Grounding and Developing the Design Perspective on Entrepreneurship : From Individual–Opportunity Nexus to Artifact-Centered Triad

Abstract

To enhance managerial relevance, entrepreneurship theory should be anchored in frameworks that are both practically useful and conceptually coherent. This essay develops a triadic design perspective on entrepreneurship that incorporates artifacts alongside individuals and environmental circumstances. Building on concepts of epistemic objects (Knorr Cetina), reflective design practice (Schön), and world disclosing (Spinosa et al.), opportunities are conceptualized as actively framed situations, within which ventures are designed, through the use of more or less concrete entrepreneurial artifacts. This resulting account of entrepreneurship as an artifact-centered and potentially transformative process of design will hopefully offer a robust foundation for advancing entrepreneurship research and practice.