A psychological typology and its relationship to entrepreneurial success

This research indicates that typologies covering multiple types of entrepreneurs are applicable within the realm of entrepreneurial personality. Four such personality types - personal achievers, real managers, expert idea generators, and empathic supersalespeople - are identified, and shown to be related to subsequent entrepreneurial success. The evidence indicates that entrepreneurial talent may be gauged in terms of the number of these patterns present in a given individual. Those with more patterns are more likely to achieve a substantial level of success. These results have implications for anyone whose work touches upon the field of entrepreneurship. This paper is concerned primarily with how the typology was developed and how the relationship of each type to entrepreneurial success was established. The career routes that fit each type (and which must be followed to obtain success) are considered.     

Measuring entrepreneurial quality in southern Europe

The main objective of this paper is working out an empirical methodology to measure the quality of the entrepreneur’s booster function, so that policy makers have an appropriate diagnosis of the qualities of entrepreneurs in their area. In this sense, two essential elements are the construction of an explanatory model, and the establishment of an entrepreneurial typology with respect to quality levels. This methodology is then applied to determine the quality level of entrepreneurs in Seville province (southern Spain), using Partial Least Squares estimation technique on a survey of 278 entrepreneurs from various activity sectors and with firms of different sizes.     

The entrepreneurial motivation in academia: a multidimensional construct

In this paper we propose a model to analyse the motivation of academic entrepreneurs that comprises six dimensions: personal, relating to the entrepreneurial opportunity, to scientific knowledge, to the availability of resources, to the incubator organization, and to the social environment. The model is tested based on information from a survey administered to 152 Spanish academic entrepreneurs. Our results show that entrepreneurial opportunity is not part of the entrepreneurial motivation, but is of the utmost importance to academic entrepreneurs. Also, we find the scientific knowledge is the main driver of entrepreneurial activity in the academia.     

Student clubs: experiences in entrepreneurial learning

Student-led clubs that seek to enhance entrepreneurial learning can be found in many universities. Yet, like many areas of extra-curricular activity in entrepreneurship education, their role in supporting learning has not been researched widely. The paper introduces research that addresses this gap and investigates the nature of the learning process student's encounter when they take part in clubs. The study explores the literature on entrepreneurial learning; it examines the different concepts and considers their contribution to understanding student learning experiences. From the literature, a conceptual framework is presented, highlighting the key aspects of entrepreneurial learning relevant for the field research. The methodology is introduced, including a series of qualitative studies and a survey of students. The study focuses on two types of student-led clubs ‘entrepreneurship clubs’ and ‘Enactus clubs’ and provides a comparative analysis. The findings reported show a range of student learning benefits that simulate important aspects of entrepreneurial learning, such as learning by doing, learning through mistakes and learning from entrepreneurs. More nuanced findings are also presented showing differences in learning benefits between club forms and heighten benefits for students taking leadership roles. Ultimately, the paper contributes to research in entrepreneurship by illustrating how student clubs support entrepreneurial learning.     

Entrepreneurial alertness and business model innovation: the role of entrepreneurial learning and risk perception

Although business model innovation has received increasing attention in recent years, there are gaps in existing literature concerning why innovation occurs. Drawing on the intentions model and knowledge-based view, this study explores the relationship between entrepreneurial alertness and business model innovation, proposing a moderated mediation framework to handle the questions of why some entrepreneurs achieve business model innovation successfully while others do not. Based on a dataset of 150 firms in northwest China, this study finds that (1) entrepreneurial alertness facilitates business model innovation; (2) explorative learning and exploitative learning mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial alertness and business model innovation; and (3) risk perception moderates the mediating effects of different types of learning and then affects the relationship between entrepreneurial alertness and business model innovation. Specifically, with the increase of risk perception, the mediating role through explorative learning is weakened, while the mediating effect through exploitative learning is enhanced.

     

Influence of social network structure on entrepreneurship participation—A study of 20 national cultures

By investigating differences in social networks among entrepreneurs in 20 cultures, this paper contributes to the debate on whether there is universality in the process of entrepreneurial networking. Representative samples of entrepreneurs were identified in the same manner in 20 countries from 2000 to 2004 (N = 304,560). The sampling methodologies and the questions asked were similar across all countries. Logistic regression was used to test for significant regional interaction effects involving personally knowing an entrepreneur. Results are contrary to the existence of any mono-dimensional form of networking practice but do strongly support the existence of both variform universality (culture moderates the importance of networking) and functional universality (cultural similarities in networking practice exist).     

Resources and bridging: the role of spatial context in rural entrepreneurship

This article contributes to the emerging discussion on the role of context in entrepreneurship as well as the development of theorizing on rural entrepreneurship. It does so by exploring the role of spatial context for rural entrepreneurs. Through a case study of 28 ventures, two modes of spatializing rural entrepreneurial activities are identified in the form of resource endowments and spatial bridging. Additionally, we develop a typology of rural entrepreneurs, which captures hitherto unexplored heterogeneity within this group of entrepreneurs. Spatial context is found to be of considerable significance to the rural entrepreneurial process and hence this study contributes to a micro-level understanding of place-specific entrepreneurial practices and the non-local circulation of value that can enrich local economies.     

