AN EXAMINATION OF THE JOB MARKET FOR

ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACULTY FROM 1989 TO 2014

Todd A. Finkle, Gonzaga University

ABSTRACT

Utilizing institutional theory this article examines data based on

the trends in the market for entrepreneurship faculty over the past 25

years. Data is provided from June, 1989 through June, 2014 on advertised

candidates and positions throughout the world. There were several

significant findings in this study. During the most recent year, 2013/14,

there were 258 advertised positions (both tenure track and non tenure

track) for entrepreneurship faculty in Schools of Business and

Management. During the same time frame, the number of advertised

candidates was 147. The ratio of total jobs per candidate during 2013/14

was 1.76. This ratio is favorable to candidates seeking employment,

however it must be noted that these positions included full-time tenure

track, visiting professorships, instructors, adjuncts or part-time positions.

The number of candidates (147) dropped to a level that we have

not seen since 2005/06 and 84% below its peak in 2008/09 (270). Some

possible explanations for this trend may be related to the economy,

commitment, and supply versus demand. There could be a hangover

effect from earlier years where candidates had problems finding tenure

track positions. For example, in 2008/09 there were almost 100 more

tenure track candidates than tenure track positions (260 versus 165). In

2010/11 and 2011/12 there were another 50 candidates more than

tenure track openings. Furthermore, if we go back four to five years, the

typical amount of time to earn a Ph.D., we were in the middle of the

financial crisis. It could be that potential doctoral students were afraid

to make a long-term commitment due to the global economic crisis.

Related issues may be that potential doctoral students were afraid of

leaving their current jobs or they may have been afraid of their inability

to sell their houses during a housing depression. Another reason might

be a reduction in doctoral admissions as doctoral programs can be

costly to run. The same thing can be said for international candidates in

2013/14 as those numbers dropped to 44 from a peak of 81 in 2011/12.

During 2013/14, the number of tenure track positions (150) was

slightly higher than the number of tenure track candidates (138). The

findings show that the number of tenure track candidates in 2013/14

dropped to the second lowest level since 2005/06. Senior positions

continue to be in high demand with 52% of tenure track jobs advertising

for senior level positions. Schools are also recruiting more candidates

with a primary area in entrepreneurship.

INTRODUCTION

This article examines faculty trends within the

field of entrepreneurship. It comes at a very

important time to candidates and Schools of Business

and Management. Entrepreneurship is no longer a young

and emerging academic discipline. It has become

increasingly popular and more competitive. As such,

it is vital that faculty seeking jobs in the global

market understand the past and current trends that are

happening so they can maximize their career paths.

Likewise, Schools of Business and Management should

take notice of the findings to understand the

competitive landscape when they seek candidates and

potential doctoral candidates.

This study comes during a time of slow recovery

from the worst economic event since the Great

Depression of 1929. The world is now in its five year

of recovery since the bottom of the Great Recession in

March, 2009. Globally, we are still undergoing

deleveraging, which could last anywhere from 10-15

years since 2009.

The trends within higher education are

troublesome. The cost of higher education is enormous

with students coming out of schools with a huge debt

burden. According to CnnMoney.com, the average amount

of student loan debt for those leaving a US college

with an undergraduate degree in 2012 was $29,400

(Ellis, 2013). Mitchell (2014) reported that the

median debt for graduate students at the end of 2012

was $57,600, 43% higher than 2004. As of April, 2014

the US debt clock (see http://www.usdebtclock.org/)

showed that the total amount of student loan debt owed

in the US was approximately $1.286 trillion and

student loan debt has surpassed both credit card and

auto debt in the US. Furthermore, state funding for

higher education has decreased by 28% from 2008 to

2013.

Combine this with the potential disruption of the

traditional college model by online education or

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). A few professors

have suggested that traditional, slow moving colleges

will lose out to quicker and nimbler colleges that

offer these types of educational opportunities.

Clayton M. Christensen, a Harvard professor of

business strategy, stated in a New York Times that the

"bottom 25 percent of every tier" of colleges will

disappear or merge in the next 10 to 15 years”

(Selingo, 2013). More recently, Richard Lyons, Dean

of the University of California-Berkeley School of

Business, stated that if the top MBA programs were to

put their programs online, up to 50% of all business

schools could fail within 5-10 years (Clark, 2014).

