Entrepreneurship Blog

Abstract

Recent years have seen entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises play a more significant role in economic growth and cooperation. Economic development increasingly depends on fostering entrepreneurship, where SMEs play a key role in job creation, business development, and stimulating green and inclusive growth in both developing and developed countries. In addition, SMEs are crucial for achieving sustainable development in emerging markets as well. Effective policies and support measures require an understanding of the environment in which entrepreneurs and SMEs operate, referred to as entrepreneurial ecosystem. This blog entry provides a first look at the most popular literature on the entrepreneurial ecosystem, offers different definitions and models of the entrepreneurial ecosystem out of those papers, and provides a comparative case study to see how differently the ecosystem might work even in similar preconditions.

Christian Schröder, Professorship of Business Administration, in particular of SME Management and Entrepreneurship, University of Siegen.

Contact: Christian3.Schroeder@uni-siegen.de

United Nations and the sustainable development goals (SDGs)

Our world is increasingly confronted with grand challenges to which there are no or inadequate answers to date. To address these challenges, the member states of the UN developed the agenda 2030. The agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The Rio+20 Summit in 2012 was the largest UN conference in history and formed the starting point for the creation of the SDGs, addressing the major challenges of our time. These SDGs were developed throughout a three-year process across 83 national surveys including over 7 million people. Hence, they are stemming from the biggest consultation efforts of UN history. The aim of the SDGs is to identify key problems concerning all countries (developing and emerging) and to tackle areas requiring urgent action. Consequently, the UN agreed on 17 SDGs that serve to sustainably improve the quality of life around the world. The global partnership addresses the urgent call for action to eradicate poverty, improve health and education, and reduce inequalities with simultaneous economic development. Further, it seeks to align all SDGs with climate change mitigation (United Nations, n.y.; https://sdgs.un.org/goals). Albeit receiving criticism for formulating too broad and idealistic ideas, the development of the SDGs is backed and supported by large parts of the academic community and gained great legitimacy across nations worldwide. One key problem that remains is the lack of awareness for the 17 SDGs. With this blog entry, we would like to change this and create more awareness for them. As time is rare and action is more than urgently required, we think that it is time to spread the message. „Helping hands: how can academia help to overcome grand challenges?“ weiterlesen

Jessica Espinoza, external doctoral student at the Professorship of Business Administration, in particular of SME Management and Entrepreneurship, University of Siegen.

Contact: Jessica.ETrujano@uni-siegen.de

Abstract

The way we allocate capital and invest shapes the world we live in. Investors play a crucial role in deciding which ideas and opportunities get the chance to grow and which remain unexplored. So one of the best ways to drive change at scale is to change the way we allocate capital. Gender lens investing offers investors an exciting opportunity to do that. „Valuing the female economy: Investors & Entrepreneurs’ Perspective on Responsible Exits in Gender Lens Investing“ weiterlesen

Sofia Abid, Ph.D. Candidate at the Entrepreneurship Research Institute, Chair of International Entrepreneurship, Technical University of Munich, Germany.

Contact: sofia.abid@tum.de

Going in…

It’s been three years since the world has been hit by the first wave of coronavirus. Three years since many of us have lived for the first time through a global pandemic. Three years since we have followed scientists from all over the globe relentlessly advance their work to come to an ultimate pharmaceutical solution or vaccine that would allow the world as we knew it to function again. Three years since governments and policymakers have been testing and rolling out measures to protect their citizens but also bubble proof their economic activities and stability. Three years since we experience a healthcare disaster in many hospitals worldwide where the demand simply would not keep up with available local resources. Three years since we watch and observe as inequalities across the continents make way to a pandemic experienced and lived differently from one country to another, one community to another. Over these three years and beyond, one thing persisted over and over again, creeping up on all formal and informal decisions made and sustained, with a heavy presence but still as the “elephant in the room” in many key global conversations: healthcare systems are on shaky grounds. „Crossing rivers: How new medical technology ventures in resource-scarce contexts form ties with foreign resource holders“ weiterlesen

„Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Innovative Methodological Avenues for Research“ weiterlesen

Anna-Katharina Schaper, doctoral candidate, Chair of China Business and Economics, University of Würzburg and external doctoral student at the Professorship of Business Administration, in particular of SME Management and Entrepreneurship, University of Siegen.

Contact: anna-katharina.schaper@uni-wuerzburg.de

Abstract

Entrepreneurship in China, particularly from a gender perspective, is an underexplored research field. Does scarcity of research on China imply that China is not a relevant case for entrepreneurship scholars and practitioners? Does private entrepreneurship in China matter after all? Should we stay on the course of investigating entrepreneurship activities in conventional environments, like the US and its Silicon Valley? Or is it about time to calibrate our research focus and turn to studying entrepreneurial activities in less explored contexts? To answer these questions, this article provides a quick overview of the history of the Chinese private sector and offers an analysis of the status quo of the Chinese entrepreneurship landscape. Additionally, the article uses a gender-lens to shed light on entrepreneurial endeavors of Chinese women entrepreneurs. „Let’s add the land of the pandas to our research agenda. Why female entrepreneurship in China matters.“ weiterlesen

Matthias Sehr, University of Siegen, Research assistant at the chair for Contextual Economics and Economic Education

Contact: Matthias.sehr@uni-siegen.de

Abstract

The discussion about more economic education at schools has received increasing impetus over the past 20 years. Points of controversy are not only the content, but also whether more economic education in schools is needed at all. In times of increasing right-wing populism, the demand for more political education is growing. „What does school tell us about entrepreneurship? Facets of entrepreneurship in German textbooks“ weiterlesen

Karoline Braun, external doctoral student at the Chair of Human Resource Management and Organization, University of Siegen

Contact: karoline.braun@uni-siegen.de

Abstract

As a result of the Corona crisis, many workers are being thrown back into traditional conditions and are experiencing a clear sense of foreign domination. Especially in such times of restrictions, the question of possibilities of co-determination in organizations arises more intensively than usual. Beyond that, for many people the restrictions lead to salary losses or even job loss, so that they necessarily have to deal with other, new possibilities to earn a living. From the point of view of companies, too, it seems to make sense to think about leadership, participation and entrepreneurship in order to be able to survive crises better – or at all.

This blog entry from the field of modern entrepreneurship research offers an innovative combination of democracy and entrepreneurship. It is particularly applicable to organizations in the fields of politics, economics and education, but other areas are also conceivable. The developed four-field matrix can be applied from the point of view of employees and entrepreneurs and allows considerations for both new organizations to be founded and for already existing organizations. Users can see from the perspective of the entrepreneur whether a high or low level of democracy seems to make sense for the organization and which aspects of co-determination should be taken into account.

Today there are countless organisations that cannot ensure their continued existence in the long term due to a lack of applicants or unmotivated employees. The situation is influenced by Generation Z, which is currently entering the labour market and has completely different demands on entrepreneurs than its predecessors, as well as by globalization and digitization, which bring additional dynamics into the everyday life of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are strongly advised to consider current developments in management and not to leave the founding or continuation of their company to chance.

„Democratic Entrepreneurship: A systematic analysis“ weiterlesen

Konrad Meisner, University of Siegen, Research assistant at the chair of Entrepreneurship and Family Business

Contact: Konrad.Meisner@uni-siegen.de

Abstract

Constant changes in production, supply chains, and communication influenced our economy and society already manifold. Likewise, Digitalization impacts the present economic environment, similar to automation or electrification in the past. Though the impact and importance of Digitalization in practice and research rises, a common understanding of the terminology cannot be found. „What is what? – Cleaning up the digitalization mess (Part 2)“ weiterlesen