Innovation is the driving force behind economic growth. The knowledge that f- ters innovation builds on both systematic research and serendipity. The availability of new knowledge-be it technological or organizational (social)-is, however, - suf?cient. An institutional structure must be in place that enhances mutual learning among the actors involved and that stimulates cooperation, as well as competition. This recognition has inspired this volume, which focuses on national innovation s- tems and sectoral (technology) innovation systems that differ widely between co- tries, due to their diverse historical paths and distinctive cultural and societal f- tures. With regard to theory, most chapters incorporate a mix of endogenous growth theory and evolutionary thinking. Endogenous growth theory places an emphasis on the interplay between technological knowledge and various structural charact- istics of the economy and society, as well as on the results of economic growth. Concepts related to technology development, accumulation of knowledge on te- nology, and technology diffusion feature prominently here. In evolutionary thi- ing, and in particular coevolutionary thinking, the focus is on close links between technology and institutions, whereby the functionality of technology is in?uenced by certain dynamic interactions with institutional systems. Information technology turns out to be a clear example of such a development.

Much research in entrepreneurship presents results as if they are universally and timelessly valid. Entrepreneurship in Context takes the opposite tack - it studies entrepreneurship as a context bound phenomenon. For entrepreneurship, the importance of context goes beyond gaining understanding and avoiding mistakes. The reciprocal influence exercised by the entrepreneurial venture and its corresponding context is at the very heart of the entrepreneur as an agent of change. The book addresses context in a narrow sense, i.e. a person's life situation and local, situational characteristics. It also deals with wider contexts such as social, industry, cultural, ethnic, sustainability-related, institutional, and historical contexts. The book studies the interconnectedness of all these various sub-contexts. It zooms in on the actions that entrepreneurs take to involve, engage, and influence their context and shows the changing and dynamic nature of context. It provides lessons for entrepreneurs about which contextual elements should be prioritized, engaged and sought out.

Much research in entrepreneurship presents results as if they are universally and timelessly valid. Entrepreneurship in Context takes the opposite tack -- it studies entrepreneurship as a context bound phenomenon. For entrepreneurship, the importance of context goes beyond gaining understanding and avoiding mistakes. The reciprocal influence exercised by the entrepreneurial venture and its corresponding context is at the very heart of the entrepreneur as an agent of change. The book addresses context in a narrow sense, i.e. a person's life situation and local, situational characteristics. It also deals with wider contexts such as social, industry, cultural, ethnic, sustainability-related, institutional, and historical contexts. The book studies the interconnectedness of all these various sub-contexts. It zooms in on the actions that entrepreneurs take to involve, engage, and influence their context and shows the changing and dynamic nature of context. It provides lessons for entrepreneurs about which contextual elements should be prioritized, engaged and sought out.

Innovation is the driving force behind economic growth. The knowledge that f- ters innovation builds on both systematic research and serendipity. The availability of new knowledge-be it technological or organizational (social)-is, however, - suf?cient. An institutional structure must be in place that enhances mutual learning among the actors involved and that stimulates cooperation, as well as competition. This recognition has inspired this volume, which focuses on national innovation s- tems and sectoral (technology) innovation systems that differ widely between co- tries, due to their diverse historical paths and distinctive cultural and societal f- tures. With regard to theory, most chapters incorporate a mix of endogenous growth theory and evolutionary thinking. Endogenous growth theory places an emphasis on the interplay between technological knowledge and various structural charact- istics of the economy and society, as well as on the results of economic growth. Concepts related to technology development, accumulation of knowledge on te- nology, and technology diffusion feature prominently here. In evolutionary thi- ing, and in particular coevolutionary thinking, the focus is on close links between technology and institutions, whereby the functionality of technology is in?uenced by certain dynamic interactions with institutional systems. Information technology turns out to be a clear example of such a development.

Entrepreneurial dilemmas play an important, though heavily underexposed, role in the life cycle of the small firm. This book defines the entrepreneurial dilemma as a situation where entrepreneurs have to choose between multiple future courses of action concerning their firm, without sufficient information to make that choice. The Entrepreneurial Dilemma in the Life Cycle of the Small Firm enables lecturers, researchers and practitioners in the fields of entrepreneurship, small business development and business administration to understand these entrepreneurial dilemmas and ways to resolve them. This book presents an in-depth analysis of the modern theories in the field of entrepreneurship, including innovation, sustainable entrepreneurship, characteristics of small businesses, the life cycle of the firm, entrepreneurial behavior and small business finance. Enno Masurel provides a clear overview of the opportunities that teaching entrepreneurship in a higher education context offers, and embodies this teaching within ten universal cases that will help readers to further understand the the dilemmas faced by entrepreneurial activity in the development of small firms.

Entrepreneurial dilemmas play an important, though heavily underexposed, role in the life cycle of the small firm. This book defines the entrepreneurial dilemma as a situation where entrepreneurs have to choose between multiple future courses of action concerning their firm, without sufficient information to make that choice. The Entrepreneurial Dilemma in the Life Cycle of the Small Firm enables lecturers, researchers and practitioners in the fields of entrepreneurship, small business development and business administration to understand these entrepreneurial dilemmas and ways to resolve them. This book presents an in-depth analysis of the modern theories in the field of entrepreneurship, including innovation, sustainable entrepreneurship, characteristics of small businesses, the life cycle of the firm, entrepreneurial behavior and small business finance. Enno Masurel provides a clear overview of the opportunities that teaching entrepreneurship in a higher education context offers, and embodies this teaching within ten universal cases that will help readers to further understand the the dilemmas faced by entrepreneurial activity in the development of small firms.