Under the backdrop of the changes in higher

education, this article investigates changes in the

number, level and priority of entrepreneurship

positions and candidates from all over the world from

1989/90 to 2013/14. This study examines the

institutionalization of the field of entrepreneurship

by examining the change in the number and level of

entrepreneurship positions, as well as the number,

level and training of entrepreneurship candidates from

1989-2014. One measure of institutional acceptance

within the field of entrepreneurship would be the

level of demand and supply for tenure track faculty in

the field. This study will address the question of

the institutionalization of the field by examining the

changes in the market for entrepreneurship faculty

between the academic years 1989/90 and 2013/14.

Institutional theory argues that organizations

operating in institutionalized environments

demonstrate that they are acting in a legitimate

manner adopting the structures and activities that are

perceived to be legitimate by their critical external

resource providers (Finkle & Deeds, 2001). In essence

by adopting the appropriate structures (institutions)

the organization increases its legitimacy and is able

to use this legitimacy to increase its support and

ensure its survival (Dowling & Pfeffer, 1975; Meyer &

Rowan, 1977).

I examine the global faculty trends in the field

of entrepreneurship by examining the entire sample of

advertised candidates and jobs from 1989-2014. This

study will answer the following research question: Is

the field of entrepreneurship becoming increasingly

institutionalized within Schools of Business and

Management? To answer this research question I will

examine the current trends in the global job market

for faculty in entrepreneurship. I will also examine

the percentage of current candidates and positions

that are tenure track.

EXTANT RESEARCH

Finkle and Deeds (2001; 2002) pioneered the first

study of trends of entrepreneurship faculty using

institutional theory (Meyer & Rowan, 1977). They

concluded that the field made significant progress

towards being institutionalized. However, it was

still not fully institutionalized because most of the

positions had been either non tenure track or

untenured assistant professorships. However, it was

still too soon to conclude that the commitment to

entrepreneurship by Schools of Business and

Management. One clear indication of the tenuous status

was that, unlike strategy, there was no mandate from

the AACSB that entrepreneurship be incorporated into

the curriculum of all accredited schools.

Entrepreneurship remained an elective subject in most

schools and therefore dependent on student interest.

Furthermore, the hiring of tenured faculty in

entrepreneurship and the creation of departments of

entrepreneurship were rare.

Finkle and Deeds (1991) found that the demand and

the supply of entrepreneurship faculty increased from

1989 to 1998. Between 1989/90 and 1997/98 the number

of entrepreneurship positions increased 253% while the

number of candidates increased by 94%. During this

period the number of positions that listed

entrepreneurship as the primary field increased

tenfold from 5 to 50 and the number of candidates that

listed entrepreneurship as their primary field

increased fourfold from 5 to 20. During the same

period the number of secondary and tertiary positions

increased 116% and 78% respectively and the number of

secondary and tertiary candidates increased by 67% and

53%. The percentage of entrepreneurship positions

listing entrepreneurship as the primary field has

increased from 19% in 89/90 to 54% in 1997/98.

Since Finkle and Deeds (2001), the field has seen

a significant increase in the number of

entrepreneurship programs in Schools of Business and

Management. Entrepreneurship has become increasingly

institutionalized at universities as evidence by the

rise in the number of centers (see Finkle, 2008;

Finkle, 2007a; Finkle & Kuratko, 2004; 2006; Finkle,

Kuratko & Goldsby, 2006a; 2006b; Finkle, Menzies,

Kuratko & Goldsby, 2010; 2012; 2013) and tenure in the

field of entrepreneurship (Finkle, Stetz & Deeds,

2004; Finkle, Stetz & Mallin, 2007).

Several studies that have built upon Finkle and

Deed’s (2001) initial findings (see Finkle 2006;

2007b; 2008; 2010; 2012a; 2012b; 2013a; 2013b; Finkle

& Thomas, 2008). Finkle (2007b) concluded that the

field was becoming increasingly institutionalized. He

noted that Schools of Business and Management had

committed more resources to hiring a larger number of

tenured or tenure track faculty. Finkle also found

that the ratio of tenure track positions per candidate

improved from a low of .43 positions per candidate in

1994/95 to 1.78 positions per candidate in 2004/05

(+314%).

Finkle’s (2010) findings showed that

entrepreneurship was being institutionalized on a

global basis. He found that entrepreneurship was one

of the fastest growing areas in higher education. The

findings showed 366 job openings at schools and 231

candidates in 2007/08. International positions and

candidates showed the biggest increase. From 2006/2007

to 2007/08, the number of international positions

nearly doubled while the number of international

candidates grew from 44 to 62.

