Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice

The research on entrepreneurship education–entrepreneurial intentions has yielded mixed results. We meta–analyzed 73 studies with a total sample size of 37,285 individuals and found a significant but a small correlation between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions ( ρ ^ ). This correlation is also greater than that of business education and entrepreneurial intentions. However, after controlling for pre–education entrepreneurial intentions, the relationship between entrepreneurship education and post–education entrepreneurial intentions was not significant. We also analyzed moderators, such as the attributes of entrepreneurship education, students’ differences, and cultural values. Our results have implications for entrepreneurship education scholars, program evaluators, and policy makers.

The relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and firm performance is among the best–researched topics in entrepreneurship research. These studies have been conducted in various national contexts. While a first meta–analysis by Rauch et al. finds no significant difference between EO's effects based on the continent in which the firm is based, the present study considers how national cultural and macroeconomic drivers impact the EO–performance relationship. Building upon 177 studies with data from 41 countries, the meta–analysis consolidates this literature stream, contributing to the evidence–based entrepreneurship research.

Increasing interest in the development of entrepreneurial intentions has elevated the importance of theories that predict and explain individuals’ propensity to start a firm. The purpose of this study is to meta–analytically test and integrate the theory of planned behavior and the entrepreneurial event model. We summarize the findings of 98 studies (123 samples, n = 114,007) and utilize meta–analytic structural equation modeling to examine the empirical fit of the competing theories and the integrated model. Our results demonstrate support for the competing theories and indicate the moderating role of contextual boundary conditions in the development of entrepreneurial intent. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the integrated model provides additional explanatory power and a fuller understanding of the process through which entrepreneurial intent develops.

Most research in evidence–based entrepreneurship builds on quantitative designs, which is unfortunate because qualitative studies provide a unique contribution to the domain of entrepreneurship. They look at distinctive phenomena in their specific time period and context in one way or another, and can help generate and test new theories. We, therefore, suggest using a systematic synthesis of case studies to aggregate the findings of qualitative research. Moreover, as a first step, we developed an example to demonstrate how this approach can advance evidence–based entrepreneurship. Specifically, we synthesized 13 cases to examine how business clusters increase the performance of firms within clusters.

To develop a body of evidence–based knowledge on entrepreneurship, findings and contributions from the positivist, narrative, and design research traditions in this area need to be combined. Therefore, a framework for research synthesis in terms of social mechanisms, contextual conditions, and outcome patterns is developed in this paper. Subsequently, a synthesis of the existing body of research findings on entrepreneurial opportunities serves to illustrate how this framework can be applied and provides results that inform entrepreneurial action. Finally, we discuss how this synthetic approach serves to systematically connect the fragmented landscape of entrepreneurship research, and thus gradually build a cumulative and evidence–based body of knowledge on entrepreneurship.

Evidence–based practice in entrepreneurship requires effective communication of research findings. We focus on how research synopses can “promote” research to entrepreneurs. Drawing on marketing communications literature, we examine how message characteristics of research synopses affect their appeal. We demonstrate the utility of conjoint analysis in this context and find message length, media richness, and source credibility to have positive influences. We find mixed support for a hypothesized negative influence of jargon, and for our predictions that participants’ involvement with academic research moderates these effects. Exploratory analyses reveal latent classes of entrepreneurs with differing preferences, particularly for message length and jargon.

This case takes place in Russia in 2008, not quite 20 years into the post–Soviet developing economy. DiPaul was an authorized dealer of electronic instruments, equipment, and materials for the production and assembly of printed circuit boards as well as soldering equipment. Its core business was supplying measurement instruments and process equipment. In the summer of 2008, the chief executive officer, who was also the majority stockholder, decided to reassign authority in a formal organizational transition so that he could become more engaged in policy and leadership of the Association of Russian Producers of Electronic Appliances and Instruments. The protagonist's concerns were as follows: How to carry out such a management transition? Who among the top management team could fit the position best? How must the organizational structure of the company be changed to accommodate the shift in leadership? And importantly, what should his own future role be?