Today, the frequency of research endeavors and their dissemination platforms viz. journals, periodicals, magazines, forums, round tables, conferences in the areas of entrepreneurship and small business management have increased significantly. Institutions, both academic and research, are very enthusiastically aiming and organizing such events where the research findings (both empirical and review) are being shared by researchers, academicians and professionals.
Research in entrepreneurship domain mostly revolves around entrepreneurship development process (ideation to scale-up); environmental and external determinant of entrepreneurship including studies on inclusivity in the context of Gender, Disadvantage group etc. The psychological, cognitive and individual characteristics have been studied as well to understand more about entrepreneurs, their mindset and profiles. Of late, it is observed that entrepreneurship research dimensions have increased from a few areas to many sectors and societal groups. The role of Government, both the future policies and reviews of existing policies and programmes on entrepreneurship, has also been debated in the research endeavours. In fact, scholars have explored the nuances of Public Policies including impact assessments of various initiatives aiming for livelihood and self-employment.
Studies on corporate venturing has grown into studying corporate entrepreneurship in the emergence of technology business incubator which is the key supportive factor to new-Gen innovative tech-ventures. Though researchers have included many of the societal issues in their entrepreneurship literature, but still I feel that there is a need to go beyond studying ‘formal entrepreneurship’ to informal entrepreneurship ‘or ‘inclusive entrepreneurship’ or ‘grassroots entrepreneurship’. The bottom of the pyramid in our society mostly depended upon some livelihood activities (self-employment, Tiny/Nano enterprises) and their approach is extremely different than formal enterprises, where the growth, expansion, vision, strategy etc. maters too much.
The researchers who are studying entrepreneurship using social theories must make an attempt to differentiate ‘How entrepreneurship, management, psychology, sociology and economics theories behave when these are used in Grassroots Entrepreneurship context?’ There is also need to study some issues for instance, Social Network Structures of Grassroots Entrepreneurs; Fear of Failure among entrepreneurs at the grassroots level; Stigmatization of Failed Grassroots Entrepreneurs; Mindset of Grassroots entrepreneurs etc.
This is an interesting and important topic and I will make a contribution to the debate by suggesting that the construct of entrepreneurship itself is inadequate. Why? The focus on entrepreneurs is usually focused on individuals and their ability to grasp opportunities successfully. Of course, such entrepreneurial capabilities are very important and, rightly, are greatly prized. But, by themselves, they do not provide a holistic definition of the role, especially in organisations larger than micro enterprises.
In enterprises of any size entrepreneurial talents need to be blended with those of intrapreneurs (to expand the bandwidth of opportunity finding); organization builders (to enable entrepreneurial ambitions to be realised); innovation managers (to enable novel solutions to be found); and change makers (to enable the organization to develop at a speed needed to maintain competitive parity). We can describe this wider role, that draws from the skills of entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, organisation builders, innovation managers and change makers, as that of an 'Agilepreneur'. It is, I believe, this broader set of capabilities that is increasingly needed in our turbulent world.
This RECENT REVIEW paper talks about the topic; you may want to check it out:
How and Why Do Social and Sustainable Initiatives Scale? A Systematic Review of the Literature on Social Entrepreneurship and Grassroots Innovation
M van Lunenburg, K Geuijen, A Meijer - VOLUNTAS: International Journal …, 2020 - Springer
Dear Dwivedi
In my opinion, grassroots level is a good approach. Most of the time, when we are measuring entrepreneur and entrepreneurship, we are referring to the individual level. Hence, the grassroots approach provide more in-depth information. Additionally, social theories also highlight the need to investigate the grassroots entrepreneur.
Some research in relations to grassroots entrepreneurship
- Hossain, M., Levänen, J., & Wierenga, M. (2021). Pursuing frugal innovation for sustainability at the grassroots level. Management and Organization Review, 1-8.
- Ab Aziz, K., & Poh, J. A. J. (2021). Driving Inclusiveness from the Grassroots: The Tambunan Inventors. International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting, 2(1), 16-33.
Hope it helps.
All the best
Regards
Mei Peng
Of course entrepreneurship potentials and skills will improve both small business and bigger outfits., since workers will become heads with arms and not just arms and head. Entrepreneurship means also learning work and team disciplines and beng a leade means first to know how to be led. Social and comercial rules will have to improve to empower with accountabiltiy for all people in this new era post COVID.
The OLD STATE SYSTEM will have to change to this new sysem since it will seem at first more randomized and chaotic. But in the long run humanity will struggle for being happier and safer, through slidarity. some will call that concurrence.
There is need to look entrepreneurship in the grassroot in order to reduce poverty and rural-urban migration. Besides, looking at entrepreneurship in the grassroot, it would ensure redistribution of income between the rich and the poor. Also, there are potentials in the grassroot which could increase employment generation in the country.
Every nationality, states, and personalities have their own unique cultural identity that will form part of the entrepreneurial endeavors. It is important to know who you are, it is how we identify ourselves with specific culture. In business, entrepreneurship, and management research study, we always specify the demographic profiles and specific location of the subject. However, SMEs and Nano entrepreneurs have common objectives such as to achieve good financial standing, good relationship with customers, and competitive advantage. Also, they need to adhere with political, economic, social, technology, environmental, and legal (PESTEL) in order to sustain their business within the country of operations.
