A conceptual history of entrepreneurial thought

doi:10.1108/13552520610638256

Document Information:
Title:	A conceptual history of entrepreneurial thought
Author(s):	Patrick J. Murphy, (College of Commerce, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, USA), Jianwen Liao, (Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois, USA), Harold P. Welsch, (College of Commerce, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, USA)
Citation:	Patrick J. Murphy, Jianwen Liao, Harold P. Welsch, (2006) "A conceptual history of entrepreneurial thought", Journal of Management History, Vol. 12 Iss: 1, pp.12 - 35
Keywords:	Entrepreneurialism, Management history, Philosophical concepts
Article type:	Conceptual paper
DOI:	10.1108/13552520610638256 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Acknowledgements:	An abridged version of this paper was presented in Honolulu, Hawaii at the 2005 Academy of Management conference and published in the AOM best papers proceedings. We are grateful to Editor David LaMond, Peter Munz, two anonymous JMH reviewers, two anonymous AOM reviewers, and several reviewers at the 2004 ESBRI workshop in Tällberg, Sweden for comments on earlier versions of the manuscript. Appreciation is due to Puneet Bhakri, Grace Lemmon, Ilya Meiertal, and Anna Torrance for assistance and The Coleman Foundation for generous support.
Abstract:	Purpose – To interpret and explain evolution in entrepreneurial thought, using the application of history to unify the extant and wide-ranging concepts underlying the field to detect a conceptual foundation. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual approach is taken, the paper undertaking a delineation of how past theory has brought about the field's current state and an identification of some conceptual areas for future advancement. Findings – The importance and impact of the entrepreneurship field is increasing in academic and practical settings. A historical view on the conceptual development of entrepreneurial thought provides a lens for scholars as well as practitioners to interpret and explain their own entrepreneurial activity or research and formulate new questions. Originality/value – The paper aids scholars and researchers to interpret and explain entrepreneurial activity.