دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی کارآفرینان خلاق و فرهنگی: درک نقش هویت کارآفرینی - امرالد 2017

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore whether and how entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries develop an entrepreneurial identity. It also aims to expand research on cultural and creative entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on longitudinal qualitative cases and analyses the potential entrepreneurial identity development of eight cultural and creative entrepreneurs from Germany. The researchers create a framework to ascertain whether and, if so, how cultural and creative entrepreneurs develop an entrepreneurial identity. Findings – The findings suggest that cultural and creative entrepreneurs do develop an entrepreneurial identity and incorporate their cultural and creative identity into that entrepreneurial identity whereas self-reflection is a key driver in the development. Practical implications – Cultural and creative entrepreneurs are a key driver of economic development. Hence, it is important to generate a more detailed understanding of their entrepreneurial mind-set and their behaviour. Originality/value – The study suggests that cultural and creative entrepreneurs actively develop an entrepreneurial identity and that self-reflection, communication with other entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial experience are the main drivers of their identity development. Nevertheless, their cultural and creative identity does have an influence on their entrepreneurial identity. In addition, the study demonstrates how such entrepreneurs develop their identity.

Conclusion

This study analyses the entrepreneurial identity development of CCI entrepreneurs. It thereby advances research on CCI entrepreneurship. Data were generated in real-time, and a longitudinal qualitative research design with eight CCI entrepreneurs was applied. The findings show that creative practitioners develop into CCI entrepreneurs and form their own entrepreneurial identity, which comprises aspects of both traditional entrepreneurship and CCI principles. Research so far has shown that CCI entrepreneurs challenge traditional business models. They commonly struggle with entrepreneurship, as business economics are believed to drive out cultural and creative values. However, this study reveals how CCI entrepreneurs develop a distinct entrepreneurial CCI identity. First, the entrepreneurs have to be motivated to act entrepreneurially; ideally, their decision to engage in entrepreneurship should be voluntary. It is common for CCI entrepreneurs to start with a business that concentrates on their creative talents. Second, the entrepreneurs have to take several actions allowing them to combine business with creative strategies. They have to self-reflect on their business and to define their individual means and values. Furthermore, entrepreneurship is a social discipline, and entrepreneurs do not develop in a vacuum. Therefore, they have to communicate with other entrepreneurs and their market. Third, through these actions, CCI entrepreneurs change their role definition of an entrepreneur. Gaining entrepreneurial experience, they manage to combine business with creative strategies and to arrive at their very own role definition of a CCI entrepreneur. This development makes CCI entrepreneurs change how they define their “in-groups” and “out-groups”. While initially perceiving traditional entrepreneurs as “opponents”, CCI entrepreneurs later on discover similarities with them and let go of potential prejudices. Finally, they make them part of their “in-group”. CCI entrepreneurs develop an entrepreneurial identity and recognise the need to make money; at the same time, they still manage to retain their core values and CCI principles and act accordingly. With our findings, we advance CCI entrepreneurship in theory and practice: to the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to show how CCI entrepreneurs develop an entrepreneurial identity that allows them to act entrepreneurially and to stand up for their CCI values. Furthermore, this study contributes to research on entrepreneurial identity. It supports research highlighting the importance of an entrepreneurial identity. Our study also reveals the need for CCI-specific support programmes and indicates on which aspects such programmes should focus.