Abstract/Summary

Theories of technological innovation have often involved how humans adapt to the new technologies as well as what impacts these technologies have on other human activities. However, technological innovation in most cases delivers change that was not anticipated thus evoking arguments of whether entrepreneurial leaders are those driving social change as they seek to remain competitive or whether their technological innovations possess a life of their own. This chapter takes a critical view of this technological dilemma for entrepreneurial innovation and competitiveness. It explores theories of technological determinism, the social shaping of technology, and the social construction of technology as necessary philosophical lenses that we need to re-visit. Consequently, the chapter argues the methodological implications these ontological perspectives pose to entrepreneurship research involving technological innovation and also argues for newer perspectives of approaching the phenomenon.