Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

How Does Extreme Uncertainty Affect Entrepreneurial Processes, Actions, and Opportunities?

Alaydi, Sharif; Buck, Trevor; Tang, Yee Kwan

Authors

Trevor Buck

Yee Kwan Tang



Abstract

Uncertainty is a cornerstone of entrepreneurship theory; however, the exact role it plays in stimulating and/or obstructing entrepreneurial processes, opportunity and action has remained a matter of debate. This study uses two case studies, an indigenous firm and an MNE, of mobile phone providers in Palestine in order to investigate whether extreme uncertainty creates and/or inhibits entrepreneurial opportunities and motivates and/or hinders entrepreneurial processes and actions. A thematic analysis of one indigenous firm case study, with 12 semi-structured interviews, and one MNE case study, with 11 semi-structured interviews, allows us to claim a contribution to the institutional and entrepreneurship literatures. Our analysis finds some evidence of the negative impact of uncertainty, i.e. extreme uncertainty as an inhibitor and disincentive for entrepreneurial processes, actions and opportunities; however, the two phone operators also perceive to some extent uncertainty as a source of opportunities and an incentive for entrepreneurial processes and actions. More importantly, our study reveals a turning point, an inverted U-shape. Beyond a maximum, the previously positive responses of firms to uncertainty may convert into passive or even negative responses. We label this phenomenon as ‘uncertainty overload’. We also confirm the role that psychological factors, especially emotions, may play in determining entrepreneurial actions in this hostile business environment.

Citation

Alaydi, S., Buck, T., & Tang, Y. K. (2020). How Does Extreme Uncertainty Affect Entrepreneurial Processes, Actions, and Opportunities?. In AOM Annual Meeting Proceedings (13768). https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2020.13768abstract

Conference Name 80th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (AOM 2020)
Conference Location Online
Start Date Aug 7, 2020
End Date Aug 11, 2020
Acceptance Date Mar 16, 2020
Online Publication Date Jul 29, 2020
Publication Date 2020-08
Deposit Date Sep 23, 2021
Publisher Academy of Management
Volume 2020
Pages 13768
Series Title Academy of Management Proceedings
Series ISSN 2151-6561
Book Title AOM Annual Meeting Proceedings
DOI https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2020.13768abstract
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2804572