Socially responsible teaching of entrepreneurship: exploring the unfavorable aspects of entrepreneurial action

• Published in: International journal of entrepreneurial behaviour & research 2021-11, Vol.27 (8), p.1958-1982
• Main Authors: De Sordi, José Osvaldo, Paulo, Wanderlei Lima, Gonçalves, Mirian Siqueira, Azevedo, Marcia Carvalho de, Coda, Roberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Content analysis; Developing countries; Discipline; Economic growth; Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship education; Failure; Higher education; LDCs; Literature reviews; Startups; Teaching; University students
• ISSN: 1355-2554; 1758-6534
• DOI: 10.1108/IJEBR-02-2021-0126

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss whether, in entrepreneurship disciplines, professors address equally the positive and negative aspects associated with being an entrepreneur. The literature shows that entrepreneurship professors are enthusiastic about entrepreneurial action, and there may be a bias toward predominant emphasis on positive aspects.Design/methodology/approachThe case study strategy was used to analyze disciplines that qualify entrepreneurship professors. The content analysis technique was applied to the description of the discipline contents and texts from the most frequently used literatures. The selected case (the country) satisfied the condition of having a regulatory agency that evaluates courses and also provides descriptive records of the disciplines that are taught.FindingsIt was observed that the topics discussed in the disciplines, as well as the texts of the most frequently used articles, contain a higher volume of messages that are positive and favorable toward the entrepreneurial act. Negative effects or aspects of entrepreneurship are addressed superficially.Practical implicationsThis article provides important reflections on the activities of those who teach entrepreneurship, as well as editors and reviewers of entrepreneurship journals. Regarding the former, when preparing the content of their disciplines, and for the latter, when evaluating articles, bearing in mind that their articles are also used by students and professors from countries with less developed economies.Originality/valueExploring the myths of entrepreneurship, especially the claim that everyone is capable of becoming an entrepreneur and that entrepreneurship promotes economic development, the risk of becoming an entrepreneur was addressed, especially in countries with less developed economies. From this viewpoint, issues regarding the responsible teaching of entrepreneurship were addressed, along with the need to focus equally on the favorable and unfavorable aspects of entrepreneurship.