Rufai Haruna Kilu, Mohammed-Aminu Sanda and Ana Alacovska
There is growing scholarly discourse towards COVID-19 pandemic and creative entrepreneurship in the perspectives of Global South. Extant literature lacks sufficient empirical…
Abstract
Purpose
There is growing scholarly discourse towards COVID-19 pandemic and creative entrepreneurship in the perspectives of Global South. Extant literature lacks sufficient empirical evidence on the subject matter. This paper therefore provides insights into business models and business model shifts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic among creative entrepreneurs in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
In working towards achieving the purpose of the study, a qualitative design was deployed. Four artistic communities in three regions were understudied. The study conducted working interviews, Focus Group Discussions and field observations on the creative entrepreneurs.
Findings
The results showed a unique business model that captured ministries, agencies and departments; traditional authorities, foreigners and the diaspora community as key creative partners. The creative entrepreneurs equally proposed value via quality deliveries, attractive pattern mix, pure handy crafts, mart finishing, imbibing culture into productions and symbolic meanings. Their key activities include cutting and gluing, sewing and coloring, sketching and prototyping, annual Kente festivals, film shooting and editing. The creatives stream revenue through sales, advances, profit margins, contracts, gate proceeds, loans, friends and family support. The results also point at a regime of business model shifts among the creatives, deploying digitalization and diversification in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research limitations/implications
The research by design is limited to the qualitative tradition; despite knowing well about the quantitative approach that could have provided a wider scope and coverage for effective generalizability. Certainly, it would be of future research interest to design a comparative mix-method study to achieve a wider coverage feat. Indeed, the paper does achieve the goal of providing an original empirical account, hence making a valid contribution to knowledge in the area of study.
Practical implications
The knowledge on demystified business models relative to the Ghanaian creative entrepreneurs has practical implications for practice: first, it generates a ground-up knowledge as to what creative entrepreneurial business models are, why they exist and exactly how to create one in a Global South perspective.
Social implications
These creative business models and the COVID-19 induced model shifts among the Ghanaian creative entrepreneurs imply continuous creative livelihoods, sustainable business models and assurance for innovation in creative entrepreneurship space.
Originality/value
The study is of high scientific value, creative entrepreneurial essence and public interest to better demystify creative entrepreneurial business models and theoretically framed them. It offers strong empirical evidence on COVID-19 induced business model shifts. These creative business models and the COVID-19 induced model shifts among the Ghanaian creative entrepreneurs imply continuous creative livelihoods, sustainable business models and assurance for innovation in creative entrepreneurship space.
Details
Keywords
Bruno Felix and Ana Patricia Alves Vieira
Using the empirical context of the coaching profession, this study explores how workers in a partially contested and emerging occupation construct a sense of positive occupational…
Abstract
Purpose
Using the empirical context of the coaching profession, this study explores how workers in a partially contested and emerging occupation construct a sense of positive occupational identity.
Design/methodology/approach
We adopted a grounded theory method, drawing on interviews with 43 Brazilian career coaches, supplemented by documentary analysis of archival materials related to the profession and non-participant observations conducted during training sessions for these professionals.
Findings
Participants report the ambiguity of their occupational roles as career coaches, with expectations from different groups sometimes aligning and sometimes conflicting. Instead of striving for a homogeneous expectation of how career coaches should be, they suggest finding a sufficient balance between their perceived selves and diverse expectations. This attainable authenticity is reflected in participants' reliance on validation from supportive social groups rather than those who disapprove of career coaching as a vocation. We contend that two combined factors were essential for these professionals in a simultaneously contested and emerging occupation to construct a positive occupational identity. The first involves recognizing that they cannot be entirely authentic in their profession but can be sufficiently authentic. The second is that they should not rely on universal societal approval but instead leverage approval from certain societal groups, accepting that not everyone will approve of them.
Originality/value
This paper represents an original effort to explore how career coaches endeavor to build a positive occupational identity, considering the context of a simultaneously contested and emerging occupation. The simultaneous consideration of these factors, through the specific case of career coaches, was innovative for the literature.