Title: Entrepreneurial orientation in the sharing economy: cases of new entries in domestic and international markets

Authors: Heidi Coral Thornton; Susanne Sandberg

Addresses: School of Business and Economics, Linnaeus University, 391 82 Kalmar, Sweden ' School of Business and Economics, Linnaeus University, 391 82 Kalmar, Sweden

Abstract: Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) has attracted increasing research attention over the last decades, yet few studies apply all five dimensions in novel contexts and through qualitative studies. As a response, this paper explores six cases of new market entry by sharecoms, both internationalised and non-internationalised, in order to enhance knowledge about EO in an international sharing economy context. The findings show that the five dimensions of EO are demonstrated and utilised in diverse ways and to varying degrees, often through combination. Innovativeness, autonomy, and proactiveness are useful for bringing novel offerings to the market and EO is seen as an accelerator for growth and stimulator of early internationalisation. Still, not all of the dimensions were evident within all of the sharecoms nor were they deemed necessary in order to be entrepreneurial, which challenges previous research. The findings are shown to contribute to theory, as well as to practitioners.

Keywords: international entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial orientation; new market entry; international markets; sharing economy; sharecoms; qualitative case study.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2022.123984

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2022 Vol.46 No.1, pp.16 - 44

Received: 19 Jun 2019
Accepted: 08 Jul 2019
Published online: 06 Jul 2022 *

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