Traditionally, the study of entrepreneurial behavior focuses on such factors as (i) the personality characteristics that distinguish the entrepreneur from non-entrepreneur and (ii) demographic characteristics such gender, age, familiar antecedents and education. With particular respect to investigating the development, acquisition, and dissemination of entrepreneurial skills and behaviors, the authors focus on the university environment, as a locus of research and innovation, where students are exposed to a wide variety of influences that are enhanced by a high degree of connectivity. The underlying theme of this volume is to develop our understanding of the sociology of student entrepreneurial behavior and in doing so attempt to synthesize literature investigating individual talent with the literature on concurrent knowledge sourcing in the pursuit of entrepreneurial activities. Specifically, the authors investigate the degree to which access to diverse knowledge (in addition to such psychological characteristics and tolerance of ambiguity and risk taking) influences the nature and probability of entrepreneurial success. Moreover, they explore the role of social media and social networking in facilitating access to distributed and disparate information and knowledge. Their research addresses such timely questions as: Where do entrepreneurial opportunities come from? How can higher education best stimulate the creation of firms emanating from young and smart minds in colleges and universities? What is the value of MOOCs for frequent, early, and “thick” communication among the various specialties needed to accomplish entrepreneurial projects? How do we know whether social media affect students’ responses to new knowledge and new ideas? To what extent do educational practices affect racial and ethnic differences in student entrepreneurship? What is the role of the indigenous minority student entrepreneur in establishing high-technology firms? The result is a multi-dimensional approach that sheds light on the dynamics of education, knowledge creation, social networking, innovation and new business development.

Social entrepreneurship is on the rise and social enterprises are solving some of the most critical and enduring social problems by using innovative, pragmatic and sustainable business models. Access to knowledge thanks to the Internet and rapid expansion of the knowledge economy are opening new opportunities for social ventures. With knowledge-based social entrepreneurship where knowledge is the primary resource, more pressing social problems can be addressed by using advanced technologies. This book investigates this emerging concept, possibilities that it holds, its place in today’s economy, and links bridges between knowledge, innovation, and social entrepreneurship. Academics, entrepreneurs, students, and NGOs will find the theoretical and practical information presented in this book extremely valuable.

'This readable and modestly priced text will appeal to academics researching and teaching entrepreneurship, policy-makers, and students studying entrepreneurship at all levels in higher education, especially those studying final year specialist electives or at Master's level.' - David W. Taylor, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research

It is no longer just about what an individual or company knows; it’s what is being shared that is the new organizational currency. It must be one of the key performance indicators of an organization’s value impact. Have you noticed the landscape of Knowledge Management shifting? The speed at which change is occurring is accelerating so quickly some businesses are being left behind. Technology and the very way we gather and use knowledge is evolving seemingly overnight. “Social Knowledge” describes a new road for knowledge and information sharing across the enterprise. Organizations large and small are discovering new value in the knowledge existing in the expected (formal) and the unexpected (informal) communities created by knowledge workers. This book is for serious thought leaders. It rises above the fray of questionable collaboration implementation plans, clunky project tools, or the “one size fits all” knowledge management solutions. Social Knowledge: Organizational Currencies in the New Knowledge Economy was created to guide you through all of the questions you have around establishing a dynamic Social Knowledge Management (SKM) practice within your organization.

The principal audience for this book seems to be deliberately and most certainly an academic one; that said, those practitioners from a business management or central/local government support-agency background might also find the text a useful resource. Intrinsically, those employed teaching and researching within the fields of entrepreneurship or regional economic development will find this publication an invaluable and indispensable reference tool. . . After an excellent, cohesive and informative introductory chapter, which places the book firmly in the field of regional entrepreneurship theory development, the reader is effortlessly prepared for the intellectually challenging read ahead. . . this book is well laid out and it is easy for the reader to pick up the thread of the argument, even after a lay-off. The endnotes after each chapter are useful and comprehensive, adding richness to the text through the additional information. The bibliography is as comprehensive as it is exhaustive. . . Professor Julien has given us a book that presents both an interesting and alternative perspective to the field of entrepreneurial cross-disciplinary research. Paul J. Ferri, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research . . . it is my view that this book gives a very important contribution for the understanding of development of local entrepreneurship, through its cross-disciplinary approach. I see the book is especially interesting from an entrepreneurship and a regional development perspective. . . this book should inspire research that takes a more holistic approach using different levels of analysis and applies it to economic development at a local/territorial level, when studying entrepreneurship. Einar Lier Madsen, International Small Business Journal The reader who is interested in entrepreneurship and/or regional development will find this book a welcome contribution to the field. Rainer Harms, Entrepreneurship and Innovation For too long, researchers have regarded local dynamism as the result of the actions of certain entrepreneurs. If this were the case, how could we explain the simultaneous presence of winning , stagnating or declining areas with very similar socioeconomic profiles within the same region? Departing from this restrictive and somewhat inadequate approach, Pierre-André Julien considers entrepreneurship as a collective behaviour specifically related to the dynamism of the milieu in which it develops. The author introduces a complex, innovative theory of local entrepreneurship, demonstrating that the emergence of new ventures and the development of existing enterprises cannot be understood without taking into account certain factors: locale, social capital, networking and entrepreneurial culture within a given area are all crucial to entrepreneurial growth. Expanding upon this theory, the book demonstrates how entrepreneurship can be fostered in order to support collective development. Various forms of partnership among socioeconomic actors are then analysed to highlight the social conventions and entrepreneurial culture that connect and intensify the energies at the root of local dynamism. This highly original book represents a departure from entrepreneurship literature that is largely limited to the study of entrepreneurs behaviour. Its dynamic presentation of holistic theory will prove an extremely absorbing read for those with an academic or professional interest in business and management, entrepreneurship and regional development.

Education programs in social entrepreneurship helps to create and fill jobs devoted to developing the local economy, which has become a dual transfer strategy by which a virtuous circle occurs between a retrofitted educational system based on social entrepreneurship, and vocational students who are highly entrepreneurial. The Handbook of Research on Social Entrepreneurship and Solidarity Economics focuses on practical experience and theoretical models for popularizing the concept of social entrepreneurship as a critical element of economic growth. Emphasizing the ways in which social entrepreneurship benefits developing regions, small and medium enterprises, and low-income communities, this handbook of research is a pivotal reference source for professionals, academics, and graduate-level students in the fields of economics, business administration, sociology, education, politics, and international relations.

The rapid rise of knowledge-based economies has revolutionized the perceptions and practices of globalized business. Recent developments in engineering, electronics, and biotechnology have expanded the very definition of entrepreneurship in today’s international market, weaving discussions of enhanced connectivity and communication, environmental sustainability, and government policy changes into a complex, multidimensional conversation. The Handbook of Research of Entrepreneurship in the Contemporary Knowledge-Based Global Economy provides a comprehensive survey of the most recent developments in the field of entrepreneurship, highlighting their effects on information technology, business networking, knowledge production, distribution, and organization. This timely publication features extensive coverage of the fast-developing entrepreneurial field, illuminating recent technological, social, and strategic innovations in language that is accessible for a worldwide audience of business educators, researchers, and students. This authoritative text showcases research-based articles on entrepreneurship for knowledge economies; academic entrepreneurship; women and entrepreneurship; entrepreneurship education; organizational learning ability; innovations in industry, agriculture, and management; and the evolution of a new, all-inclusive corporate culture.