Entrepreneurial Metaphors and Concepts: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

IN THE PAST RESEARCH THERE HAS BEEN continued controversy over the definition of entrepreneurship and the identification of entrepreneur. By combining the ideas of entrepreneurship and linguistics, this paper takes a new approach to examining the definitions. An exploratory analysis of entrepreneurial metaphors and concepts is conducted to achieve this goal. In a quantitative analysis of entrepreneurial concepts respondents defined the terms 'entrepreneur' and 'entrepreneurship' with suggested conceptual equivalents. In an analysis of metaphor, informants formed metaphoricalexpressions of entrepreneurship. The sample consisted of 751 respondents from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Canada and Australia. Entrepreneurs perceived the concepts more positively than other respondents. The same applied to differences between females and males respectively. In a cross-cultural comparison, the Scandinavians held more favourable views than their English-speaking counterparts. This might reflect the current, very positive socio-economic climate in Northern Europe towards entrepreneurial activities. As to the entrepreneurial metaphors, they were grouped into following semantic categories: 'Machine (ry) and other PhysicalObjects', 'Warfare and Adventure', 'Sports andGames', 'Creativity and Activity', 'Nature', 'Disease', Food Items', and 'Special Features'. The metaphorical statements revealed the paradoxical nature of respondents' perceptions of entrepreneurs and their ventures. A majority of the metaphors contained very positive, even idealistic images. Especially in the Finnish sample they seemed to conjure up glorifying images of entrepreneurs as some kind of modern day heroes whose independent and industrious actions are of priceless value to society. At the same time, there were numerous metaphors with negative, cynical or downgrading undertones. The critical observations often highlighted egotistic qualities associated with entrepreneurs.