Characterisation of the classics of entrepreneurship (1968-2016). An analysis based on Web of Science

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to broaden the analysis of entrepreneurship as a field of study by employing a bibliographical search of works which constitute the "classics" of entrepreneurship and by examining their underlying "knowledge base" (cited works) as well as the reasons why they are characterised as such. H-Classics methodology was applied in the selection of these classic works and a thorough analysis of documents, citing and cited authors as well as journals was carried out. The results obtained in the process help isolate the sources that may determine which works could be seen as truly representative of the discipline of entrepreneurship and, more importantly, to find out which of them are more likely to embody the paradigms required in order to make a clear definition of what constitutes entrepreneurship as a discipline.