Leading the way: the entrepreneur or the leader?

Abstract

Purpose: Researchers seem to focus overwhelmingly on entrepreneurial leadership as seen in recent studies in the leadership literature. This situation becomes more complex as research draw on parallels between leadership and entrepreneurship. This has led to an ongoing debate on the veracity of entrepreneurship as a distinct field of study. The elusive nature of both concepts has further complicated the efforts made by researchers at integrating these fields in order to achieve a consensual understanding on the status of entrepreneurship within the field of leadership. The purpose of this paper is to explore these independent fields of study so as to provide a clear understanding of its close association, peculiarities and the theoretical considerations. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on a critical review of the extant literature on leadership, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial leadership. The literature review focused on the existing theories and perspectives and attempts were made to draw parallels within the domains of leadership, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial leadership. Findings: Entrepreneurial leadership though a distinct field of study within the domain of leadership is deeply embedded in the positive integration of the fields of leadership and entrepreneurship. Parallels were drawn from the theoretical considerations shaping these three fields of study respectively. This close association was further reinforced by similarities and in some instances the replication of some attributes and skills within all the three fields. Originality/value: This study brings additional insights to the parallels that exist within the field of leadership and entrepreneurship particularly in proposing an integrative model for entrepreneurial leadership based on the positive integration of entrepreneurship and leadership.