A Conceptual Model of Entrepreneurship as Firm Behavior: A Critique and Extension.
by Shaker A. Zahra
The study of entrepreneurship as a firm-level phenomenon has come of age. While the findings of empirical research in this area have been preliminary and tentative, this young body of literature shows great vitality and rigor. This increasing rigor is evidenced by a growing attention to methodological concerns and analytical tools (Low & MacMillan, 1988; Jennings & Lumpkin, 1989; Wortman, 1987).
Equally interesting is the growing focus on constructing models and theories of entrepreneurship.
Scientific progress is fueled by the emergence of paradigms (Kuhn, 1970), often codified in models and rival theories. For this reason, the recent contribution by Covin and Slevin (1991) of "A Conceptual Model of Entrepreneurship as Firm Behavior" is a most welcome addition to the literature. It sets the stage for a promising research agenda that, undoubtedly, will enrich the field. The Covin-Slevin model (hereafter referred to as "the model") integrates research findings to date, relates important constructs into a clear framework, theorizes about the contribution of entrepreneurship to company performance, articulates the conditions under which this contribution to company performance can materialize, and outlines salient research questions that emerge from the model. Scholars of firm-level entrepreneurship will agree that this is a major undertaking and an important contribution that will shape future research in this area.
It is this potential impact on future research direction that motivates this rebuttal. The Covin-Slevin model requires some revisions, refinements, and extensions. Therefore, this article focuses on four issues embodied ...