What do entrepreneurs do? In a comprehensive and detailed exploration using three perspectives - behavior, practice and process - this Research Handbook demonstrates specific methods for answering that question and provides insights into the implications of pursuing that question. The authors demonstrate a variety of methods including ethnography, autoethnography, participant observation, diaries, social media platforms and multilevel research techniques to delve into the foundations of entrepreneurial behavior. In addition to reinvigorating this long dormant area of scholarship, these chapters provide scholars with the idea that the disparate perspectives on this topic are really headed in the same direction. They also demonstrate the notion that similar tools can be utilized to answer the same type of questions emanating from these different perspectives. The contributors go on to offer insights to a wide range of scholarship on organizations. Entrepreneurship scholars, PhD students, and upper level graduate and undergraduate students who want a current overview on the theories, methods and implications of studying entrepreneurship will welcome the insights explored in this Research Handbook. Contributors include: A. Brattstroem, O. Byrne, A. Caetano, H.S. Chen, F. Delmar, D. Dimov, A. Fayolle, D. Fletcher, W.B. Gartner, B. Johannisson, A.R. Johnson, T. Karlsson, M. Lackeus, J.R. Mitchell, R.K. Mitchell, H. Neergaard, R.D.M. Pelly, K. Poldner, S.C. Santos, P. Selden, B.T. Teague, N.A. Thompson, C. Thrane, M. Tillmar, H. Vahidnia, E. van Burg, J.P. Warhuus, K. Wennberg

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. There is growing recognition that entrepreneurship can be better understood within its context(s). This carefully designed book invites readers to take a journey: from reflecting critically on where the discussion on context and entrepreneurship stands today towards identifying future research questions and themes that deserve the attention of entrepreneurship scholars. This collection draws attention to the research challenges the entrepreneurship field faces by reviewing the many facets of contexts and by reflecting on methods and theoretical approaches that are required in order to contextualize entrepreneurship research. Written by renowned international scholars, the book's leading-edge contributions provide a thorough exploration of how to contextualize entrepreneurship research. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, comprehensive coverage of the entrepreneurship/contexts debate is included, in addition to reading lists and a chapter dedicated to advancing future research avenues. Students and academics interested in context and entrepreneurship will benefit from this far-reaching and forward-thinking book. Contributors: H.E. Aldrich, T. Baker, M. Brannback, A.L. Carsrud, S. Chlosta, S. Drakopoulou Dodd, D. Fletcher, W.B. Gartner, S. Lippmann, E.E. Powell, T. Pret, E. Shaw, P. Selden, E. Stam, C. Steyaert, R.D. Wadhwani, F. Welter, M. Wright

This book draws together William B. Gartner's key contributions to entrepreneurship research over the past 25 years. An original introduction by the author offers a comprehensive overview and analysis of his work as it pertains to the development of entrepreneurship as a scholarly field, and the articles demonstrate the many ways in which his research has explored entrepreneurship in relation to individuals, firms, environments, and processes.

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. There is growing recognition that entrepreneurship can be better understood within its context(s). This carefully designed book invites readers to take a journey: from reflecting critically on where the discussion on context and entrepreneurship stands today towards identifying future research questions and themes that deserve the attention of entrepreneurship scholars. This collection draws attention to the research challenges the entrepreneurship field faces by reviewing the many facets of contexts and by reflecting on methods and theoretical approaches that are required in order to contextualize entrepreneurship research. Written by renowned international scholars, the book's leading-edge contributions provide a thorough exploration of how to contextualize entrepreneurship research. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, comprehensive coverage of the entrepreneurship/contexts debate is included, in addition to reading lists and a chapter dedicated to advancing future research avenues. Students and academics interested in context and entrepreneurship will benefit from this far-reaching and forward-thinking book. Contributors: H.E. Aldrich, T. Baker, M. Brannback, A.L. Carsrud, S. Chlosta, S. Drakopoulou Dodd, D. Fletcher, W.B. Gartner, S. Lippmann, E.E. Powell, T. Pret, E. Shaw, P. Selden, E. Stam, C. Steyaert, R.D. Wadhwani, F. Welter, M. Wright

This book draws together William B. Gartner's key contributions to entrepreneurship research over the past 25 years. An original introduction by the author offers a comprehensive overview and analysis of his work as it pertains to the development of entrepreneurship as a scholarly field, and the articles demonstrate the many ways in which his research has explored entrepreneurship in relation to individuals, firms, environments, and processes.

