Entrepreneurial resilience in polycrisis: Adaptation via improvizational action, institutional workarounds, and strategic reconfiguration

Abstract This study examines how entrepreneurs balance between short-term operational continuity and long-term development amid a polycrisis comprising economic volatility, geopolitical disruption, and regulatory instability. Using survey data from 150 entrepreneurs and four case studies, it develops the Integrated Entrepreneurial Resilience and Growth model, which theorizes resilience through three interlinked mechanisms: improvizational action, institutional workarounds, and strategic reconfiguration. Findings reveal that entrepreneurs employ dual temporal strategies, improvising for immediate survival while planning for future growth. Additionally, ecosystem engagement with accelerators, mentors, and investors enhances resilience by providing resources, knowledge, and legitimacy. The study advances a dynamic and embedded understanding of resilience by linking internal adaptive capacities with external institutional support. It bridges dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial ecosystem perspectives to explain how entrepreneurs navigate overlapping crises. The study presents a novel framework for resilience under continuous structural disruptions, offering insights for policymakers and program designers seeking to support entrepreneurship in volatile contexts.