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Entrepreneurship in religious organizations: How the Church of England developed an entrepreneurial orientation

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  • Ruben Werven

    (University of London)

Abstract

Prior research established that religion shapes country-level entrepreneurial activity as well as individual-level entrepreneurial decisions. The organizational level has received less research attention. It is particularly unclear how the combination of entrepreneurship and religion is forged in established religious organizations. Through a historical case study of the Church of England’s efforts toward developing an entrepreneurial orientation (EO), my paper sheds light on that issue. The findings indicate that, in religious settings, an entrepreneurial orientation materializes through a lengthy, contested process. Two mutually reinforcing mechanisms – polysemy dynamics and idea sedimentation – play an important role in this process. I theorize that these mechanisms, despite delaying EO development, address resistance and thereby drive progress toward a comprehensive entrepreneurial orientation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruben Werven, 2024. "Entrepreneurship in religious organizations: How the Church of England developed an entrepreneurial orientation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1361-1382, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:62:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-023-00841-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-023-00841-8
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Religion; Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurial orientation; Church of England: Archival data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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