Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur” positioning analysis of written narratives
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15543774 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Anu Järvensivu (0000-0002-3593-5485, corresponding author), Monika E von Bonsdorff (0000-0002-4689-2126) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 221-235 |
| Publication date | 2021-11-08 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management An International Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1746-5648 • E-ISSN: 1746-5656 |
| Publisher | Emerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1108/qrom-03-2020-1900 |
| OpenAlex | W3212449368 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 20 |
Purpose The negative stereotypes concerning late-career workers are found to prevail and lead to negative circulation of narratives and actions between individuals and societies. Using the context of late-career entrepreneurs, the paper aims to find an alternative and a more positive narrative concerning late-career work by focusing on entrepreneurs and the narrative positioning related to them. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a narrative-positioning analysis, cycling through three levels of analysis and then returning to level two, in order to study our sample of seven narratives written by Finnish late-career entrepreneurs. The authors present in detail one story-telling narrative, by Matthew, and then layer the remaining six narratives to present themes, positioning and actions surrounding being a late-career entrepreneur. Findings A more positive narrative circulation was found, which related to the master narrative of entrepreneurs as continuing “until the end” and taking care of themselves, their enterprises and different stakeholder groups even after exiting the enterprise into so-called “retirement.” The entrepreneurs were found to actively use this positive narrative to position themselves both in the story-telling world and in their local interactions. By positioning themselves as “never ending caretakers,” the entrepreneurs gave a strong account that their reasons to continue working centered on the factors social. Research limitations/implications The research findings and analysis should be interpreted in the context of the Nordic countries and especially Finland. Practical implications The results of this study can inform the ways in which these “never ending caretakers” can transition into retirement and adjust to life spent in retirement. Originality/value In the study, entrepreneurs' written answers were analyzed with narrative-positioning analyses. An alternative story of people at work was found, and a more positive narrative circulation was constructed based on their narratives
Art · Business · Context (archaeology · Literature · Narrative · Narrative criticism · Narrative inquiry · Narrative network · Order (exchange · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Higher Education and Employability · History · Psychology · Retirement, Disability, and Employment · Social Psychology
Older workers' motivation to continue to work: five meanings of age
What Is Retirement? A Review and Assessment of Alternative Concepts and Measures
Entrepreneurial exit as a critical component of the entrepreneurial process
Aging, Adult Development, and Work Motivation
Successful Aging1
Entrepreneurial intentions in the third age
Successful Aging at Work
Contextualizing entrepreneurship in the boundaryless career
Positioning level 3
Stories
Small stories as a new perspective in narrative and identity analysis
The Social Construction of Retirement and Evolving Policy Discourse of Working Longer
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,5 |
| Citation span | 2024 - 2024 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |