Abstract: Creating a contingency perspective on the role of entrepreneurial alertness in order to identify opportunities can improve the theoretical value of entrepreneurship and ability for analysis and advice to entrepreneurs as well. This paper investigates the basis of entrepreneurial alertness and relates it to existing theories of cognitive psychology. The purpose of this research is to create a conceptual framework by identifying main dimensions and components of entrepreneurial alertness in order to ease understanding the formation of entrepreneurial opportunities. In this study, we reviewed 159 articles from external and internal databases in a period of 1970 - 2016 and 1380-1395 respectively. Then, through (CASP)1 we selected 49 primary articles for analysis. A seven steps meta-synthesis approach was used by researchers to analyze the fore-mentioned study findings. The result show that the concept of entrepreneurial alertness can be categorized into five dimensions of; successful intelligence, attention, prior knowledge, mindfulness and market analysis, and 24 components. Then, the kappa coefficient method was used between two coders to ensure the study’s reliability. The paper is finalized with a discussion on entrepreneurial alertness model that include processes relating to human information processing at individual level.
Aldrich, H. (1992). Methods in our madness? Trends in entrepreneurship research. In D. L. Sexton, & J. D. Kasarda (Eds.), The state o f the art o f entrepreneurship: 191-213.
Alvarez, S. A., & Barney, J. B. (2007). Discovery and creation: Alternative theories of entrepreneurial action. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 1(1‐2), 11-26.
Baron R, Ensley MD (2006) Opportunity recognition as the detection of meaningful patterns: Evidence from comparisons of novice and experienced entrepreneurs. Management Science 52(9): 1331–1344.
Bench, S. & Day, T.( 2010). The User Experience of Critical Care Discharges: a Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Research. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 47(4). 487-499.
Bishop, S.R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N.D., Carmody, J., Segal, Z., Abbey, S., Speca, M., Velting, D. and Devins, G. (2004), “Mindfulness: a proposed operational
Bondas, T. & Hall, E. (2007). Challenges in Approaching Metasynthesis Research. The International Journal for Quality in Health Care, Vol 17.113-121.
Brown, K.W., Ryan, R.M. and Creswell, J.D. (2007), “Mindfulness: theoretical foundations and evidence for its salutary effects”, Psychological Inquiry, Vol. 18 (4). 211-237.
Chiesa, A. and Malinowski, P. (2011), “Mindfulness-based approaches: are they all the same?,Journal of Clinical Psychology, Vol. 67 (4). 404-424.
Choi, Y.R. and Shepherd, D.A. (2004), “Entrepreneurs’ decisions to exploit opportunities”, Journal of Management, Vol. 30 (3). 377-395.
Companys YE, McMullen JE (2007) Strategic entrepreneurs at work: the nature, discovery and exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities. Small Business Economics 28(4):301–322.
Cunneen, D.J. and Mankelow, G.J. (2007), “Towards a process model of independent growth firm creation”, Small Enterprise Research, Vol. 15 (1). 90-105.
Dane, E. (2011), “Paying attention to mindfulness and its effects on task performance in the workplace”, Journal of Management, Vol. 37 (4). 997-1018.
Davenport, T. H., and Beck, J. C., (2002). The strategy and structure of firms in the attention economy, Ivey Business Journal, 66 (4), pp. 48-54
Forlani, D. and Mullins, J.W. (2000), “Perceived risks and choices in entrepreneurs’ new venture decisions”, Journal of Business Venturing, Vol. 15 (4). 305-322.
Gaglio CM, Katz JA (2001) The psychological basis of opportunity identi fi cation: entrepreneurial alertness. Small Bus Econ .vol16:95–111
Gifford, S. (1998). The Allocation of Limited Entrepreneurial Attention. Boston, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishing.
Grossman, P., Niemann, L., Schmidt, S. and Walach, H. (2004), “Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health benefits: a meta-analysis”, Journal of Psychosomatic Research, Vol. 57 (1). 35-44.