Finkle (2012a; 2012b) examined data from June,

1989 through June, 2010. The findings showed that the

field had matured in regards to the number of tenure

track and non tenure track positions. In 2009/10 there

were 1.1 tenure track jobs per tenure track candidate.

Due to the lackluster economy, the decrease in the

number of candidates seeking positions in 2009/10 may

have been partially caused by fear. The economic

crisis may have caused people to remain conservative;

not willing to sell their house and make a move. As a

result, in 2008/09 there were 260 candidates and in

2009/10 there were only 169 candidates. He concluded

that, in that volatile environment, savvy candidates

could take risks and apply for desirable jobs. This

was especially true for senior level faculty where the

demand remained very strong. Overall, his study

showed that the number of positions (including tenure

track) peaked in 2007/08, right before the economic

crisis.

In Finkle’s (2013a; 2013b) studies, examined the

changes in the market for entrepreneurship faculty

from 1989 to 2012/13. During the academic year

2011/12 there were 319 total advertised

entrepreneurship positions of which 202 (63%) sought a

candidate with a primary interest in entrepreneurship.

This was the highest number of primary positions in

the history of the study. Furthermore, in 2011/12

there were 203 tenure track positions, which was the

largest number since the beginning of the Great

Recession in 2007. The number of tenure track

candidates was higher at 231, however the studied

found that schools were seeking senior faculty

(Associate, Full, and Endowed Professors) at the

highest rate ever. Advertisements for full professors

were at their highest level ever at 23. Associate

professors were in the highest demand since 2007/08

and endowed chairs were at the fourth highest level

over the life-time of this study. Overall, 87 percent

of all of the tenure track the positions targeted

senior level faculty.

Finkle’s (2013a; 2013b) findings showed that

entrepreneurship was continuing to become increasingly

institutionalized within Schools of Business and

Management all over the world. Schools were

recruiting more candidates, especially ones with a

primary area in entrepreneurship. This showed that

schools were valuing entrepreneurship and committing

more resources as they recruited an ever increasing

number of candidates with a primary area in

entrepreneurship.

METHODOLOGY

Data for this study initiated 25 years ago. In

the early parts of this study, data for jobs and

candidates was sent to members in a small Academy of

Management Placement booklet. To make sure that all of

the advertisements were included data was also

collected by hand through Chronicle of Higher Education

microfiche located at the library. Over time, the

booklets turned into more of a newspaper format.

After this format, the Internet was introduced and

most advertisements were done online on a variety of

sites.

Data for this study was collected continuously

over a 25 year period. In addition to the

aforementioned sources, these web sites were used in

this study: United States Association for Small

Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE)

(http://usasbe.org/); Academic Keys for Business

Education

(http://business.academickeys.com/seeker_job.php);

University 500 (http://www.university500.com/););

American Marketing Association

(http://academicplacement.marketingpower.com/search/);

Financial Management Association

(http://www.fma.org/); Mid Atlantic Higher Education

Consortium (http://www.midatlanticherc.org/home/);

Academic Careers Online

(http://www.academiccareers.com/); Academic Employment

Network (http://www.academploy.com); University

Affairs (http://www.universityaffairs.ca);

HigherEdJobs.com (http://www.higheredjobs.com/);

Jobs.ac.uk http://www.jobs.ac.uk; Times Higher

Education Supplement

(http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk); Career.edu

(http://www.career.edu); and UniJobs.com.au

(http://www.UniJobs.com.au).

There were a few new web sites that were used in

this study: indeed (http://indeed.com); Academy of

International Business (http://www.aib.msu.edu);

Academic Jobs EU.com (http://academicjobseu.com); and

Campus Review (http://campusreview.com.au). Data was

also collected through direct e-mails on a variety of

networks and directly from universities themselves.

It must be noted that only jobs within schools of

business were included in this study.

The methodology in the study was similar to

Finkle and Deeds (2001: 2002), Finkle (2006; 2007b;

2008; 2010; 2012a; 2012b; 2013a; 2013b) and Finkle &

Thomas (2008). The data was split into academic years

(e.g., 2013/14). Two categories were then created;

January through June (spring) and July through

December (fall). Overlapping candidates and positions

found in each subset were dropped. For example, if

Ted Baker advertised for a job in fall 2013 and spring

2014 he would be counted only once.

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

To evaluate the trends in the job market for

entrepreneurship faculty over the past 25 years, three

tables were created. Table 1 examines the number of

candidates and positions from June, 1989 through June,

2014. The table also examines the desired interest

level of a candidate or school (e.g., Primary,

Secondary, or Tertiary) and the current number of

international jobs and candidates. Table 2 evaluates

tenure track positions and candidates only.

