. It offers strategies to tailor global frameworks like SROI and IRIS to local conditions by emphasizing the need for context-specific, resource-efficient, and participatory tools. Social ventures can adopt these insights to enhance the accuracy and relevance of their impact assessments, ultimately improving their effectiveness and sustainability. Policymakers can use these findings to create supportive environments and policies that foster social entrepreneurship. At the same time, investors can better evaluate the social return on their investments by aligning their portfolios with their social objectives.Social implicationsThe study underscores the importance of accurate and context-specific impact assessment in enhancing the effectiveness of social ventures in Turkey. By providing tailored methodologies, social ventures can better address local socioeconomic challenges, leading to more meaningful and sustainable social change. Improved impact assessment practices enable ventures to demonstrate their value more convincingly, attracting better stakeholder support from investors, policymakers, and the community. This can lead to increased funding, better policy support, and more robust community engagement, ultimately fostering a more vibrant and impactful social entrepreneurship ecosystem that drives positive societal transformation.Originality/valueThis paper offers original insights into the challenges and opportunities of measuring the impact of social ventures in Turkey, a context that has received limited attention in the existing literature. By analyzing these case studies, the research highlights innovative, context-specific practices that can be adapted to other regions with similar socioeconomic dynamics. The studys value lies in its practical recommendations for developing resource-efficient and participatory impact assessment tools that address the unique needs of social ventures. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on social impact assessment and offer valuable guidance for social entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors.
Purpose This study aims to investigate the strategic priorities of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in the contexts of the United States, Korea and Bangladesh. Specifically, it examines how entrepreneurs can integrate these priorities into business operations to drive long-term success, including sustainable revenue growth and enhanced brand perception. Design/methodology/approach Using a ranked-order approach, this study analyzed a sample of 512 responses from the United States ( n = 107), Korea ( n = 292) and Bangladesh ( n = 113) to prioritize ESG factors for each country. We also conducted a one-way ANOVA to measure how individuals ranked ESG by level of importance in three countries. Findings The findings of this study reveal that ESG should be tailored to specific business contexts within each country rather than treated as a universal global standard. More specifically, in the United States, entrepreneurs place significant emphasis on all three ESG dimensions – environmental, social and governance. In contrast, entrepreneurs in Korea prioritize governance factors over social and environmental considerations. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, the focus is primarily on environmental factors. Originality/value This study serves as an eye-opener for entrepreneurs in the United States, Korea and Bangladesh, highlighting where they should focus their efforts when considering ESG factors. It is also the first comparative analysis of ESG priorities across developed and developing countries.
Purpose Literature on entrepreneurial resourcefulness (ER) has grown constantly in the last two decades. ER is a construct that describes the specific behavior of entrepreneurs, focusing on the generation and deployment of resources to pursue an opportunity. Since the ER literature has expanded and diversified, the purpose of this study is to integrate its findings with existing knowledge about the construct. Design/methodology/approach The study applies a systematic literature review approach, following the methodology of Tranfield et al . (2003). The authors identify and synthesize 31 studies focusing on ER. Findings The literature on ER can function on four different levels: (1) individual, (2) organizational, (3) contextual, and (4) effectual level. Studies on ER concentrate on either the individual or the organizational level, with the contextual and effectual levels appearing as additional study categories for the studies. Behind this categorization, research views ER either as an antecedent influencing a specific effect or as an outcome resulting from a particular context. Originality/value This paper is the first of its nature, structuring the existing ER research and proposing a research agenda on ER with seven concrete research avenues and their research questions. Based on the systematic literature review, the authors develop a framework consolidating the interrelations of the different levels.
