Entrepreneurial Discourse and Innovation: Language, Effectuation, and Public Communication

Abstract

This paper examines the role of language in written public discourse in the construction and communication of innovation by entrepreneurs. How this language can be used to reflect principles of effectual reasoning and be consistent with venture success? The publicly available entrepreneurial texts were analyzed qualitatively using a content analysis, such as founder letters, blog posts, and op-eds by globally renowned entrepreneurs. The analysis shows that entrepreneurs strategically employ metaphors, narrative framing, and visionary language to frame innovations, reduce perceived risk, and inspire confidence in stakeholders through a synthesized approach of discourse analysis and effectuation theory. Effectual logic language, which focuses on the means available, collaborations, and flexible objectives, was always linked to ventures that gained traction in the market and maintained a long-term interest of the population. The results provide practical advice to entrepreneurs, startup consultants, and educators on how language decisions can be used to improve innovation communication and stakeholder alignment. This study fills a gap in the existing literature, providing new knowledge on the discursive processes of linguistic construction of innovation and its connection to effectuation.