Additionally, it calculates the percentage of jobs and

candidates that are tenure track. Table 2 also breaks

down the table into the type of position the candidate

or school is seeking (Assistant, Associate, Full,

Endowed, or Open). Table 3 breaks down the schools

and candidates specialties that are cross-listed with

entrepreneurship. For example, let’s say Indiana

University is seeking a candidate with a primary area

in Entrepreneurship, but it seeks a person with a

secondary area in Business Policy and a tertiary area

in International Business. This table evaluates the

percentage of schools and candidates that are

advertising in the different areas.

Table 1: Number & Level of Interest in

Entrepreneurship for Candidates & Positions, June,

1989-June, 2014

Table 1 shows that the total number of jobs

(tenure track and non tenure track) over the past 25

years. The total number of jobs peaked during 2012/13

academic year at 441. The lowest number of jobs came

during the initial stages of the study in 1991/92 at

18. Since the 1991/92 academic year, the total number

of advertised positions has increased 2450%. On an

annualized basis, this is equivalent to a growth rate

on average of 116% per year. However, in the most

recent academic year the number of jobs decreased to

258.

Table 1 also shows that the total number of

candidates (tenure track and non tenure track) over

the past 25 years. That number peaked during 2008/09

academic year at 270. The lowest number of candidates

came during the first year of the study in 1989/90 at

35. Since the 1989/90 academic year, the total number

of candidates has increased 771% at its high point.

On an annualized basis, this is equivalent to a growth

rate on average of 41% per year. However, in the most

recent academic year, 2013/14, the number of

candidates dropped to 147.

Table 1Number & Level of Interest in Entrepreneurship for

Candidates & Positions 1989-June 2014

Candidates

Positions

Candidates

Positions

Candidates

Positions

Int'lCandi

Int'l

TotalCandi

Total

w/PrimaryInterest

w/PrimaryAssignment

w/2 nd Interest

w/2 nd Assignment

w/TertiaryInterest

w/TertiaryAssignment

dates Positions

dates Positions

AcademicYr. 89-90

5 5 15 12 15 9 3 0 35 26

AcademicYr. 90-91

3 9 23 6 20 12 2 2 46 27

AcademicYr. 91-92

7 12 20 3 13 3 1 2 40 18

AcademicYr.92-93

6 16 23 3 27 9 2 3 56 28

AcademicYr. 93-94

10 18 32 6 25 3 3 1 67 27

AcademicYr. 94-95

15 20 45 4 29 6 3 5 89 30

AcademicYr. 95-96

24 20 50 9 35 9 9 7 109 38

Academic

19 36 35 18 31 6 4 12 85 60

Yr. 96-97

AcademicYr. 97-98

20 50 25 26 23 16 6 13 68 92

AcademicYr. 98-99

16 58 10 45 28 46 9 22 54 149

AcademicYr. 99-00

17 92 17 67 27 69 10 21 61 228

AcademicYr. 00-01

15 82 25 56 27 59 5 26 67 197

AcademicYr. 01-02

24 54 28 65 24 56 12 16 74 175

AcademicYr. 02-03

31 83 19 50 29 57 6 19 79 190

AcademicYr. 03-04

35 74 33 67 30 44 22 20 98 185

Academic

33 94 40 65 33 53 15 17 106 212

Yr. 04-05

AcademicYr. 05-06

33 141 59 104 49 82 25 36 141 316

AcademicYr. 06-07

62 111 63 82 57 64 44 34 184 263

AcademicYr. 07-08

90 165 87 90 54 111 62 76 231 366

AcademicYr. 08-09

57 128 106 63 107 74 61 66 270 265

AcademicYr. 09-10

42 153 48 68 91 85 48 75 181 306

AcademicYr. 10-11

45 149 47 41 121 93 58 60 213 283

AcademicYr. 11-12

51 202 54 66 139 51 81 104 245 319

Academic

82 302 87 78 50 61 65 118 219 441

Yr. 12-13

AcademicYr. 13-14

63 168 49 53 35 37 44 81 147 258

89/90

91/92

93/94

95/96

97/98

99/00

01/02

03/04

05/06

07/08

09/10

11/12

13/14

0200400600

Figure 1Candidates and Positions

Total Candid...

