Making sense of identity transitioning within the new venture creation process

Hoyte, Cherisse; Noke, Hannah

Abstract

Purpose: This study explores how aspiring entrepreneurs navigate between their own individual self-concept and the organisational identity of the new venture during the process of new venture creation. Design/methodology/approach: The study draws on three cases of aspiring entrepreneurs within a UK-based university incubator in the process of 'becoming' entrepreneurs. Semi-structured interviews and secondary data were collected and analysed using a flexible pattern matching approach. Findings: The data illustrated parallel identity and sensemaking processes occurring as the aspiring entrepreneurs navigated towards new venture formation. For the organisatio na l identity process, three key stages were found to occur: referent identity labelling, projection, and identity reification. Concurrently the sensemaking process made up of creation, interpretation and enactment were seen to enable identity transitioning mechanisms: cue identification, liminal sensegiving and recognition of formal venture boundaries, which led to the organisational identity being formed. Originality: By extricating the stages of organisational identity formation, often hidden within the new venture creation process, this study has framed new venture creation as a limina l experience and a visible site of identity work. This study presents a process model of the key identity transitioning stages and mechanisms in new ventures, by illustrating how aspiring entrepreneurs' sensemaking influences identity transitions during the process of venture creation.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 10, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Sep 4, 2023
• Publication Date: Sep 4, 2023
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 12, 2023
• Journal: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior and Research
• Print ISSN: 1355-2554
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 1741-1762
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-06-2021-0501
• Keywords: Identity; Transitions; New venture creation; Sensemaking; Liminality; Qualitative 2
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/25674241
• Publisher URL: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJEBR-06-2021-0501/full/html