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Constructions of entrepreneurship: a discourse analysis of academic publications

Author

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  • Karin Berglund
  • Anders W. Johansson

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this research paper is to investigate opposing versions of entrepreneurship and to introduce a metaphor to stimulate a dialogue about the diversity and complexity of enterprising communities. Design/methodology/approach - A discourse framework is developed in order to describe dominating – and even new and challenging – versions of entrepreneurship. The discourse analysis is presented in three steps: the introductory text to a handbook of entrepreneurship is deconstructed to expose some basic assumptions of entrepreneurship; drawing on several research articles, some dominating versions of entrepreneurship are analysed; drawing on research articles which have recently been published in two special issues in entrepreneurship journals, alternative versions of entrepreneurship are analysed. Findings - This paper compares three dominating and three alternative versions of entrepreneurship. All the versions are related to the idea of entrepreneurship as a story of creation for our times, where it is implied that entrepreneurship appears to be something inherently good for society and for people. The versions share a common denominator but are also distinguished by different ontological and epistemological assumptions that make a dialogue between the versions problematic. Research limitations/implications - The results of this research paper have obvious limitations because of the methodology employed and due to the limited number of texts analysed. Originality/value - The concept of a discursive web to analyse the world of entrepreneurship is introduced.

Suggested Citation

  • Karin Berglund & Anders W. Johansson, 2007. "Constructions of entrepreneurship: a discourse analysis of academic publications," Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 1(1), pages 77-102, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:jecpps:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:77-102
    DOI: 10.1108/17506200710736276
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Eunice Santos & Cristina I. Fernandes & João J. Ferreira & Carla Azevedo Lobo, 2021. "What Is the Impact of Informal Entrepreneurship on Venture Capital Flows?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(4), pages 2032-2049, December.
    2. Skoglund, Annika, 2015. "Climate social science—Any future for ‘blue sky research’ in management studies?," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 147-157.
    3. Gronau, Werner & Kaufmann, Rudi, 2008. "Tourism as a Stimulus for Sustainable Development in Rural Areas: A Cypriot Perspective," MPRA Paper 25307, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 06 Mar 2008.
    4. Bureau, Sylvain & Zander, Ivo, 2014. "Entrepreneurship as an art of subversion," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 124-133.
    5. Forsström-Tuominen, Heidi & Jussila, Iiro & Kolhinen, Johanna, 2015. "Business school students’ social construction of entrepreneurship: Claiming space for collective entrepreneurship discourses," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 102-120.
    6. Höglund, Linda & Svärdsten, Fredrik, 2018. "Strategy work in the public sector—A balancing act of competing discourses," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 225-232.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurs;

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