Academic Year

89/90

91/92

93/94

95/96

97/98

99/00

01/02

03/04

05/06

07/08

09/10

11/12

13/14

0

Figure 2International

Entrepreneurship Applicants and Positions Int'l Candidates

Int'l Positions

Academic Year

89/90

92/93

95/96

98/99

01/02

04/05

07/08

10/11

13/14

0

200

400

Figure 3Entrepreneurship Positions by

Level of Interest Primary Positions Secondary Positions Tertiary Positions

Academic Year

89/90

91/92

93/94

95/96

97/98

99/00

01/02

03/04

05/06

07/08

09/10

11/12

13/14

0

50

100

150

Figure 4Entrepreneurship Candidates by Level of Preference

Primary InterestSecondary InterestTertiary Interest

Academic Year

During the latest year of the study, the ratio of

total jobs per candidate was 1.76. This ratio is

favorable to candidates seeking employment. However,

this number includes adjunct, visiting, and instructor

positions along with tenure track jobs.

International Market

One of the more significant findings of this

study is the growth in the number of international

jobs. Table 1 shows that the number of international

positions peaked at 118 during 2012/13. In the most

recent year, it decreased to 81. The largest number of

international candidates in the study was 104 in

2011/12. The ratio of the total number of

international positions per international candidate

during 2013/14 was 1.82 jobs per candidate.

Level of Interest

Table 1 also shows the number of positions and

candidates by their level of interest (e.g., Primary,

Secondary and Tertiary). The number and percentage of

jobs with entrepreneurship as their primary field of

expertise in 2013/14 was 168 (65%). Secondary and

tertiary numbers were 53 (21%) and 37 (14%),

respectively.

The number of candidates in 2013/14 that sought

positions with entrepreneurship as their primary field

of expertise was 63 (43%). Secondary and tertiary

numbers were 49 (33%) and 35 (24%), respectively.

There were approximately 2.7 primary jobs for

each primary candidate. These numbers indicate

opportunities for candidates specializing in

entrepreneurship as their primary area of expertise.

This has been a trend in analyzing the numbers over

the years as candidates look to hedge their risk by

focusing on more established academic areas like

Strategy or Organizational Behavior.

Table 2: Rank of Tenure Track Candidates & Positions,

June, 1989-June, 2014

Table 2 evaluates only tenure track candidates

and positions as advertised by academic rank from

June, 1989 through June, 2014. As a result, all non

tenure track positions and candidates were dropped.

