University of Twente Student Theses
What a way to make a living: A visual approach to the construction of the entrepreneurial identity by Self-Employed Individuals
Deen, Sofie Rosalien (2014) What a way to make a living: A visual approach to the construction of the entrepreneurial identity by Self-Employed Individuals.
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Abstract: | In current society, an increasing number of individuals choose to become self-employed. In order to understand the implications of this shift, information is needed to develop a better understanding of self-employment transition. In this study, an identity perspective has been adopted as it provided the possibility to gather information on the construction of the entrepreneurial identity by the Self-Employed Individual (SEI), and at the same time contribute to the development of an overarching identity theory. In order to incorporate the visual dimension in meaning construction and gather deeper and different information, a new rigorous visual method based on the Experience Sampling Methodology (ESM) and the Photo-Elicitation Interview (PEI) was developed and implemented. The results show that the SEIs construct the entrepreneurial identity on the basis of an ideal entrepreneurial type, and on a commitment with a specific entrepreneurial group that emphasizes cooperation and the rejection of a commercially oriented suit-culture and. In turn, this entrepreneurial identity is being authenticated by the individuals through their person identity. Moreover, multiple identities are salient in a context where other identities such as a family member, friend or jogger are highly salient as well, suggesting an increased importance for the person identity. |
Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
Subject: | 70 social sciences in general, 71 sociology, 85 business administration, organizational science |
Programme: | Business Administration MSc (60644) |
Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/66127 |
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