IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/sbusec/v62y2024i4d10.1007_s11187-023-00841-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Entrepreneurship in religious organizations: How the Church of England developed an entrepreneurial orientation

Author

Listed:
  • Ruben Werven

    (University of London)

Abstract

Prior research established that religion shapes country-level entrepreneurial activity as well as individual-level entrepreneurial decisions. The organizational level has received less research attention. It is particularly unclear how the combination of entrepreneurship and religion is forged in established religious organizations. Through a historical case study of the Church of England’s efforts toward developing an entrepreneurial orientation (EO), my paper sheds light on that issue. The findings indicate that, in religious settings, an entrepreneurial orientation materializes through a lengthy, contested process. Two mutually reinforcing mechanisms – polysemy dynamics and idea sedimentation – play an important role in this process. I theorize that these mechanisms, despite delaying EO development, address resistance and thereby drive progress toward a comprehensive entrepreneurial orientation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruben Werven, 2024. "Entrepreneurship in religious organizations: How the Church of England developed an entrepreneurial orientation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1361-1382, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:62:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-023-00841-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-023-00841-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11187-023-00841-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11187-023-00841-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. William Wales & Erik Monsen & Alexander McKelvie, 2011. "The Organizational Pervasiveness of Entrepreneurial Orientation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 895-923, September.
    2. K. Parboteeah & Sascha Walter & Jörn Block, 2015. "When Does Christian Religion Matter for Entrepreneurial Activity? The Contingent Effect of a Country’s Investments into Knowledge," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(2), pages 447-465, August.
    3. Roger Spear, 2010. "Religion and Social Entrepreneurship," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Kai Hockerts & Johanna Mair & Jeffrey Robinson (ed.), Values and Opportunities in Social Entrepreneurship, chapter 3, pages 31-51, Palgrave Macmillan.
    4. Zhiyang Liu & Zuhui Xu & Zhao Zhou & Yong Li, 2019. "Buddhist entrepreneurs and new venture performance: the mediating role of entrepreneurial risk-taking," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(3), pages 713-727, March.
    5. Krystin Zigan & Alan Le Grys, 2018. "Towards an Understanding of Social Responsibility Within the Church of England," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(3), pages 535-560, May.
    6. Patrick M. Kreiser & Brian S. Anderson & Donald F. Kuratko & Louis D. Marino, 2020. "Entrepreneurial Orientation and Environmental Hostility: A Threat Rigidity Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 44(6), pages 1174-1198, November.
    7. Torsten M. Pieper & Ralph I. Williams Jr. & Scott C. Manley & Lucy M. Matthews, 2020. "What Time May Tell: An Exploratory Study of the Relationship Between Religiosity, Temporal Orientation, and Goals in Family Business," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 163(4), pages 759-773, May.
    8. Senay Sabah & Alan L. Carsrud & Akin Kocak, 2014. "The Impact of Cultural Openness, Religion, and Nationalism on Entrepreneurial Intensity: Six Prototypical Cases of Turkish Family Firms," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(2), pages 306-324, April.
    9. Andrea Calabrò & Rosalia Santulli & Mariateresa Torchia & Carmen Gallucci, 2021. "Entrepreneurial Orientation and Family Firm Performance: The Moderating Role of TMT Identity-Based and Knowledge-Based Faultlines," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(4), pages 838-866, July.
    10. Cornelius A. Rietveld & Brigitte Hoogendoorn, 2022. "The mediating role of values in the relationship between religion and entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(3), pages 1309-1335, March.
    11. Talis Putnins & Arnis Sauka, 2020. "Why does entrepreneurial orientation affect company performance?," Published Paper Series 2020-6, Finance Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology, Sydney.
    12. Yaron Zelekha & Gil Avnimelech & Eyal Sharabi, 2014. "Religious institutions and entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 747-767, April.
    13. Anna Watson & Olufunmilola (Lola) Dada & Owen Wright & Rozenn Perrigot, 2019. "Entrepreneurial Orientation Rhetoric in Franchise Organizations: The Impact of National Culture," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(4), pages 751-772, July.
    14. Sarah Drakopoulou Dodd & Paul Timothy Seaman, 1998. "Religion and Enterprise: An Introductory Exploration," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 23(1), pages 71-86, October.
    15. Michael H. Morris & Justin W. Webb & Rebecca J. Franklin, 2011. "Understanding the Manifestation of Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Nonprofit Context," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 947-971, September.
    16. Bastian Grühn & Steffen Strese & Tessa C. Flatten & Nikolai A. Jaeger & Malte Brettel, 2017. "Temporal Change Patterns of Entrepreneurial Orientation: A Longitudinal Investigation of CEO Successions," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(4), pages 591-619, July.
    17. David Fritz & Nabil Ibrahim, 2010. "The Impact of Leadership Longevity on Innovation in a Religious Organization," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 96(2), pages 223-231, October.
    18. John A. Pearce II & David A. Fritz & Peter S. Davis, 2010. "Entrepreneurial Orientation and the Performance of Religious Congregations as Predicted by Rational Choice Theory," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 34(1), pages 219-248, January.
    19. Johan Wiklund & Holger Patzelt & Dean Shepherd, 2009. "Building an integrative model of small business growth," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 351-374, April.