Table 2

Rank of Tenure Track Candidates & Positions, 1989-June2014

Candidates Positions

AcademicYear

Assistant

Associate

Full

Endowed

Open

Total

%Assistant

Associate

Full

Endowed

Open

Total

%

89/90 24 4 2 0 5 35

100

19 0 0 3 4 26100

90/91 34 4 1 0 3 42 9

1 19 0 0 3 3 25 93

91/92 29 5 1 0 5 40

100

10 1 0 3 1 15 83

92/93 29 4 2 0 7 42 7

5 15 0 0 4 4 23 82

93/94 30 4 1 0 5 40 6

0 18 0 1 3 1 23 85

94/95 46 2 0 0 5 53 6

0 14 2 0 2 5 23 77

95/96 51 1 0 0 3 55 5

0 22 2 1 5 4 34 89

96/97 48 1 0 0 5 49 5

8 23 6 0 8 14 51 85

97/98 63 0 0 0 4 67 9

9 41 4 3 5 7 60 65

98/99 37 3 0 0 9 49 9

1 58 17 5 10 51 141

95

99/00 47 1 1 1 5 58 9

5 88 21 3 23 81 216

95

00/01 49 1 0 0 12 62 8

4 52 16 4 18 97 187

95

01/02 60 4 1 0 9 74

100

81 34 4 3 38 160

91

02/03 56 12 4 0 5 77 9

7 81 33 14 12 41 18

195

03/04 66 11 6 2 11 96 9

8 63 40 8 13 47 171

92

04/05 75 8 4 0 15 10

296 64 59 9 17 35 18

487

05/06 87 24 0 2 24 13

797 71 110 1

4 24 73 292

92

06-07 98 52 3 1 29 18

399 71 55 8 13 36 18

369

07-08 185 20 6 4 7 22

296 84 107 1

2 17 68 288

79

08-09 209 34 1

0 5 2 260

96 69 46 1

2 22 16 165

66

09-10 144 18 6 0 1 16

993 74 47 1

4 17 33 185

60

10-11 181 17 3 0 0 20

194 66 59 1

8 16 23 182

65

11-12 195 19 9 2 6 23

194 54 67 2

3 20 39 203

64

12-13 198 9 2 0 1 21

096 119 46 2

7 23 30 245

56

13-14 122 11 3 0 2 13

894 72 29 1

0 16 23 150

58

89/90

91/92

93/94

95/96

97/98

99/00

01/02

03/04

05/06

07/08

09/10

11/12

13/14

050100150200250300350

Figure 5Tenure Track Candidates and

Positions Tenure Track Candidates

Academic Year

89/90

91/92

93/94

95/96

97/98

99/00

01/02

03/04

05/06

07/08

09/10

11/12

13/14

0%

Figure 6Percentage Entrepreneurship Candidates Cross Listing By

SpecializationENT OnlyCross BPSCross IMCross OB/HR

Academic Year

The largest number of tenure track positions

(292) occurred in 2005/06 right before the financial

crisis. Those 292 tenure track positions were 92% of

the total positions advertised that year. Since its

peak, the number of tenure track positions has dropped

to 150 in 2013/14. Even worse, the percentage of

total positions that are now tenure track is 58%.

This is the second lowest percentage in the study with

56% being the low point in 2012/13.

The field of entrepreneurship is not immune to

the trend of non tenure track positions at

universities. There may be a few reasons for this

trend. First, the increasing cost structure at

universities. By hiring part-time, adjuncts,

instructors, or visiting professors universities can

reduce their costs. Secondly, there is a trend in

academia to offer fewer and fewer tenure track

positions. It appears that the field of

entrepreneurship is not immune to this. Thirdly, the

field of entrepreneurship is unique in the sense that

an ideal candidate to teach entrepreneurship would be

someone who has been an entrepreneur or is currently

an entrepreneur and has a PhD in Entrepreneurship or a

related discipline that has the ability to produce

traditional academic research. In reality, there are

few faculty with these qualifications; as a result,

schools may try to hire a traditional faculty member

in entrepreneurship and hire a part-time non tenure

track faculty member for the practical side of the

field. Or some schools may just focus on hiring a

practitioner.

In regards to the rank of the advertised tenure

track positions, in 2013/14, there were 72 (48%)

assistant, 29 (19%) associate, 10 (7%) full, 16 (11%)

endowed chair, and 23 (15%) open positions. Over one-

half of the positions were seeking senior level

faculty. Similar to previous studies, there are still

many opportunities for senior level faculty,

especially those that have experience in building

centers and programs.

The largest number of tenure track candidates

(260) occurred in 2008/09. Those 260 tenure track

candidates were 96% of the total candidates advertised

that year. Since its peak, the number of tenure track

candidates has dropped to138 in 2013/14. In 2013/14,

the rank of the advertised candidates was: 122 (88%)

assistant, 11 (8%) associate, 3 (2%) full, 0 (0%)

endowed chair, and 2 (2%) open. In 2013/14, the ratio

of tenure track positions (150) per tenure track

candidates (138) was 1.09.

Table 3: Percentage of Applicants & Positions Cross-

Listed by Field, June, 1989-June, 2014

Table 3 shows the positions and candidates and

their respective areas that they advertise on their

profile. For instance, if Don Kuratko was advertising

for an entrepreneurship only position he would place

that on his profile. If Indiana University was

seeking a candidate with areas in Business Policy,

OB/HR and Technology and Innovation Management, it

would list these in its profile.

Studying this area is vital so the field of

entrepreneurship can examine the trends that are

occurring within the marketplace. The candidates can

then be more proactive and study the appropriate areas

that are needed.

Table 3

Percentage of Applicants & Positions Cross-Listed byField, 1989-June 2014

CANDIDATES POSITIONS

AcademicYear

Entrepreneurship Only

Strategy

International

OB/HR

TIM

Entrepreneurship Only

Strategy

International

OB/HR

TIM

89/90 0% 63% 14% 23

%3% 15% 69% 38% 7% 0

%

90/91 0% 80% 17% 15

%2% 28% 40% 12% 12

%0%

91/92 0% 68% 33% 30

%3% 67% 40% 0% 0% 0

%

92/93 0% 73% 25% 21

%

13%

65% 30% 26% 13%

0%

93/94 0% 73% 30% 16

%

10%

61% 22% 13% 4% 4%

94/95 0% 71% 35% 19

%7% 74% 17% 9% 26

%0%

95/96 3% 65% 32% 28

%8% 35% 21% 15% 18

%3%

96/97 1% 73% 33% 26

%6% 37% 41% 22% 33

%8%

97/98 1% 79% 40% 43

%9% 48% 65% 27% 27

%8%

98/99 0% 74% 35% 15

%

11%

47% 56% 27% 33%

15%

99/00 1% 60% 30% 21

%

16%

24% 37% 15% 18%

14%

00/01 0% 76% 33% 19

%

25%

26% 38% 18% 19%

16%

01/02 3% 80% 28% 16

%

20%

18% 50% 21% 19%

12%

02/0 0% 72% 33% 25 15 25% 48% 16% 17 9

Similar to Finkle (2007; 2010; 2012a; 2012b;

