Entrepreneurial orientation: roots and buds.

Summary The objective of this dissertation is to provide new theoretical and empirical insights into the mechanisms of organizational entrepreneurship, and more specifically "entrepreneurial orientation" (EO). In order to better understand this phenomenon, this dissertation is the result of four successive efforts: - Identify what entrepreneurial orientation is by distinguishing it from what it is not - Understand how the "EO" construct fits into the major models of organizational entrepreneurship - Offer a critical discussion by synthesizing and mapping existing issues, revealing that there are in fact at least four conceptualizations behind "EO," among them Miller's (1983) initial, ignored or misunderstood conceptualization. - To continue with Miller's intention, I propose a sie of dexono firms according to their OE gestalt, as well as the specific characteristics of each configuration. Through a better understanding of the phenomenon of organizational entrepreneurship, this thesis proposes to contribute to the literature in entrepreneurship, strategic management, and management.