This innovative book takes seriously the ordinary activities of entrepreneurship and maps out new pathways for scholars to understand the nature, properties, and implications of studying practices for entrepreneurship studies. Entrepreneurship is neither an art nor a science, but a bundle of practices, as Peter Drucker once observed. Curiously however, academic research on entrepreneurship mostly abstracts away from practical activity. In contrast, Entrepreneurship As Practice takes ordinary activities of entrepreneurship seriously by mapping out new pathways for scholars to consider the everyday practices through which entrepreneurship occurs. Each chapter draws on contemporary theories of practice to illuminate the nature, properties, and implications of studying the practices of entrepreneurship. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the journal Entrepreneurship & Regional Development.

What do entrepreneurs do? In a comprehensive and detailed exploration using three perspectives - behavior, practice and process - this Research Handbook demonstrates specific methods for answering that question and provides insights into the implications of pursuing that question. The authors demonstrate a variety of methods including ethnography, autoethnography, participant observation, diaries, social media platforms and multilevel research techniques to delve into the foundations of entrepreneurial behavior. In addition to reinvigorating this long dormant area of scholarship, these chapters provide scholars with the idea that the disparate perspectives on this topic are really headed in the same direction. They also demonstrate the notion that similar tools can be utilized to answer the same type of questions emanating from these different perspectives. The contributors go on to offer insights to a wide range of scholarship on organizations. Entrepreneurship scholars, PhD students, and upper level graduate and undergraduate students who want a current overview on the theories, methods and implications of studying entrepreneurship will welcome the insights explored in this Research Handbook. Contributors include: A. Brattstroem, O. Byrne, A. Caetano, H.S. Chen, F. Delmar, D. Dimov, A. Fayolle, D. Fletcher, W.B. Gartner, B. Johannisson, A.R. Johnson, T. Karlsson, M. Lackeus, J.R. Mitchell, R.K. Mitchell, H. Neergaard, R.D.M. Pelly, K. Poldner, S.C. Santos, P. Selden, B.T. Teague, N.A. Thompson, C. Thrane, M. Tillmar, H. Vahidnia, E. van Burg, J.P. Warhuus, K. Wennberg

The institutionalization of entrepreneurship is undeniably a good thing for the members of the research community, as it implies the legitimization of particular research topics and research practices; the emergence of norms for developing and publishing this research; and the creation of structures that provide employment opportunities and a conducive environment for pursuing research. However, we can also question if this institutionalization is such a good thing when it comes to producing critical, innovative, contextualized, and complex research or when considered from the point of view of non-academic entrepreneurship stakeholders and society in general. The objective of this book is to challenge the main research streams, theories, methods, epistemologies, assumptions and beliefs dominating the field of entrepreneurship. In order to achieve this objective, this book comprises six conceptual and empirical contributions, each one unorthodox, controversial, inspiring and challenging. This book was originally published as a special issue of Entrepreneurship and Regional Development.

This innovative book takes seriously the ordinary activities of entrepreneurship and maps out new pathways for scholars to understand the nature, properties, and implications of studying practices for entrepreneurship studies. Entrepreneurship is neither an art nor a science, but a bundle of practices, as Peter Drucker once observed. Curiously however, academic research on entrepreneurship mostly abstracts away from practical activity. In contrast, Entrepreneurship As Practice takes ordinary activities of entrepreneurship seriously by mapping out new pathways for scholars to consider the everyday practices through which entrepreneurship occurs. Each chapter draws on contemporary theories of practice to illuminate the nature, properties, and implications of studying the practices of entrepreneurship. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the journal Entrepreneurship & Regional Development.

The institutionalization of entrepreneurship is undeniably a good thing for the members of the research community, as it implies the legitimization of particular research topics and research practices; the emergence of norms for developing and publishing this research; and the creation of structures that provide employment opportunities and a conducive environment for pursuing research. However, we can also question if this institutionalization is such a good thing when it comes to producing critical, innovative, contextualized, and complex research or when considered from the point of view of non-academic entrepreneurship stakeholders and society in general. The objective of this book is to challenge the main research streams, theories, methods, epistemologies, assumptions and beliefs dominating the field of entrepreneurship. In order to achieve this objective, this book comprises six conceptual and empirical contributions, each one unorthodox, controversial, inspiring and challenging. This book was originally published as a special issue of Entrepreneurship and Regional Development.