The Routledge Companion to Entrepreneurship

Citation

Dr Vijay Vij (2015), "The Routledge Companion to Entrepreneurship", International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 281-283. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-10-2014-0180

This book reflects a move in how entrepreneurship scholars reason and undertake research on the idea of entrepreneurship. It covers trends towards an ever developing array of ideas, perspectives, theories and methods in building up a picture in what constitutes entrepreneurship. This book is a useful tool for scholars and practitioners as well as established researchers who want a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of current critical issues in the entrepreneurship field. One of the main strengths of this companion is that it integrates various discussions within entrepreneurship research so providing an invaluable aid for a number of multi-disciplinary students and researchers. In addition authors have incorporated a range of ideas and practices that emphasises the diverse and novel nature of entrepreneurship. This book does not follow uniformity in its outlook; instead it provides “intellectual food” for inquisitive minds and addresses areas to “feed” and “grow” these minds.

The book is systematically structured; initially subdivided into parts and then further subdivided into topics. The brief summary of the chapters in this review below will allow the readers to choose their field of interest. Part A sets the scene for the companion of entrepreneurship by challenging the nature of entrepreneurship scholarship. Within the text, entrepreneurship is described as being about “difference” rather than “newness”. This proves within itself a challenge for scholars in creating generalisability of uniqueness so moving away from the “average entrepreneur”.

Part B leads into the discipline of entrepreneurship research covering historical background, philosophy of entrepreneurship, action and process and vision and values related to different meanings of entrepreneurship. Although the field of entrepreneurship has achieved its authenticity without giving up its diversity, questions do arise from the book as to whether the “philosophy of entrepreneurship” has reached a plateau in its growth. Likewise the diverse meanings of the word entrepreneurship give a flavour of entrepreneurship in a broader sense rather than in narrow focus upon financial and short-term monetary gain. In recent years the interest in entrepreneurship has grown and with it a wide range of vibrant and visionary literature has serviced this market. Nevertheless, scholars still remain baffled about what this field stands for. Within this book, scholars provide persuasive arguments about what the field of entrepreneurship entails, its value and importance. Although this book brings together scholars from many countries and research traditions showing variety, heterogeneity and distinctive characteristics of entrepreneurship, it still remains an area, however, dominated by western scholars (USA and Europe) with many articles still being written in the English language. This is an important hindrance to the development of this growing field by publishing in local and regional outlets as it inevitably restricts the limited international recognition.

Part C explores reasons and motivations for entering into entrepreneurship which is questioned and disputed in many ways and answered by experts using words such as “passion, path forward, individual differences, identity, thinking differently”, related to effectual logic and behaviour leading to development in the study of habitual entrepreneurship and looking to the future. Passion seems to drive both cognitive and emotional processes, rather personality traits, that shape both how and why entrepreneurs persist on following their passion bringing the individual differences among entrepreneurs and between entrepreneurs, others using work on cognitive differences. Hence strong research contribution is slanted towards entrepreneurial cognition with the support of human agency, social theory literature, to enrich and bring coherence to some part of cognition research in entrepreneurship. Adding themes of identity and agency to entrepreneurship is another indication of showing integration of ideas/disciplines within entrepreneurship research which may contradict existing methodologies.

Part D links with resources and resourcefulness discussing different means of raising funding such as Bricolage; “making do and what is in hand”, not only from family and friends but microfinance including personal banking. Financing the business is a concept that needs to be further researched as it is very common in developing countries where no business support/welfare system exists. A framework for investigating university based technology transfer for commercialisation also seems to be the hot topic for innovation and competing in a global environment mainly in western countries. This should further be extended to developing countries where creativity and innovation flourish due to personal survival and necessity under the banner of entrepreneurial behavioural concept to understand what and how certain entrepreneurs take action to achieve results even under severe constraints on their means and resources.

Part E enlarges the concept of entrepreneurship, wealth and well-being covering ordinary entrepreneur, informal, illegal and criminal entrepreneurs extending the discussion in relation to poverty, reciprocity and community-based entrepreneurship including capitalising on insights on entrepreneurship in relation to creativity, across borders, growing economy and regional development. This is an interesting topic and is an important part of entrepreneurship education, however, the terms defined in this chapter may not be universal as different countries, especially eastern countries, apply their own ethics/laws regarding the above-mentioned concept. This could be explored further in future research.

Part F examines entrepreneurial opportunity in relation equal and unequal covering empowerment (gender issues), place (agency and institutions) and entrepreneurship. The rhetoric power covers politics, ethnic minority liberation and individual opportunity. The challenges presented by the chapters in Part F bring a much warranted sense of discomfort when readers/researchers accept statement/arguments without critically evaluating them towards entrepreneurship in all times and in all places.

Part G finalises the broader understanding in discussing the methodological future and challenges and questions research on entrepreneurship taking place in developing countries, getting into hearts and minds of entrepreneurs, the methods used advancing entrepreneurship research on affect and cognition in addition to critically examining research scholarship in the field of entrepreneurship. As discussed above, research on entrepreneurship in developing countries has good scope but there is a need for resources, interest and high profile so that the scholars value the outcomes seriously. This makes the entrepreneurship research truly global.

Learning is commonly defined as a process that brings together “cognitive, emotional and environmental influences and experiences for acquiring, enhancing or making changes in one’s knowledge, skills, values and world views” (Illeris, 2001) educationists and psychologists interested in the learning process proposed many theories for this disputed field of study. One must bear in mind that teaching and learning are not only limited to the cognitive strategies and methods, but are products of socio-culturally and politically constituted knowledge.

Overall, I was impressed how most of the text has both set the scene and challenged the readers in the process. A very good and informative book offering an intellectual outlook for scholars on entrepreneurship!