TY - JOUR

T1 - Forms of theorising in entrepreneurship – The case of effectuation as a theory

AU - Meyer, Verena

AU - Tegtmeier, Silke

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2025/5/14

Y1 - 2025/5/14

N2 - As of today, the research field of entrepreneurship has developed into its own research community and needs to further develop its specific theorising to account for the distinctiveness of entrepreneurship. This becomes particularly evident with the emergence of effectuation, which is promoted as the first “homegrown” theory of entrepreneurship. The discourse on effectuation as a theory presents an interesting example which shows the challenges of discussing theory due to the different understandings of theory in entrepreneurship research. In this essay, we propose instead to examine the forms of theorising that entrepreneurship scholars engage in. Analysing 42 articles from the discourse on effectuation as a case of entrepreneurship theory, we show which forms of theorising are more prevalent than others, and which forms might be underexplored and could offer potential for future research. While we can and should continue to build on the knowledge about theory from other fields, this essay is an invitation to entrepreneurship scholars to take a step back and reflect on our own theorising in the field. With the three recommendations presented, we aim to provide a starting point for scholars to embrace the plurality of possible forms of theorising in entrepreneurship.

AB - As of today, the research field of entrepreneurship has developed into its own research community and needs to further develop its specific theorising to account for the distinctiveness of entrepreneurship. This becomes particularly evident with the emergence of effectuation, which is promoted as the first “homegrown” theory of entrepreneurship. The discourse on effectuation as a theory presents an interesting example which shows the challenges of discussing theory due to the different understandings of theory in entrepreneurship research. In this essay, we propose instead to examine the forms of theorising that entrepreneurship scholars engage in. Analysing 42 articles from the discourse on effectuation as a case of entrepreneurship theory, we show which forms of theorising are more prevalent than others, and which forms might be underexplored and could offer potential for future research. While we can and should continue to build on the knowledge about theory from other fields, this essay is an invitation to entrepreneurship scholars to take a step back and reflect on our own theorising in the field. With the three recommendations presented, we aim to provide a starting point for scholars to embrace the plurality of possible forms of theorising in entrepreneurship.

KW - Entrepreneurship

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105005438143&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.scaman.2025.101427

DO - 10.1016/j.scaman.2025.101427

M3 - Comments / Debate / Reports

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Management

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Management

SN - 0956-5221

M1 - 101427

ER -