Towards a qualitative understanding of human capital in entrepreneurship research
本文重新审视创业研究中人力资本的概念化与测量，提出人力资本应由教育、工作经验等指标形成，并通过定性比较分析揭示其与创业涌现的多种组合关系。
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to revisit the conceptualization and measurement of human capital in entrepreneurship research. Design/methodology/approach By contrasting reflective and formative conceptions, it shows that human capital is more appropriately seen as defined and formed by its indicators (education, work experience, entrepreneurial experience, industry experience, and managerial experience). It, then, explores the configurations of these indicators in a qualitative comparative analysis framework based on Boolean algebra and fuzzy-set methodology. It derives an empirical typology of the human capital of nascent entrepreneurs, based on two primary combinations of indicators. Findings The paper shows that the relationship between human capital and venture emergence is best represented as multiple, conjectural causation, i.e. human capital matters through certain combinations of its indicators. Originality/value The discussion and results offer novel and valuable insights into entrepreneurship researchers for the conceptualization and use of human capital constructs.