Rethinking Entrepreneurship

WHAT- We explore entrepreneurship as a social discourse and model for societal change. Examining its impact in Denmark compared to the US, we seek to move beyond Silicon Valley's one-size-fits-all model. Our interdisciplinary research group questions how entrepreneurship influences society beyond economics. We delve into its role in shaping social inequality, career paths, and addressing societal challenges. WHY- Entrepreneurship, once solely about seizing opportunities, has become a fundamental organizing principle in society. It's replacing traditional employment with freelancers pursuing "entrepreneurial" careers. Charities and governments aspire to be more entrepreneurial too. We investigate how this discourse transforms organizations and social structures, linking entrepreneurialism to social change processes. We also consider how it draws from the past to envision a compelling future. Our research will establish "entrepreneurialism" as a crucial social discourse and shape how we understand entrepreneurship and broader societal change. HOW- We adopt an interdisciplinary and comparative approach to study entrepreneurship in Denmark's past, present, and future. Three work packages delve into the discourse of individual agency (through legal contracts and policies), discourse of social change (in policy, education, and popular texts), and symbolism of entrepreneurship (by examining images and narratives of venturing). We interpret this evidence, not just for direct meanings but also hermeneutically, within its socio-historical context. This reveals how specific forms of entrepreneurial actions gain legitimacy, the societal impacts attributed to entrepreneurship, and the cultural symbols tying individual actions to broader social change.