Entrepreneurial education : exploring the micro-dynamics of learning in student business incubators

In contribution to the literature on learning entrepreneurship through practice (Neck and Greene, 2011), in this study we conduct an ethnography of a student enterprise incubator. The latter combines aspects of practice-based learning with physical proximity to peers and mentors. Following nine months of observations, interviews, archival documents collection (email, Facebook pages) and participation to the activities of the incubator, we can report on the micro-dynamics in this environment. Our insights reveals that students peer-learning in the very early stages of the entrepreneurial process (idea exploration and feasibility studies) is underpinned by (a) unplanned interactions facilitated by (a1) close physical proximity as well as (1b) the perception of commonalities that do not lead to direct competition, as well as (2) a shared, newly acquired entrepreneurial identity facilitated by the symbolism and discourse that characterizes the environment (awards, photographs of individuals, etc.). Whilst the aforementioned interactions and the resulting mutually beneficial exchanges create a culture of generosity and mutual support, drawbacks are observed in the form of identity-focused behavior, whereby students become sidetracked by protecting their “entrepreneur” status and stop experimenting with their entrepreneurial journey, thus not progressing on their learning on the same. Overcoming the entrepreneurial-identity focus is key for continuous learning to occur for students in the business incubator. Students who overcome the latter develop an understanding that sustained entrepreneurial efforts can only be achieved through learning from setbacks. Over time and through repeated exposure to each-other’s failures as well as successes, a culture of effortful practice replaces the focus on entrepreneurial identity. It is this duality of effortful practice versus entrepreneurial identity that underpins continuous learning in the student business incubator

Making internationalisation decisions: how heuristics and biases affect the reasoning processes of leaders of small and medium-sized firms

This thesis presents an exploration of how biases stemming from the use of heuristic-‐based reasoning processes influence the internationalisation decisions made by the leaders of Small and Medium-‐Sized Enterprises (SMEs). Three types of internationalisation decisions are specifically addressed in this thesis, namely foreign market selection, entry mode and foreign market exit. The empirical context is that of Scottish SMEs from three main industries, namely Environmental and Recycling, Oil and Gas, and Textiles. Each of the case firms is involved in value-‐adding activities across national borders. The theoretical context is that of internationalising SMEs. The thesis draws on three main strands of the internationalisation literature: the Transaction Cost Approach, the Process Theory of Internationalisation and the International New Venture (INV) approaches. In investigating the decisional processes involved in internationalisation, the thesis takes a Bounded Rationality stance and assumes the use of Heuristics-‐based reasoning (Tversky and Kahneman, 1974) in internationalisation decisions. The level of analysis is the individual decision maker within the internationalising firm. The unit of analysis is the internationalisation decision, which is explored from a reasoning process perspective. A case study strategy is used. Data collection tools are semi-‐structured interviews and repertory grid elicitation. The data is analysed inductively through the construction of causal-‐cognitive maps. Findings show that heuristics are a useful tool to explain the reasoning processes employed in internationalisation decisions. The contribution that this thesis makes to extant literature on the internationalisation of smaller firms is threefold. Firstly, the thesis outlines the processes involved in an array of internationalisation decisions (country selection, entry mode, exit decisions) underpinning the cross-‐national border behaviour of firms. Secondly, by observing the processes of decision-‐making through a cognitive lens, the thesis contributes to the emerging cognitive approach in internationalisation. Thirdly, the thesis contributes to the literature on international entrepreneurial experience by explaining how experiential and vicarious knowledge are leveraged and used in the process of internationalisation decision-‐making. III Propositions are advanced and further research is invited to progress current understanding of the making of internationalisation decisions in SMEs

Editorial : Searching for meaning in work and life: happiness, wellbeing, and the future of organizations

Finding meaning in one's work and in one's life is a quest that has a powerful resonance in an era that values holistic fulfillment. This Research Topic invited cross-disciplinary contributions to shed light on the future of organizations seen through a meaning-making lens of employment across a number of different organizational contexts. We received a series of insightful research pieces that untangle the web of connections between happiness, wellbeing, and the workings of organizations

New thinking or the 'emperor's new clothes’? : a critique of entrepreneurial mindset and public policy

Drawing on recent academic thinking on Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM) as a set of learnable, individual level skills and competencies for value creation, we systematically analyse relevant public policy documents from governments in OECD countries. We set the boundaries of policy selection to documents that explicitly use the wording EM (or its translation) and analyse those using principles of discourse analysis. Through the use of the Gioia method, we distil five emerging themes which represent the policy interpretation and application of the wording EM as: New Venture Creation (NVC), Skills, NVC and Skills, Social, and finally Social and Skills. We discuss how, cutting across these themes, the focus remains on ends (venture creation and growth) rather than means (fostering individual level skills and competencies) and on fostering traditional economic structures (the firm) rather than including extensions to individuals in societies. We further discuss the implications of these "emperors' new clothes" on missed opportunities for inclusive and progressive policy that serves all in society

A competence development approach for entrepreneurial mindset in entrepreneurship education

In recent years Entrepreneurship Education (EE) has become prevalent throughout Higher Education (HE), with a proliferation of programming for learners from Undergraduate to Post-experience studies. Despite the rapid scaling of provision, the majority of extant EE offerings demonstrate little conceptual evolution and development from early programs. Many approaches fall short of enabling the cognitive and behavioral change so critical to supporting entrepreneurial action. In this article we consider the concept of entrepreneurial mindset (EM) as a framing for EE programming, conceptualizing it as an approach to support the development of multidimensional cognitive and emotional competences and behavioral outcomes to enable entrepreneurial value creating activity across a range of contexts. We focus specifically on how educators can actively support the development of an EM through EE programming and start a conversation on the practicalities of operationalizing the EM concept within HE teaching and learning activity

The dynamics of experiential learning: Microprocesses and adaptation in a professional service INV

In international new ventures (INVs), experiential learning happens in quick succession and across a wide number of diverse contexts. Yet, we lack an empirical understanding of the microprocesses through which INVs learn and adapt in their foreign expansion. Understanding those microprocesses is important because timely adaptation can save the venture time and resources, thus promoting sustainable growth. In this study, we investigate the dynamics of experiential learning and adaptation in the internationalisation process of an INV in the professional service sector. Findings from our study illustrate that the firm applies deliberate experiential learning by developing, revising, and finalising criteria for important dimensions in the international growth process, and adapts its internationalisation practices accordingly. We further show that deliberate experiential learning is predicated on an actively and closely monitored learning process, involving critical evaluation, adjustment of criteria, and acceptance of affordable mistakes, as opposed to learning by defaul

Exploring opportunity creation in internationalising SMEs : evidence from scottish firms

This chapter looks at the evidence of evidence from scottish firms for opportunity creation in internationalising SME