Effective Resources on the Construction of Collective Entrepreneurial Identity from the Perspective of Social Capital

Document Type : Research/Original/Regular

Authors

Department of business creation, Faculty of entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/jscm.2024.380142.2533

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate the role of social capital to build collective identity in entrepreneurial teams and businesses. This qualitative research has examined and screened 229 studies by reviewing articles in Scopus database related to entrepreneurial identity. Out of 75 remaining studies on identity construction, 23 articles focused on collective identity construction, shared identity, specifically regarding team and collective identity. The data were coded using ATLAS.ti software for thematic analysis. Finally, the findings of existing research were divided based on bonding and bridging social capital. The findings revealed that the sharing of values, interests, identity, nationality, as well as places and physical symbols (covering, events, even physical presence), the feeling of belonging to the group, building interpersonal relationships in the group and trying to create attachment to resources are crucial. Social capital serves as a link to build a collective identity within the group. At the trans-group and inter-organizational level, positive social evaluation, creating alliances with stakeholders and investors, and maintaining networks with entrepreneurs and shareholders are among the efforts of entrepreneurs to spread collective identity by using communication with others. Managers and founders act as agents of these changes, sometimes through inter-group and organizational cooperation, and at other times by exerting power and influence through storytelling and creating analogies, thereby affecting the construction of identity and the integration of collective identity.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Social Capital Management
Volume 12, Issue 2
July 2025
Pages 221-234

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