Entrepreneurial resourcefulness removes barriers to growth – a new book shares stories of building profitable companies despite challenges

The concept of entrepreneurial resourcefulness is not new, yet its relevance has never been greater.

“In today’s rapidly changing world, marked by geopolitical challenges, economic turbulence, technological disruption, and societal challenges, resourcefulness is a dynamic competence that enables individuals and organizations to adapt, innovate, and thrive. It is about more than problem-solving; it is about mobilizing scarce resources, recognizing opportunities, and creating value under conditions where conventional paths may not exist”, professor Matti Muhos from University of Oulu Kerttu Saalasti Institute says.

“Entrepreneurial resourcefulness is reflected in how entrepreneurs recognize and create opportunities, how they act innovatively in exploiting those opportunities, how they adapt to the demands of their environment, how they demonstrate the operational drive to make their business succeed and grow, and how they overcome potential resource constraints standing in the way of their ambitions,” says Emeritus Professor Matti Koiranen from the University of Jyväskylä.

The book features accounts of entrepreneurs who have adapted to resource constraints caused by disability or financial hardship and succeeded in overcoming them through their resourcefulness. It includes biographies of entrepreneurs who rose from poverty to prominent positions, as well as case studies of growth-oriented innovators in the tourism sector. The volume also examines resourcefulness in family businesses and explores how creativity born out of crisis can become a legacy passed down through generations.

These diverse perspectives converge on a shared insight: resourcefulness is often a decisive factor in entrepreneurial success - especially when resources are limited or circumstances are challenging.

Authors of the peer-reviewed volume:
Anita Saarelainen, Entrepreneur and Author, D.Sc. (Econ.)
Bart Henssen, Ph.D. (Econ. & Bus. Admin, and Appl. Econ.), Head of the Centre for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and researcher at Odisee University of Applied Sciences in Belgium
Hannele Rautamäki, Ph.D. (Econ)
Marja Irjala, Ph.D. (Education)
Matti Muhos, Professor, Dr.Sc. (Tech.)
Matti Koiranen, Emeritus Professor, Ph.D. (Econ)

Read the publication:
Matti Muhos ja Matti Koiranen (eds.): Yrittäjämäinen neuvokkuus innovatiivisuuden, adaptiivisuuden ja kasvun lähteenä. (Entrepreneurial Resourcefulness as a Source of Innovation, Adaptability, and Growth). Oulun yliopiston Kerttu Saalasti Instituutin julkaisuja 1/2026 (Publications of the University of Oulu Kerttu Saalasti Institute 1/2026)

Photo: Jozef Fehér, Pexels