Is shame-proneness the missing link between social norms, policymaking and productive entrepreneurship?
Journal of Strategy and Management
ISSN: 1755-425X
Article publication date: 5 May 2021
Issue publication date: 20 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to establish the need to study the shame-proneness trait of entrepreneurs – what is it and why is it important to study.
Design/methodology/approach
In this conceptual paper, the authors argue that shame-proneness is an important understudied trait of entrepreneurs and put up a case for further research. The authors argue that shame-proneness moderates the effect of social acceptability on opportunity exploitation decisions. The authors also argue that productive entrepreneurship can be promoted and unproductive entrepreneurship can be prevented through policy intervention, and the level of intervention can be determined by knowing the shame-proneness level of entrepreneurs.
Findings
The key argument is the following: an entrepreneur is homo economicus and homo sociologicus, i.e. she is driven both by rational economic value consideration and by the prevalent social norms, which influence opportunity exploitation decisions. Since shame enforces compliance with social norms, it is vital to study entrepreneurs' shame-proneness to understand entrepreneurial founding across different regions. Knowing the level of shame-proneness of entrepreneurs in a given region would help the government devise effective interventions to promote productive entrepreneurship and deter unproductive or destructive entrepreneurship.
Originality/value
This paper is an original creation of the authors.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the editor and the two reviewers for their valuable suggestions and support during the review process.
Citation
Ojha, A.P. and Nandakumar, M.K. (2021), "Is shame-proneness the missing link between social norms, policymaking and productive entrepreneurship?", Journal of Strategy and Management, Vol. 14 No. 4, pp. 413-425. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSMA-01-2021-0007
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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