Embedded entrepreneurship in the creative re-construction of place.

McKeever, Edward; Jack, Sarah; Anderson, Alistair

Abstract

This paper focuses on ways in which entrepreneurs engage with place and community. Drawing on the ideas of embeddedness and transferring value across spheres, we develop insight about how the relationship between entrepreneurs and communities influences entrepreneurial practices and outcomes. Employing an ethnographic perspective including participant observation, we explored the situated practices of entrepreneurs in two depleted communities in the Northwest of Ireland. We found that entrepreneurs not only drew on the community in running their business, but were also involved in a wide range of 'other' activities that engaged, involved and worked with the community. This entrepreneurship produced a range of projects that addressed social and economic issues (unemployment, employability and emigration) and the depleted sense of place which was adversely affecting these communities. We show how social bonds and an affinity to community enable entrepreneurship to create, renew and reify a positive identity of place by combining understanding with entrepreneurial purpose.

Citation

MCKEEVER, E., JACK, S. and ANDERSON, A. 2015. Embedded entrepreneurship in the creative re-construction of place. Journal of business venturing [online], 30(1), pages 50-65. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2014.07.002

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 15, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Aug 15, 2014
• Publication Date: Jan 31, 2015
• Deposit Date: Feb 25, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 16, 2016
• Journal: Journal of business venturing
• Print ISSN: 0883-9026
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 50-65
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2014.07.002
• Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Embedded; Community; Place
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1390
• Contract Date: Feb 25, 2016