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Review of Skill and the Entrepreneurial Process
December 8, 2012 Editor 0
Abstract
Purpose – To address the fundamental nature of skill and identify how an examination of skill may be introduced into theoretical understanding of the entrepreneurial process.Design/methodology/approach – Review of published work, contrasting positivist and social constructionist paradigmatic approaches.Findings – Skill is under-researched. Skills once learnt are discounted, undervalued and largely ignored, excepting when they are not executed. Skills are multidimensional, continuous, and context-related. They are not the same as competencies. Skills associated with the entrepreneurial process are primarily theoretical constructs and have been associated with opportunity recognition theory. The ORT may be challenged and substituted with identification of a social/market valued need. Adopting different paradigmatic approaches to entrepreneurial behaviour yields different issues including problems of measurement and how skills are valued socially, politically and economically. Insufficient empirical research has been carried out to test theory, and identify critical skills.Research limitations/implications – Empirical research is needed to test and build theory that resonates with practitioner ? in particular of the entrepreneur. Practical implications – Education and training policies should reflect sound theory and practice and where appropriate fund further work on the nature and development of entrepreneurial skills.Originality/value – A fundamental review of skill has not been carried out academically since 1990; this paper is timely as it not only addresses that gap, but develops the work by applying an understanding the issues of researching skill to the entrepreneurial process.
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