2013a; 2013b), the table is broken down into five

categories: Entrepreneurship only, Strategy,

International, OB/HR (Organizational Behavior/Human

Resources Management), and TIM (Technology and

Innovation Management). Each category has a

percentage, which indicates the percentage of jobs or

candidates in that were listed on that advertisement.

The respective percentages advertised in the

position categories for 2013/14 were: Entrepreneurship

Only (51%), Strategy (25%), International Management

(10%), OB/HR (10%), and Technology and Innovation

Management (5%).

The respective percentages advertised for the

candidate categories for 2013/14 were:

Entrepreneurship Only (5%), Strategy (62%),

International Management (20%), OB/HR (24%), and

Technology and Innovation Management (23%).

This study examined the topics a little more in-

depth than previous studies. In addition to the five

areas above, which were included in Table 3, the

following areas were also examined and tabulated:

Management, Marketing, Business Ethics/Business

Society, Finance, and Accounting. The percentage of

jobs that advertised these areas, which were not

included in Table 3 were: Management (9.7%), Marketing

(8.2%), Business Ethics/Business Society (4.3%),

Finance (2.7%), and Accounting (.4%).

This was also done for candidates. The areas

changed a little: Organzational Theory (16%),

Management (6%), Marketing (0%), Business

Ethics/Business Society (8.2%), Operations (2%), and

Finance (0%).

The data for the jobs indicate the strong need

for applicants with a primary in entrepreneurship.

Strategy was the second most popular area advertised.

CONCLUSION & IMPLICATIONS

This article investigated the

institutionalization of the field of entrepreneurship

by examining the changes in the number, level and

priority of entrepreneurship positions and candidates

from all over the world during the academic years

1989/90 to 2013/14. The results support that the

field of entrepreneurship continues to be

institutionalized as a result of the results below.

During the most recent year, 2013/14, Table 1 showed

that there were 258 advertised tenure track and non

tenure track jobs for entrepreneurship faculty in

Schools of Business and Management all over the world.

During the same time frame, the number of advertised

candidates was 147. The ratio of total jobs per

candidate during 2013/14 was 1.76. This ratio is

favorable to candidates seeking employment, however it

must be noted that these positions included full-time

tenure track, visiting professorships, instructors,

adjuncts or part-time positions.

In 2013/14, the number of candidates (147)

dropped significantly to a level that we have not seen

since 2005/06 and 84% below its peak in 2008/09 (270).

Some possible explanations for this trend may be

related to the economy, commitment and supply versus

demand. There could be a hangover effect from earlier

years where candidates had problems finding tenure

track positions. For example, in 2008/09 there were

almost 100 more tenure track candidates than tenure

track positions (260 versus 165). In 2010/11 and

2011/12 there we another 50 candidates more than

tenure track openings. Furthermore, if we go back

four to five years (The typical amount of time to earn

a Ph.D.), we see that we would have been right in the

middle of the financial crisis. It could be that

potential doctoral students were afraid to make a

long-term commitment due to the global economic

crisis. Related issues may be related to resources

(e.g., leaving their current job, failure to sell

their house during a housing depression, and/or simply

not having the money). Another reason might be that

universities may have reduced the admissions of

doctoral students as doctoral programs can be costly

to run. The same thing can be said for international

candidates in 2013/14 as they dropped to 44 from a

peak of 81 in 2011/12.

Table 1 also examined the desired interest level

of both candidates and schools (e.g., Primary,

Secondary, or Tertiary). In 2013/14 there were 168

schools seeking candidates with a primary area in

entrepreneurship. However, there were only 63

candidates available with a primary area. This is a

ratio of 2.59 primary jobs per primary candidate.

Candidates that are considering a career in

entrepreneurship education should seriously consider

specializing entrepreneurship as their primary area as

65% of all jobs advertised were for candidates with a

primary area. The table also examined international

candidates and jobs. In 2013/14, there were 81

international jobs and 44 international candidates.

The ratio of international jobs to international

candidates was 1.84. The numbers indicate that there

are strong opportunities for candidates seeking

entrepreneurship positions.

