Understanding Entrepreneurship: Challenging Dominant Perspectives and Theorizing Entrepreneurship through New Postpositivist Epistemologies

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is characterized by complex, dynamic and emergent processes, and the interplay between actors, processes, and contexts. Postpositivistic approaches offer the opportunity to examine subtleties of the phenomenon of entrepreneurship by placing emphasis on a range of its dimensions and the interplays between dimensions. Despite a growing body of postpositivistic research in response to such calls, the legitimacy of these approaches is still subject to debate on the grounds of rigor and relevance. This special issue challenges these prevailing but often hidden assumptions governing the conduct and publication of scholarly inquiry in the field of entrepreneurship and offers alternative perspectives for future research.

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Notes on contributors

Mine Karatas‐ozkan

Mine Karatas‐Ozkan is professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, associate dean (Research) at the Faculty of Business and Law, University of Southampton, UK.

Alistair R. Anderson

Alistair R. Anderson is professor of Entrepreneurship and director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK.

Alain Fayolle

Alain Fayolle is professor of Strategy & Organisation Department, and director of the Entrepreneurship Research Centre, EMLYON Business School, France.

Jeremy Howells

Jeremy Howells is professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, University of Southampton, UK.

Roland Condor

Roland Condor is lecturer in Strategy and Project Management, chair of Entrepreneurship, Project Management and Innovation, EM Normandie, France.