Entrepreneurial community development and the everyday realities of existing enterprises

Abstract

Entrepreneurship and innovation are key inputs to the revitalization and sustainability of rural communities and economies. While compelling, entrepreneurial community development models heavily favor new venture start-up activities and largely overlook the needs and potential of existing enterprises. Drawing on principles of everyday life sociology and organizational culture, we explored how a sample of Southeastern Arizona ranchers confront persistent challenges by way of their daily routines, practices, and interactions. Data were collected through extensive field work involving nearly 100 hours of direct observation and semi-structured interviews with 14 participants across four ranches. The findings show the innovative characteristics of the ranchers’ everyday practices and routines and illustrate how everyday ingenuity among the ranchers drives a problem-driven mindset and immediate, short-term action. We use the insights generated to conceptualize a temporal dynamic that if integrated with entrepreneurial community development models may better foster and support innovation within existing enterprises.