The role of work design in entrepreneurship: A review and meta-framework

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is a critical driver of economic development, yet limited attention has been given to the role of work design in shaping entrepreneurial intentions, behaviors, and outcomes. Yet, literature at the nexus of work design and entrepreneurship is fragmented − and thus the evidence on the specific nature of these relationships is unclear. This systematic review investigates: how does work design shape entrepreneurial intention and entry? and how does founder work design shape individual and venture outcomes? Our integrative review identified four mechanisms that likely underlie the influence of work design on entrepreneurship—motivation, flexibility, capacity, and strain—and present them in a meta-framework to guide future research on how founders’ and employees’ work design emerges in start-ups, and how work design influences multilevel outcomes over time.