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Unbundling enterprise and entrepreneurship: from perceptions and preconceptions to concept and practice

Unbundling enterprise and entrepreneurship: from perceptions and preconceptions to concept and practice
Unbundling enterprise and entrepreneurship: from perceptions and preconceptions to concept and practice
Enterprise, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs are terms that are subject to particular depictions and representations that do not always reflect their actual nature. Publicly held and shared perceptions and preconceptions tend to lead to stereotypes, caricatures and distortions that preclude or obstruct real insight into these phenomena. A case is made for a reconsideration of the key terms, particularly via a grounding of analysis and experience in actual events and conditions. The paper concludes by defining entrepreneurship as being both a state - of being an entrepreneur, and a behaviour - of being entrepreneurial. From this perspective, entrepreneurship extends beyond limited conceptualizations of its close association with business start-up and growth to incorporate enterprising activity and dynamics across society and its institutions.
1465-7503
121-127
Atherton, Andrew
f9cd4f73-4bd9-4546-803d-0a382be1cd72
Atherton, Andrew
f9cd4f73-4bd9-4546-803d-0a382be1cd72

Atherton, Andrew (2004) Unbundling enterprise and entrepreneurship: from perceptions and preconceptions to concept and practice. The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 5 (2), 121-127. (doi:10.5367/000000004773863273).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Enterprise, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs are terms that are subject to particular depictions and representations that do not always reflect their actual nature. Publicly held and shared perceptions and preconceptions tend to lead to stereotypes, caricatures and distortions that preclude or obstruct real insight into these phenomena. A case is made for a reconsideration of the key terms, particularly via a grounding of analysis and experience in actual events and conditions. The paper concludes by defining entrepreneurship as being both a state - of being an entrepreneur, and a behaviour - of being entrepreneurial. From this perspective, entrepreneurship extends beyond limited conceptualizations of its close association with business start-up and growth to incorporate enterprising activity and dynamics across society and its institutions.

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Published date: 1 May 2004

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Local EPrints ID: 498730
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/498730
ISSN: 1465-7503
PURE UUID: f483fa81-b7a2-4623-aa46-00c5d577672a
ORCID for Andrew Atherton: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2278-1496

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Date deposited: 26 Feb 2025 17:30
Last modified: 27 Feb 2025 03:03

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Author: Andrew Atherton ORCID iD

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