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Entrepreneurial engagement in a depleted small town: Legitimacy and embeddedness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2018

Jo Bensemann Open the ORCID record for Jo Bensemann [Opens in a new window] ,
Lorraine Warren  and
Alistair Anderson
Jo Bensemann*
Affiliation:
School of Management, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Lorraine Warren
Affiliation:
School of Management, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Alistair Anderson
Affiliation:
Lancaster University Management School, Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Email: j.bensemann@massey.ac.nz
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Abstract

Our study of entrepreneurial engagement within a depleted New Zealand community contributes to understanding the role of place and legitimacy in entrepreneurial practice. General decline characterised Stanton until a newcomer entrepreneur started several businesses that rejuvenated the town. She became a local economic hero to many stakeholders; but others deployed social narratives of place that drew on different values. Our analysis of interactions shows how perceptions of place legitimise or vilify and we demonstrate how place intercedes upon economically generated legitimacy of entrepreneurial practice. Social constructions of place and notions of embeddedness influenced this entrepreneurial enactment. Conceptually, we challenge ideas about universal legitimacy ensuing from economic entrepreneurial benefits. Our theoretical contribution offers socio-spatial propositions for understanding entrepreneurial legitimacy through place.

Keywords

entrepreneurshipplacelegitimacyembeddednesscontextualisationdepleted communityNew Zealand
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , March 2021 , pp. 253 - 269
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2018

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