    20. Audretsch, David B. & Bönte, Werner & Tamvada, Jagannadha Pawan, 2013. "Religion, social class, and entrepreneurial choice," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 774-789.
    21. Lumpkin, G. T. & Dess, Gregory G., 2001. "Linking two dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation to firm performance: The moderating role of environment and industry life cycle," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 429-451, September.
    22. Smith, Brett R. & Conger, Michael J. & McMullen, Jeffery S. & Neubert, Mitchell J., 2019. "Why believe? The promise of research on the role of religion in entrepreneurial action," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 11(C), pages 1-1.
    23. Zuhui Xu & Zhiyang Liu & Jie Wu, 2022. "Buddhist entrepreneurs, charitable behaviors, and social entrepreneurship: evidence from China," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 1197-1217, October.
    24. Danny Miller, 2011. "Miller (1983) Revisited: A Reflection on EO Research and Some Suggestions for the Future," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 873-894, September.
    25. Nonyelum Lina Eze & Mattias Nordqvist & Georges Samara & Maria José Parada, 2021. "Different Strokes for Different Folks: The Roles of Religion and Tradition for Transgenerational Entrepreneurship in Family Businesses," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(4), pages 792-837, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Marcus Dejardin & Brigitte Hoogendoorn & Frank Janssen & Cornelius A. Rietveld & Elco Burg, 2024. "Coupling engagement with analytical rigor: advancing research on religion and entrepreneurship using a mechanism-based approach," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1273-1284, April.
    2. Zhiyang Liu & Zuhui Xu & Zhao Zhou & Yong Li, 2019. "Buddhist entrepreneurs and new venture performance: the mediating role of entrepreneurial risk-taking," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(3), pages 713-727, March.
    3. Jörn Block & Christian Fisch & Farooq Rehan, 2020. "Religion and entrepreneurship: a map of the field and a bibliometric analysis," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 70(4), pages 591-627, November.
    4. Feng Zhang & Haina Zhang & Geoffrey G. Bell, 2021. "Corporate religiosity and individual decision on conducting entrepreneurial activity: The contingent effects of institutional environments in China," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 955-978, September.
    5. Deller, Steven C. & Conroy, Tessa & Markeson, Bjorn, 2018. "Social capital, religion and small business activity," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 365-381.
    6. Gabriel Linton, 2019. "Innovativeness, risk-taking, and proactiveness in startups: a case study and conceptual development," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 9(1), pages 1-21, December.
    7. Brigitte Hoogendoorn & Cornelius A. Rietveld & André Stel, 2016. "Belonging, believing, bonding, and behaving: the relationship between religion and business ownership at the country level," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 519-550, July.
    8. Bąkiewicz Anna & Kasuma Jati & Hermawan Asep, 2022. "Family Business and Religion – Research Agenda," Journal of Intercultural Management, Sciendo, vol. 14(2), pages 4-40, December.
    9. Gil Avnimelech & Yaron Zelekha, 2023. "Religion and the gender gap in entrepreneurship," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 629-665, June.
    10. Zuhui Xu & Zhiyang Liu & Jie Wu, 2022. "Buddhist entrepreneurs, charitable behaviors, and social entrepreneurship: evidence from China," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 1197-1217, October.
    11. Miao, Chao & Gast, Johanna & Laouiti, Rahma & Nakara, Walid, 2022. "Institutional factors, religiosity, and entrepreneurial activity: A quantitative examination across 85 countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    12. Francisco Adro & Cristina I. Fernandes & Pedro M. Veiga & Sascha Kraus, 2021. "Social entrepreneurship orientation and performance in non-profit organizations," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1591-1618, December.
    13. McIntyre, Nancy & Silva Quaye, Emmanuel & Anning-Dorson, Thomas & Lanivich, Stephen & Adomako, Samuel, 2023. "Investigating the impact of religiosity on entrepreneurial intentions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    14. Michael Sheppard, 2020. "The relationship between discretionary slack and growth in small firms," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 195-219, March.
    15. Zhe Zhang & Xin Wang & Ming Jia, 2021. "Echoes of CEO Entrepreneurial Orientation: How and When CEO Entrepreneurial Orientation Influences Dual CSR Activities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(4), pages 609-629, April.
    16. K. Parboteeah & Sascha Walter & Jörn Block, 2015. "When Does Christian Religion Matter for Entrepreneurial Activity? The Contingent Effect of a Country’s Investments into Knowledge," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(2), pages 447-465, August.
    17. Engelen, Andreas & Kube, Harald & Schmidt, Susanne & Flatten, Tessa Christina, 2014. "Entrepreneurial orientation in turbulent environments: The moderating role of absorptive capacity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(8), pages 1353-1369.
    18. Katharina Fellnhofer & Kaisu Puumalainen & Helena Sjögrén, 0. "Entrepreneurial orientation in work groups – effects of individuals and group characteristics," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-37.
    19. Jie Wu & Steven Si & Zhiyang Liu, 2022. "Entrepreneurship in Asia: Entrepreneurship knowledge when East meets West," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(3), pages 317-342, July.
    20. Katharina Fellnhofer & Kaisu Puumalainen & Helena Sjögrén, 2017. "Entrepreneurial orientation in work groups – effects of individuals and group characteristics," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 427-463, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Religion; Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurial orientation; Church of England: Archival data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:62:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-023-00841-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.