This paper aims to broaden the understanding of entrepreneurship beyond the conventional focus on high-growth firms like gazelles and unicorns.Much entrepreneurship research recognizes the significant contributions of a diverse range of entrepreneurial firms to economies and societies, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive approach in entrepreneurship research.As a guide for scholars in the field of entrepreneurship and prospective authors of the New England Journal of Entrepreneurship, this paper offers an overview and discussion on the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship research and its future directions.Entrepreneurship has been receiving a great deal of attention in recent years, from policymakers, practitioners, academics and even Hollywood [1] (Ahlstrom et al., 2019;Li et al., 2022).Researchers have established the importance of entrepreneurship for reducing poverty (McCloskey, 2013;Si et al., 2020) and leading economic growth and development (Audretsch et al., 2006;Bruton et al., 2015;Tomizawa et al., 2020).Recent research on transitional entrepreneurship, often in poor or distressed communities, has also shown the important value of entrepreneurship in providing economic development and employment (Javadian et al., 2023;Khosravi et al., 2023).Indeed, in the United States of America (USA) alone, according to the US Department of Commerce, there were about ten million registered minority-owned enterprises, with some $1.78tn in revenues, providing nearly ten million jobs (Minority Business Development Agency, 2022).Reviews of the empirical literature regarding the economic and social contribution of entrepreneurial firms, generally defined by the researchers as small and young startup firms, have further demonstrated the value of entrepreneurship to communities and economies in various areas (Cortes and Lee, 2021;Van Praag and Versloot, 2008).Studies found that entrepreneurial firms have constructive effects on employment, productivity, innovation and positive spillovers in technology and techniques (Audretsch et al., 2006;Hughes et al., 2021;McCloskey, 2010).In particular, with reference to employment, Van Praag and Versloot (2008, p. 135) add: "Entrepreneurs create more employment than their counterparts [firms], relative to their size."The significance of entrepreneurship to communities and economies, and the widening study of entrepreneurship itself, raises questions about the scope and future directions of entrepreneurship research.This editorial explores the diverse range of entrepreneurial firms and delves into various facets of research on entrepreneurship, particularly entrepreneurial behaviors that warrant more scholarly attention.While there is a growing consensus on the nature of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial firms, there remains a need for further clarification and expansion of the scope of how their study should be conducted.
PurposeThis paper explores the motivating factors that lead to opportunity recognition among social entrepreneurs in India.Design/methodology/approachThe study followed an exploratory, qualitative design based on thematic analysis of the interview data collected from 13 Indian social entrepreneurs.FindingsThe study identifies two aggregate factors that motivate social entrepreneurs: personal and contextual. Personal factors include life experiences, social awareness, social inclination since childhood, spiritual motives, the need for a meaningful career and entrepreneurial intention. Contextual factors included institutional voids, community development, the presence of a role model and volunteer experiences.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the social entrepreneurship literature by providing a model for motivating factors that lead to opportunity recognition. This study enables policymakers and social entrepreneurship educators to identify aspiring social entrepreneurs and provide target-specific support to them.Practical implicationsThis study enables policymakers and social entrepreneurship educators to identify aspiring social entrepreneurs and provide target-specific support to them.Originality/valueThe study uniquely contributes to the social entrepreneurship field by offering deep qualitative insights into the motivational and opportunity recognition patterns of social entrepreneurship.
The Medici effect: multidisciplinary insights for entrepreneurship researchIn the 15th century, the Medici family in Italy sponsored artists, philosophers, scientists and financiers from various fields (Hibbard, 1974).The most prominent role of the Medici family was to gather people together to share intellect from each discipline (Padgett and Ansell, 1993).Eventually, people in this network led the historical period of innovation known as the Renaissance.Those included Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Raffaello Sanzio, Donatello and Sandro Botticelli."The Medici effect" represents a practical illustration of promoting innovation through collaboration across different knowledge domains and the sharing of diverse perspectives and experiences (Johansson, 2004).The Medici effect suggests innovation flourishes when ideas and concepts from diverse disciplines, fields and cultures intersect (Johansson, 2017).The importance of sharing different perspectives and promoting