Hayek F (1945) The use of knowledge in society. Am Econ Rev 35:519–530
High., J.C.( 1980). Maximizing, Action, and Market Adjustment: An Inquiry into the Theory of Economic Disequilibrum. PhD Thesis, UCLA
Holcombe, R. G. (2003). The origins of entrepreneurial opportunities. The Review of Austrian Economics, 16(1), 25-43.
Ireland RD,Webb JW, Coombs JE (2005b) Theory and methodology in entrepreneurship research. In: Ketchen D, Berg KD (eds.), Research Methodology in Strategy and Management, 2nd edn. New York: Elsevier JAI, 1–32.
Jason M. Gordon, Tracey King Schaller. (2014). The role of mindfulness in entrepreneurial market analysis. Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship.vol16(1). 7-25.
Kaish S, Gilad B. (1991) Characteristics of opportunities search of entrepreneurs versus executives: sources, interests, general alertness. Journal of Business Venturing.vol6:45–61
Keh, H.T., Foo, M.D. and Lim, B.C. (2002), “Opportunity evaluation under risky conditions: the cognitive processes of entrepreneurs”, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Vol. 27 (2). 125-148.
Kirzner IM. (1973) Competition and entrepreneurship. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Kirzner IM. (1979) Perception, opportunity, and pro fi t. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Kirzner IM. (1985) Discovery and the capitalist process. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Kirzner IM. (1997) Entrepreneurial discovery and the competitive market process: an Austrian approach. J Econ Lit xxxv(March):60–85
Kirzner IM. (2000) The driving force of the market: essays in Austrian economics. Routledge,
Kiyota, M. (1978), Shingon Buddhism: Theory and Practice, Buddhist Books, Los Angeles, CA.
Krueger NF Jr. (2000) The cognitive infrastructure of opportunity emergence. EntrepreneurshipTheory Practice 24(Spring):5–23
Langer, E.J. (1989b), “Minding matters: the consequences of mindlessness-mindfulness”, Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Vol. 22, 137-173. London/New York
Lavoie, D. (1990). Understanding differently: Hermeneutics and the spontaneous order of communicative processes. History of Political Economy. Annual Supplement to, 22, 359–377
Lavoie, D. (1991). The discovery and interpretation of profit opportunities. In: B. Berger (Ed.). The culture of entrepreneurship.
Lavoie, D. (1994). The interpretive turn. In P. J. Boettke (Ed.), The Elgar companion to Austrian economics. Northampton: Edward Elgar.
Lumpkin GT, Dess GG (1996) Clarifying the entrepreneurial orientation construct and linking it to performance. Acad Manage Rev .vol21(1):135–172
March, J. G. and Simon, H. A. (1958). Organizations. New York NY, Wiley.
Murphy, K. M., Shleifer, A. et al. (1991). The allocation of talent: Implications for growth.
Noblit, G. & Hare, R.(1988). Meta Ethnography: Synthesizing Qualitative Studies. Newbury Park CA: SAGE.
Paterson, B., Thorne, S., Canam, C. & Jillings, C.(2001). Metastudy of Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide to Meta-analysis and Meta-synthesis. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. Quarterly Journal of Economics.vol 106:503–530.
Pyysiäinen, J., Anderson, A. et al. (2006). Developing the entrepreneurial skills of farmers: Some myths explored. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research .vol12(1):21–39.
Sandelowski, M. & Barroso, J.(2007). Handbook for Synthesizing Qualitative Research. New York: Springer
Sarasvathy S, Dew N, Velamuri R, Venkataraman S. (2003) Three views of entrepreneurial opportunity. In: Acs ZJ, Audretsch DB (eds.), Handbook of Entrepreneurship Research. New York, NY: Springer. 141–160.
Schumpeter JA .(1950) Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, 3rd ed. New York: Harper.
