ABSTRACT

This paper builds on previous studies that explore entrepreneurship from a critical realist morphogenetic perspective, and incorporates the neglected aspect of how agential reflexivity shapes entrepreneurship. Using the morphogenetic framework and its typology of reflexive modes, we analyse 78 work and life histories gathered from Sri Lanka with the aim of understanding reflexive entrepreneurial action. Our findings suggest that, while autonomous reflexives match the common understanding of entrepreneurship, i.e. that it is individualistic and wealth-driven, nevertheless the other reflexive modalities also exhibit entrepreneurship. For example, communicative reflexives may demonstrate entrepreneurship in achieving their aspiration to maintain a family firm or tradition, and meta-reflexives may demonstrate entrepreneurship in order to realize their value ideals. We conclude that the morphogenetic typology of reflexivity is a reliable guide to understanding subtleties associated with entrepreneurial action and resolving the ongoing debate about whether entrepreneurship is best understood as motivated by the individual or by society.

摘要

本文建立在以前的研究的基础上，这些研究从批判现实主义的形态发生角度探索创业精神，并结合了代理反思如何塑造创业精神这一被忽视的方面。使用形态发生框架及其反思模式的类型学，我们分析了从斯里兰卡收集的 78 份工作和生活史，目的是了解反思性创业行为。我们的研究结果表明，虽然自主反射符合对企业家精神的普遍理解，即它是个人主义和财富驱动的，但其他反思方式也表现出企业家精神。例如，交际反射可能表现出企业家精神，以实现他们维持家族企业或传统的愿望，以及元反射可能会表现出企业家精神，以实现他们的价值理想。我们得出的结论是，反思性的形态发生类型学是理解与创业行动相关的微妙之处的可靠指南，并解决了关于创业最好被理解为由个人还是由社会驱动的持续争论。