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Understanding entrepreneurial deviance through social learning and entrepreneurial action theory: an empirical study

Abel Duarte Alonso (School of Management, Curtin University Bentley Campus, Perth, Australia)
Seng Kiat Kok (School of Business and Management, RMIT University Vietnam, Saigon, Vietnam)
Seamus O'Brien (Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University – City Campus, Liverpool, UK)
Louis Geneste (School of Management, Curtin University Bentley Campus, Perth, Australia)

European Business Review

ISSN: 0955-534X

Article publication date: 14 May 2020

Issue publication date: 10 August 2020

611

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine entrepreneurial deviance from the perspective of New Zealand's commercial honey producers. The study adopts entrepreneurial action and social learning theories and proposes a theoretical framework in the context of entrepreneurial deviance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through online surveys from 52 professional beekeepers.

Findings

Overstocking of beehives, encroachment, biosecurity threats and unfair competition were most common forms of deviance affecting participants. While these predominantly responded through investing in disease prevention, security equipment or by reporting deviant incidents, finding proper solutions remains elusive. The findings revealed robust alignments with both theories. Overall, offenders’ perceived incentives to act illustrate alignment with social learning theory’s four key constructs. Entrepreneurial action emerged through individual perpetrators’ evaluation and subsequent maximisation of potentially lucrative opportunities.

Originality/value

The study addresses an important and under-researched dimension, notably, the negative or “dark” side of entrepreneurs, in this case, illustrated through greed and disregard for fair and proper ways of conducting business. This knowledge gap is even more obvious among small and medium business, which is also the focus of the research.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the reviewers for their constructive feedback.

Citation

Duarte Alonso, A., Kiat Kok, S., O'Brien, S. and Geneste, L. (2020), "Understanding entrepreneurial deviance through social learning and entrepreneurial action theory: an empirical study", European Business Review, Vol. 32 No. 4, pp. 643-666. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-05-2019-0088

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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