interdisciplinary thinking was certainly not an invention of the Medici family.We find evidence of its effectiveness long before the Medici emerged and long after their influence faded through the centuries.We can travel around two thousand years to the past and observe the Romans combining civil engineering, hydraulics, materials science and geography to develop the aqueduct system.This crucial and value-creating invention has continued its progress as these domains develop and new domains appear.More recently, we can see how the smartphone relied on technological developments from diverse fields such as telecommunications, computer science, materials science, geospatial technology, electronics engineering and consumer behavior to produce one of the most influential products of the 21st century.We can certainly bring the Medici effect to a closer scholarly application.If we turn our attention to social science research, some of our established theoretical frameworks reflect successful combinations of different fields of knowledge.For example, agency theory has strong foundational roots in economics, relying on concepts such as information asymmetry, incentive alignment or utility maximization (Fama and Jensen, 1983;Jensen and Meckling, 1976).We have seen its application in finance as we understand relationships between shareholders and managers in public firms (Eisenhardt, 1989); in corporate governance as we study dynamics in the boardroom, the design of contracts and monitoring mechanisms (Dalton et al., 1998) or in psychology as we study human motivations, cognitive biases and deviations from profit-maximizing behavior (Bazerman and Moore, 2012).Nevertheless, how does our field of entrepreneurship stand on this front?Have we been successful in replicating the Medici effect?The answer to this question may show mixed results.On the one hand, we have seen the application of established frameworks such as resource-based view, social networks, human capital or institutional theory to entrepreneurship settings (Lee et al., 2023).Some influential frameworks, arguably more specific to
PurposeThousands of people emigrate from their homeland and start new businesses in other countries. Researchers are increasingly interested in this phenomenon, commonly known as transnational diaspora entrepreneurship. Our paper aims to review this topic by identifying the gaps in existing research and emphasizing the need for further investigation into this growing phenomenon.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies both a traditional approach and a more innovative approach using topic modeling in conducting the literature review. While the manual literature review inductively identifies important themes, through topic modeling, the prevailing topics in the research are uncovered.FindingsThe analysis reveals several main findings. Firstly, diaspora entrepreneurs are categorized based on identifiable differences in their entrepreneurial activities. Secondly, most literature in the area is based on case studies, and there is a need for more quantitative research into this area. Thirdly, although there is no widely agreed-upon definition of transnational diaspora entrepreneurship, some distinct characteristics set it apart from other entrepreneurial activities. Lastly, a few different approaches to transnational diaspora entrepreneurship have been identified and summarized based on the experiences, identities and locations of diaspora entrepreneurs.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature by employing natural language processing to analyze a corpus of paper abstracts, offering a comprehensive overview of the prevailing themes in the research on diaspora entrepreneurial activity. It also highlights the need for more quantitative research to understand the broader patterns and impacts of this phenomenon. This paper sheds light on the complexities and potential rewards of diaspora entrepreneurial activity, paving the way for further research and understanding in this field.
PurposeEntrepreneurship education is widely regarded as a fundamental means of fostering individuals' entrepreneurial intentions. In this paper, we delve into a distinctive empirical context: the integration of entrepreneurship education within Indonesia’s nationwide higher education system since 2010. Our goal is to investigate how prior participation in mandatory entrepreneurship training by company employees influences their inclination to leave their current employment and initiate a new business.Design/methodology/approachWe employed structural equation modeling to analyze empirical data (n = 337) collected from full-time Indonesian employees in established companies.FindingsOur findings indicate that previous engagement in entrepreneurship education predicts employees' entrepreneurial intentions, leading to reduced commitment to their current careers and an increased likelihood of having intentions to pursue new ventures. By comparing two groups of participants, our results suggest that government-mandated entrepreneurship education in Indonesia has a more substantial impact on employees' entrepreneurial intentions and turnover intentions.Originality/valueThis study, based on a unique sample from Indonesia, explores the entrepreneurial entry of organizational employees and the long-term effects of entrepreneurship education.
