Entrepreneurialism in Alberta's Public University Business Schools: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Approach
Abstract
Alberta’s publicly funded university business schools operate within environments that are challenging and changing. Specifically, Alberta has historically been a significant contributor to Canada’s economy, driven by the energy sector. Recently, low oil prices and geopolitical uncertainties have created a recessionary environment. This boom-bust economy, along with Alberta’s reputation as an entrepreneurial heartland, provide a unique landscape for university business schools that are contending with increased competition, pressures to maintain quality programming, and the need to secure sustainable funding.
This research explored the rationale and extent to which publicly funded Alberta university business schools exhibit an entrepreneurial presence. The study sought to understand: (1) the entrepreneurial strategies pursued by Alberta public university business schools; (2) the reasons why entrepreneurialism is a part of the business school strategic plan; (3) how entrepreneurial success is being achieved; and (4) barriers to entrepreneurial success. The outcome of the study was an entrepreneurial business school roadmap model.
A sequential mixed methods research design was followed. Phase I consisted of semi-structured interviews with 12 Alberta university business school leaders at two sites. The results of Phase 1 informed the development of an electronic survey that was deployed in Phase 2 to business school leaders and faculty at five publicly funded Alberta university business schools. The results of Phase 1 and 2 were then combined.
The core theme that emerged was that “business schools are at the centre of an entrepreneurial ecosystem engaging through entrepreneurship oriented centres, executive education, and pedagogical innovations as a key driver of the institutional entrepreneurial effort.” The evidence suggested that business school entrepreneurial activity occurs in two areas: a) entrepreneurship centres, and b) executive education. Eight clusters comprise the Alberta business school entrepreneurial ecosystem and these clusters became the supporting foundation of the entrepreneurial business school roadmap model. This model depicts the business school playing a central role in extending entrepreneurial activities within the university.
The entrepreneurial business school roadmap model may interest policy-makers, leaders, and faculty who develop strategy for business schools. It illustrates the relationship between opportunities, drivers, and outcomes within the entrepreneurial ecosystem using a business school extension approach.
Description
Keywords
Education--Administration, Education--Business
Citation
Gray, A. J. (2017). Entrepreneurialism in Alberta's Public University Business Schools: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Approach (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25916