The Heptalogical Model of Entrepreneurship

Abstract

Whereas entrepreneurship research has made advancements to establish and distinguish itself as an academic area, entrepreneurship education has developed more modestly. In this article, we introduce the Heptalogical Model as a conceptual foundation for entrepreneurship education, pedagogy, course and program development, and external engagements with entrepreneurial venture partners. The model is the product of years of utilization in the instruction of thousands of learners worldwide by diverse instructors at multiple institutions and application in hundreds of outreach consulting projects with entrepreneurial ventures. Grounded in the conceptual history of entrepreneurship theory and education, the Heptalogical Model offers a distinct approach that is not person or venture-centric. Its logic clarifies how many kinds of entrepreneurs and ventures develop, evolve, and perform in practical ways. The model is amenable to the radical diversities of entrepreneurial phenomena across sectors, industries, and cultures.