Segal, Z.V., Williams, J.M.G. and Teasdale, J.D. (2012), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression, Guilford Publication, New York, NY.
Shane S (2000) Prior knowledge and the discovery of entrepreneurial opportunities. Organizational Science .vol11(4): 448–469.
Shane S, Venkataraman S (2000) The promise of entrepreneurship as a field of research. Academy of Management Review.vol 25: 217–226.
Short, J.C., Ketchen, D.J., Shook, C.L., Ireland, R.D., 2010. The concept of “opportunity” in entrepreneurship research: past accomplishments and future challenges. Journal of Management.vol 36, 40–65.
Simon, H. A. (1947). Administrative Behaviour: A Study of Decision-making Processes in Administrative Organizations. Chicago, IL: Macmillan.
Singh RP (2001) A comment on developing the fi eld of entrepreneurship through the study of opportunity recognition and exploitation. Acad Manage Rev 26(1):10–12
Sternberg, R. J. (1985a). Beyond IQ: A triarchic theory of human intelligence. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Sternberg, R. J. (2000a). Creativity is a decision. In A. L. Costa (Ed.), Teaching for intelligenceII (pp. 85–106). Arlington Heights, IL: Skylight Training and Publishing Inc.
Strauss, A.L. and Corbin, J.M. (1990), Basics of qualitative research: techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory, 4nd edition, Thousand Oaks, California..
Tang, J., 2008. Environmental munificence for entrepreneurs: entrepreneurial alertness and commitment. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research 14 (3), 128–151.
Tetlock, P.E. (1983), “Accountability and complexity of thought”, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 45 (1),. 74-83.
Venkataraman S. (1997) The distinctive domain of entrepreneurship research. In: Katz JA (ed) Advances in entrepreneurship, fi rm emergence and growth, vol 3. JAI Press, Greenwich, CT, 139–202
Walsh JP. (1995) Managerial and organizational cognition: notes from a trip down memory lane.Organ Sci 6(3):280–321
Weick KE. (1979) The social psychology of organizing. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA
Zahra SA, Jennings DF, Kuratko DF (1999) The antecedents and consequences of fi rm-level entrepreneurship: the state of the fi eld. Entrepreneurship Theory Practice,Vol 24: 45-65
Zahra SA. (1993) Environment, corporate entrepreneurship, and fi nancial performance: a taxonomic approach. J Bus Venturing 8:319–340
Zimmer, L.(2006). Qualitative Meta-synthesis: a Question of Dialoguing With Texts. Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol53(3), 311-318.
Valliere, D.(2013). Entrepreneurial Alertness And Paying Attention. Journal Of Enterprising Culture. Vol. 21(1). 1–17
Gordon J. M. Schaller T, (2014),"The role of mindfulness in entrepreneurial market analysis", Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Vol. 16 (1). 7 - 25
Talebi Koohestani, M. R., Alvani, S. M., Mahmood Zadeh, S. M., & Ataii, M. (2017). Conceptualizing entrepreneurial alertness based on human information processing. Iranian journal of management sciences, 12(48), 40-60.
MLA
Mohammad Reza Talebi Koohestani; Seyed Mehdi Alvani; Seyyed Mojtaba Mahmood Zadeh; Mohammad Ataii. "Conceptualizing entrepreneurial alertness based on human information processing". Iranian journal of management sciences, 12, 48, 2017, 40-60.
HARVARD
Talebi Koohestani, M. R., Alvani, S. M., Mahmood Zadeh, S. M., Ataii, M. (2017). 'Conceptualizing entrepreneurial alertness based on human information processing', Iranian journal of management sciences, 12(48), pp. 40-60.
VANCOUVER
Talebi Koohestani, M. R., Alvani, S. M., Mahmood Zadeh, S. M., Ataii, M. Conceptualizing entrepreneurial alertness based on human information processing. Iranian journal of management sciences, 2017; 12(48): 40-60.
)