Purpose In this study, we question: how do the social costs of failure interact with gendered institutions to affect the early stage entrepreneurship activity? We address this question by employing the institutional theory and a unique dataset of 286,989 entrepreneurs across 35 countries. Design/methodology/approach To test our hypotheses, we use a multilevel modeling analysis that nests individual entrepreneurs within the countries. To capture individual and country-level variables, we constructed a unique dataset that combines data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), European Flash Barometer (EUFB), World Bank Development Indicator (WDI), World Bank Doing Business Report (WBDB) and World Economic Forum (WEF). Findings Our analysis confirms that higher levels of the country-level gender equality positively correlate with the early-stage entrepreneurship activity of women. Moreover, we find that this positive relationship is amplified in institutional environments with high social costs of failure, suggesting that societal intolerance for failure can exacerbate the negative effect of gender inequality on the participation of women in entrepreneurship. Research limitations/implications Our research contributes to academic interest on the role of legitimacy in women entrepreneurship and is of particular interest to international business scholars, seeking a better understanding of multidimensional construction of institutional frameworks across countries. In this study, we set out to address an important research question: how do the social costs of failure interact with gendered institutions to affect entrepreneurship activity? Our study provides a comprehensive portrait of gendered institutions by including the framework conditions of education, healthcare and political power. We found that in societies with gender equality, the likelihood of individuals engaging in the early-stage entrepreneurship activity is higher and that the positive relationship is strengthened in national environments with high social costs of failure. Practical implications Our study findings underscore the need for government policies addressing global gender gaps in economic empowerment. In particular, policies assisting women in obtaining education in high-growth industries like information technology or providing funding to women-dominated industries may foster activity for women seeking to do business in such industries. Such policies connect the early-stage entrepreneurship activities with gender equality concerns and initiatives. Social implications Regarding the social costs of failure construct, specifically, prior studies generally focus narrowly on the context of failed entrepreneurs. We cast a wider net on men and women entrepreneurs’ entry decisions (irrespective of prior experience with business failure) and provide new views on the effects of social costs of failure on entrepreneurial ecosystems. We also extend the research on the legitimacy of women as entrepreneurs with the gender equality construct. Originality/value Unlike previous studies, which often focus on the “3Ms” of market, money and management, our research adopts a more holistic perspective. We recognize that the opportunities and challenges faced by entrepreneurs are shaped not only by individual skills and resources but also by the broader macroenvironment. By incorporating the framework conditions of education, healthcare and political power, alongside the intricate interplay of social costs and norms, our study paints a comprehensive picture of the landscape of female entrepreneurship.
Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore how the personal traits of the informal entrepreneurs influence their formalization decisions. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a qualitative approach using a multicase design in which 28 informal entrepreneurs situated in Kampala district, Uganda, were engaged. An interview guide, recorders and note books were used in data collection. Findings The results indicate that the traits of informal and semiformal entrepreneurs are distinct. Informal entrepreneurs have been noted to be more courageous and resilient, while their semiformal counterparts have greater passion for their businesses. It is thus observed that the formalization prospects are higher for the semiformal entrepreneurs than for their informal counterparts. Entrepreneurs that would be willing to formalize their businesses are discouraged by distance, technology and the cost of involving middlemen. Whereas the resilient entrepreneurs are noted to work through these challenges, the passive ones in both the informal and semiformal categories will not formalize their businesses by giving such excuses. Originality/value This study contributes to the extant literature on informal entrepreneurship by providing initial empirical evidence on how the personal traits of the entrepreneurs influence their formalization decisions specifically.
Purpose While entrepreneurship has long been heralded for its positive contributions, there is a growing recognition of its “dark side,” characterized by unproductive, unethical and destructive actions. This exploratory literature review aims to illuminate the underexplored dark side of entrepreneurship, thereby enriching the discourse on entrepreneurship’s dual nature. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a robust mixed-method approach, integrating phenomenologically detailed co-citation bibliographic coupling with detailed thematic data and code-weaving. Science mapping tools like R-Bibliometrix and VOSviewer enhance the credibility of the findings by providing a sophisticated and reproducible methodological framework. Findings This review defines dark entrepreneurship, its characteristics, and its complexities. We introduced the “Dark Entrepreneurship Trinity”: Ethical Complexity, Institutional Navigation and Conflict Entrepreneurialship, with Institutional Navigation as the apex theme. It elucidates how this theme influences ethical dilemmas and operational strategies in conflict zones, illustrated through a diagram depicting their complex interrelations and dynamics. Originality/value The originality of this literature review lies in its comprehensive synthesis of the dark side of entrepreneurship. This review significantly contributes to the academic discourse by delineating a clearer picture of the destructive potentials of entrepreneurship. It compiles existing research, critically addresses the gaps and suggests future pathways for empirical studies.