Table 2 was broken down into tenure track

faculty seeking tenure track positions. The table also

breaks down the tenure track candidates and positions

as advertised by academic rank. In 2013/14 there were

150 tenure track positions available or 58% of the

total number of advertised positions in

entrepreneurship. This is the second lowest percentage

of tenure track jobs since 1989. The rank of the

advertised tenure track positions was: 72 (48%)

assistant, 29 (19%) associate, 10 (7%) full, 16 (11%)

endowed chair, and 23 (15%) open. Fifty-two percent of

the tenure track jobs were for senior faculty

positions. This is evidence that there are ample

opportunities for senior, experienced faculty in the

field to move.

The number of tenure track candidates was 138 in

2013/14. The advertised rank of the candidates was:

122 (88%) assistant, 11 (8%) associate, 3 (2%) full, 0

(0%) endowed chair, and 2 (2%) open. In 2013/14, the

overall ratio of tenure track positions (150) versus

tenure track candidates (138) was 1.09. Similar to

the findings of Finkle (2010; 2012; 2013), senior

positions continue to be in high demand. Recruiting

experienced faculty can bring instant credibility and

brand name recognition to entrepreneurship programs.

This can enhance the ranking of the university.

The final table, Table 3, shows the positions and

candidates and their respective areas that they

advertise on their profile. The table is broken down

into five categories: Entrepreneurship only, Strategy,

International, OB/HR (Organizational Behavior/Human

Resources Management), and TIM (Technology and

Innovation Management). Each category has a

percentage, which indicates the percentage of jobs or

candidates in that were listed on that advertisement.

The respective percentages advertised in the position

categories for 2013/14 were: Entrepreneurship Only

(51%), Strategy (25%), International Management (10%),

OB/HR (10%), and Technology and Innovation Management

(5%). The respective percentages advertised for the

candidate categories for 2013/14 were:

Entrepreneurship Only (5%), Strategy (62%),

International Management (20%), OB/HR (24%), and

Technology and Innovation Management (23%).

As stated in the results section, this study also

tabulated additional areas in addition to the

traditional five. The following areas were also

tabulated even though they were not included in the

table for 2013/14: Management, Marketing, Business

Ethics/Business Society, Finance, and Accounting. The

percentage of jobs that advertised these areas were:

Management (9.7%), Marketing (8.2%), Business

Ethics/Business Society (4.3%), Finance (2.7%), and

Accounting (.4%). I also did the same thing for

candidates, although the areas were slightly

different: Organzational Theory (16%), Management

(6%), Marketing (0%), Business Ethics/Business Society

(8.2%), Operations (2%), and Finance (0%).

An overview of the data continues to support the

strong notion of a need for faculty with a primary

area in entrepreneurship. Strategy continues to be

ranked as the second most advertised position with

International and OB/HR tied for third. Management

and Marketing both outranked Technology and Innovation

Management.

LIMITATIONS

There are a few limitations that need to be

pointed out. First, just because a school advertises

a position does not mean that they actually hire a

candidate. There may be a few reasons why they decide

not to hire a candidate such as the inability to find

a qualified applicant or their budget for the position

has been taken away. As a result, a job opportunity

may overlap from one year to the next. Another

limitation is that I may not have captured all of the

candidates and positions. There may be some sites

that I am not aware of that advertise positions and/or

candidates. Therefore, I cannot say with 100%

certainty that I have captured everything happening in

the job market.

FUTURE RESEARCH

Future research can investigate a number of areas

that will be beneficial to future candidates seeking

employment at universities. For example, average

salaries for entrepreneurship faculty at level (Full,

Associate, Assistant, and Lecturer), type of school

(Public versus Private), and sex (Male versus Female).

These figures are not necessarily readably available

to candidates unless they have access to AACSB data.

Once this data is collected then we compare the

salaries to the other business areas to see if the

field has become legitimized within Schools of

Business and Management.

Research also needs to go into more depth into

the current profiles of candidates and track them over

the long-term. A longitudinal study following

candidates will be critical to examine whether or not

entrepreneurship is becoming institutionalized within

Schools of Business and Management. Are these

candidates actually getting tenure track positions in

entrepreneurship? And if so, are they earning tenure?

Finkle, Stetz, and Mallin (2007) examined the research

records and perceptions of tenure requirements of 108

faculty members who taught entrepreneurship and earned

tenure between 1964 and 2002. However, there is still

a lack of research on recent decisions and the

respective faculty records.

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