Call for papers: "Corporate Entrepreneurship in the New Global Economic Reality"

Sponsored by the Enterprise Research Centre, Warwick Business School in association with a Special Issue of Small Business Economics

Paper Development Workshop

Overview

The worldwide economic downturn that began in 2008 represented a strategic game changer for most organizations. Severe resource constraints and unpredictable market conditions created significant challenges for organizational survival, let alone growth through innovation and venturing activities. These conditions have fostered a greater need for corporate innovative activities (Kuratko, 2009) and thus, a better understanding of the corporate entrepreneurial process within such an environment.  Past models of the CE process suggest important linkages between structure, strategic decision-making, environment, management processes, and entrepreneurial orientation (i.e., Covin & Slevin,1991; Hornsby, et al., 1993; Lumpkin & Dess, 1996; Kuratko, Ireland, Covin & Hornsby, 2005; and Ireland, Covin, and Kuratko; 2009). While more research is needed to examine the linkages among the many variables included in integrative models such as that of Ireland et al (2009), we also require a better understanding of the role of external socio-cultural, economic and market conditions upon the managerial decisions and actions in pursuit of CE strategies.  

In the past decade, several key elements of the CE process have been examined. Yet ongoing scholarly work has also raised new and important research questions and identified further theoretical avenues requiring exploration.  Examples include: cognitive processes of corporate entrepreneurs (Corbett & Hmieleski, 2007); the role of personal and organizational networks in the CE process (e.g., Kelley et al., 2009); the role of national cultural and institutional factors influencing processes and outcomes in CE (Dess et al., 2003; Hayton et al., 2002); the influence of resource constrained environments and the extension of CE to small and medium sized firms and not-for-profit institutions (e.g., Fini et al., 2012). However, the field needs more rigorous global research to understand the moderators, mediating processes, and what constitutes relevant CE outcomes (the dependent variable issue). Also, the economic impact of CE activity needs to be determined.

This workshop is one of two to be held to discuss and develop research taking a global perspective on increasing our understanding of the CE process. Papers submitted to the workshop will be considered for a special issue of Small Business Economics. Suitable research questions for the workshop and associated special issue include, but are not limited to:

• What are the impacts of economic recession and resource constraints on formal and informal CE?
• How do networks of roles connect together in organizations to produce CE?
• Do the theoretical linkages suggested in integrative models such as Ireland et al (2009) hold up to empirical testing? What are the critical management practices, e.g., human resource practices/high performance work systems that facilitate the creation of an entrepreneurial orientation?
• Do specific recruitment, selection, training, compensation, and evaluation systems develop and motivate corporate entrepreneurial behavior?
• What role do entrepreneurial cognitions play in the CE process, especially focusing on the decision to initiate and/or sustain entrepreneurial behavior?
• From a practical perspective, what are the best dependent variables/performance metrics to assess CE outcomes?
• What are the cross-cultural issues that must be considered when implementing a successful CE strategy?

Event Structure

Sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Research Centre, based at WBS, the workshop will take place on Friday 14^th June, 2013 (with welcome reception Thursday 13^th June).

Overnight accommodation and all meals will be provided, at the University of Warwick Conference Centre. 

The University of Warwick is easily accessible by rail or air (Approximately 30 minutes by road from Birmingham International Airport, 1 hour from Nottingham East Midlands Airport, 2 hours from Luton Airport and 15 minutes from Coventry Airport).

Submission Guidelines

Potential contributors are encouraged to submit abstracts of three to five pages in length to the convenors (c/o James Hayton).

Deadline for submission of abstracts: February 15

Draft manuscript submission: May 1^st

Workshop Dates: June 13/14

Workshop Location: Warwick Business School, Coventry, UK

Organizers

Professor James Hayton

Warwick Business School

James.Hayton@WBS.ac.uk

Professor Jeffrey S. Hornsby

Jack Vanier Chair of Entrepreneurship

Director, Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship

Kansas State University

jhornsby@ksu.edu

Professor Donald F. Kuratko

The Jack M Gill Distinguished Chair of Entrepreneurship Professor of Entrepreneurship Executive Director Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

The Kelley School of Business

Indiana University – Bloomington

dkuratko@indiana.edu

References

Corbett, A. C. & Hmieleski, K. M. (2007), The Conflicting Cognitions of Corporate Entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 31, 103–121.

Covin, J. G., & Slevin, D. P. 1991. A conceptual model of entrepreneurship as firm behavior. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 16, 7-25.

Dess, G. G., Ireland, R. D., Zahara, S. A., Floyd, S. W., Janney, J. I., & Lane, P. J. 2003. Emerging issues in corporate entrepreneurship. Journal of Management, 29, 351-378.

Fini, R., Grimaldi, R., Marzocchi, G. L. and Sobrero, M. (2012), The Determinants of Corporate Entrepreneurial Intention Within Small and Newly Established Firms. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 36, 387–414.

Hayton, J.C., George, G, & Zahra, S.A. (2002). National culture and entrepreneurship: A review of behavioral research. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 26, 33-52.

Hornsby, J.S., Naffziger, D.W, Kuratko, D.F., & Montagno, R.V. 1993. An interactive model of the corporate entrepreneurship process.Entrepreneurship Theory Practice, 17, 29–37.

Ireland, R.D., Covin, J.G., & Kuratko, D.F. 2009. Conceptualizing corporate entrepreneurship strategy. Entrepreneurship Theory Practice, 33, 19-46.

Kelley, D.J., Peters, L. & O'Connor, G. (2009). Intra-organizational networking for innovation-based corporate entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Venturing, 24, 221-235.

Kuratko, D.F., 2009. The Entrepreneurial Imperative of the 21^st Century. Business Horizons, 52, 421-428.

Kuratko, D. F., Ireland, R. D., Covin, J. G., & Hornsby, J. S. 2005. A model of middle-level managers' entrepreneurial behavior. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 29, 699-716.

Lumpkin, G.T. & Dess, G.G. (1996). Clarifying the entrepreneurship orientation construct and linking it to performance. Academy of Management Review, 21, 135–172.