A. K. Dwivedi David Oluseyi Oyerinde
Grassroots Entrepreneurs typically employ an enormous amount of social and ethical capital and their innovations often reinforce the renewability of natural capital. Grassroots level in emerging economies can have a significant impact on society, because they serve underserved customers and promote sustainability.
Las habilidades técnicas y cognocitivas de los empresario de las PYMES Y MYPES, estan dando un rotación de 360 grados en sus actividades economicas , permitiendo cambiar comportamientos, mejorar en tecnificación dando lugar a la adaptabilidad, romper esquemas de procesos para subsistir en el mercado y reinventarse en una economica de escalas y permancer equilibrados.
Por supuesto que sí, A nivel mundial los microempresarios se dan propio empleo y empleo a otros, esto unido al emprendimiento con la innovación dan un plus a sus localidades y al país, gracias a su trabajo diario para solucionar los problemas de ingresos, además, empuja la rotación económica,..
At the onset, it is important that the conceptual framework of a grassroots entrepreneur is clearly outlined. Who is a grassroots entrepreneur? What kind of enterprises are they engaged in and why? What is their social economic status? what is the influence of their cultural orientation on their enterprise? What are their community structures like? their understanding of successful entrepreneurship. and so on. The extent of impact of the challenges they face such as lack of investment capital, skills, knowledge, technology, technological know how and access to markets all need to be known. Grassroots entrepreneurs are not homogeneous therefore when defining the concept there is need to develop different definitions for specific countries just as it is the case in the definition of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) where each country has its own definition. The term "grassroots" in Africa, in Zambia in particular is often synonymous with poor rural communities who are indeed at the bottom of the pyramid. In this context, research on grassroots entrepreneurship should be about informal enterprise among the rural poor. The question is " how can successful entrepreneurship be achieved in poor communities?" There has been efforts to promote entrepreneurship for the poor at the grassroots level. In Zambia examples include "making farming a business", "making markets work for the poor", "promoting private sector led cooperatives" , financial inclusion initiatives for the poor etc. There is need for scholars on grassroots entrepreneurship to investigate lessons learnt from such interventions what worked,?what did not work? what are the gaps? What are the views of the grassroots entrepreneurs, related institutions and policy makers? Research of this nature will lead to the formulation of strategies that are tailor made that can work to help grassroots entrepreneurs and their communities generate wealth and create jobs.
On the theoretical framework, in view of the eclectic nature of entrepreneurship as a scholarly field of study, theories from the field of psychology, sociology, philosophy, leadership and economics can be considered. From an economic standpoint, entrepreneurship theories championed by renown Austrian Economists such as Joseph Schumpeter, Carl Menger, Israel Kirzner, Richard Cantillon , Mark Casson and Ludwig Von Mises can be considered. Much can be learned about how these theories can help generate new thinking and knowledge with regards to grassroots entrepreneurs success and help contribute to improving economic development of grassroots entrepreneurs and their communities.
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Dear Dwivedi
Yes, I do agree with your approach towards Grassroots Entrepreneurship. It is obvious that, for any economic and national development will be highly dependent on creating positive business environment. Govt. should make congenial plan and policy to set up new business enterprise for unemployed portion of total population and finally these unemployed people which are previously treated as curse of the nation now they will be frequently turned into asset/earning generating part for the nation/country. As a result GDP, GNP, employment, govt. revenues etc. will be positive sign. This outcomes will be possible if the Grassroots entrepreneurship comes into forward.
I agree with you 100%. What is entrepreneurship in the first place. By entrepreneurship, we simply mean the act of setting up a business or businesses and maturing it (them) to generate profit. I see entrepreneurship beyond simple creating a business or business and maturing (it) them for profit generation. Entrepreneurship is viewed as the act of creativity and innovation through the creation of new business and innovating existing ones to generate profit for problems solving.
Any business that generate profit and does not solve problems of the common man is not entrepreneurial. Therefore, to solve the daily common problems of a common man, entrepreneurship must be considered at the grassroots. Grassroots entrepreneurship is profit-focused businesses in the communities for the communities benefits. The business or businesses should be able to generate profit in the community and reinvest the profit in the community for the good of the common man or the communities at the base (grassroots).
To conclude, entrepreneurship should be targeted at the grassroots level if such must benefit the common man.
In the Hexahelix model, the government, universities, press, associations are important factors to transforming the capacity and capability of human resources in the SME. Indonesia government reported numbers of SME about 64 millions and just 8 millions have been able to utilize digital technology to market their products. The impact of transform digital to be absorbed a minimum workforce about50 million people. Therefore, SME practitioners should pay special attention to universities and the government.
Grassroots innovation is a diverse set of activities in which networks of neighbours, community groups, & activists work with people to generate bottom-up solutions for sustainable developments; novel solutions that respond to the local situation and the interests and values of the communities involved so i think it's need is fruitful for entrepreneurship
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