A Practice Perspective on Entrepreneurship: How Newcomers Gain Legitimacy

What is it about?

This conceptual article introduces a practice-based perspective on entrepreneurship, drawing from Bourdieu’s social theory. It conceptualizes entrepreneurship as a socially embedded process shaped by power relations within a field. Focusing on how newcomers gain legitimacy, it frames this as the enactment of an entrepreneurial habitus. The model challenges the view that newcomers automatically qualify as entrepreneurs, arguing they must earn legitimacy by both “fitting in” with existing norms and “standing out” as innovators. For practitioners, this perspective highlights that becoming recognized as an entrepreneur is not solely about opportunity or innovation—it also involves navigating complex social expectations. Entrepreneurs must learn to balance conformity with differentiation, aligning their behavior with accepted norms while signaling creativity and independence. The discussion emphasizes that cultural awareness, credibility, and strategic self-presentation are crucial for gaining legitimacy and advancing within established fields.

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Photo by Chase Chappell on Unsplash

Photo by Chase Chappell on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This paper contributes to entrepreneurship theory by proposing a more socially grounded understanding of entrepreneurial activity. It presents legitimacy as something achieved through ongoing interaction and recognition rather than assumed from the start. The framework encourages researchers and readers to see entrepreneurship as a process shaped by broader social contexts and relationships rather than purely individual traits or actions. This perspective is timely because it draws attention to the social foundations of entrepreneurship in a world where institutional norms and expectations continue to evolve. It invites reflection on how entrepreneurs both adapt to and influence the systems they enter, offering a broader view of how entrepreneurial behavior develops and gains acceptance over time.