A theory of entrepreneurial learning from performance errors

This paper develops a theory of entrepreneurial learning from performance errors. The paper explains how entrepreneurs generate outcomes, and based on these, detect and correct errors in their own knowledge about the activities involved in creating and operating a new venture. The model developed in this paper reflects the major cognitive functions leading to outcome generation, error detection and error correction. We draw testable propositions about the effects of entrepreneurs’ domain-specific knowledge and cognitive ability on each stage of the learning process, which ultimately determine how much the entrepreneurs can learn from a given performance error.     

Humanistic entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial career commitment

Although the crucial role of entrepreneurs in the process of establishing firms is common knowledge in SME research, a major theoretical problem has been how to combine theories of ‘persons’ (entrepreneurs) with theories of ‘organizations’ (firms).

In this study I suggest that what is missing is a dynamic or processual approach to the study of entrepreneurs. Just as organizations change during their development, so do persons. In order to understand how in particular new firms come about, we should look more closely into the dynamics of personal change that lead certain individuals to commit themselves to entrepreneurial careers.

A study of humanistic entrepreneurs in Denmark indicates that the process of becoming an entrepreneur can be seen as a particular kind of career commitment. The emergence of such career commitments is analysed. Different patterns of entrepreneurial career commitments are presented and explained in terms of both structural conditions and biographical self–narratives.     

The contribution of yoga to the entrepreneurial potential of university students: a SEM approach

The literature suggests that all entrepreneurs share certain psychological and cognitive characteristics. Yoga is currently experiencing a surge in popularity due to both the physical and psychological benefits gained by yogi (practitioners of yoga). Irrespective of its more philosophical dimension, changes attributable to yoga have been identified in individuals’ psychological and behavioural patterns. It is in this context that this study analyses the characteristics associated both with entrepreneurs and yogis, seeking to specifically understand the respective personal attributes or the psychological and cognitive predispositions of both groups. The results of this study demonstrate that students who do engage in yoga show a propensity towards or strengthening of the psychological and cognitive attributes that are commonly associated with an entrepreneurial profile. Thus the study suggests that if entrepreneurial behaviour is a priority, then yoga should be integrated as a compulsory subject into general education from the primary school onwards.     

Explaining nation-wide differences in entrepreneurial activity: a legitimacy perspective

The present study applies the lens of Institutional Theory to analyze the impact of a country’s entrepreneurial legitimacy on its entrepreneurial activity as well as on entrepreneurs’ access to financing. By creating a structural equation model of entrepreneurship in innovation-driven countries, the authors show that countries with greater entrepreneurial legitimacy have more entrepreneurial activity. The model was tested over a 5-year period, from 2009 to 2013. Results suggest that innovation-driven countries with more entrepreneurial legitimacy obtain greater rates of entrepreneurial activity. Further distinguishing among legitimacy types, cognitive legitimacy is shown to exert a stronger influence than regulative or normative legitimacy. The model also confirms a positive relationship between a country’s entrepreneurial legitimacy and access to financing. This occurs principally through regulative legitimacy. This study enlarges our knowledge of the existing differences in entrepreneurial activity among countries. It contributes to the literature on the country-level determinants of entrepreneurship, such as institutional conditions or financial access.     

Leveraging entrepreneurial ecosystems as human resource systems: A theory of meta-organizational human resource management

Entrepreneurs require human resources to establish and scale their ventures; however, constraints often prevent entrepreneurs from investing in formal human resource systems. How entrepreneurs overcome human resource challenges by leveraging their entrepreneurial ecosystems as informal inter-organizational talent management systems has been overlooked by scholars. We propose a model of entrepreneurial ecosystem human resource management, theorizing that ecosystem participants collectively perform the human resource management function for entrepreneurship communities. Drawing from economic rents theory, we explain how entrepreneurial ecosystems encourage a form of meta-organizational human resource management that allows ecosystem participants to coordinate talent acquisition, learning and development, performance management and rewards, and retention. Coordinated entrepreneurial ecosystems improve entrepreneurial performance by sourcing talent, onboarding selected members, enculturating ecosystem values, developing entrepreneurial skills, and retaining human resources, which in turn generates rents. We discuss how our theory catalyzes research at the HR and entrepreneurial ecosystems interface and reveals insights for practitioners.     

Understanding relational qualities of entrepreneurial learning: Towards a multi-layered approach

The aim of this paper is to present a multi-layered relational framework of entrepreneurial learning by embedding the conceptual tools of a continental thinker, Pierre Bourdieu, in a social constructionist paradigmatic approach. Through a longitudinal study based on participant observation and in-depth qualitative interviews, entrepreneurial learning processes of five nascent entrepreneurs who have formed a venture team have been examined as a case study. Relational qualities of entrepreneurial learning can be illuminated by exploring dispositions and different forms of capital that nascent entrepreneurs hold at the micro-individual level, which are inextricably linked to the meso-relational level of developing an entrepreneurial habitus as they navigate through the process of business venturing. Such a multi-layered conceptualisation of entrepreneurial learning transcends individual-, team-, firm- and network-level analyses of the subject by generating insights from both micro- and meso-layers.     

Exploring the role of FDI in enhancing the entrepreneurial activity in Europe: a panel data analysis

This paper explores the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the entrepreneurial activity in 16 European countries. By using Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) data, which enables the distinction necessity-driven vs. opportunity-driven entrepreneurs, we assess the influence of both inward and outward FDI on the entrepreneurial activity during the time span 2005–2012. We resort to a static, as well as to a dynamic panel data analysis. Our findings highlight the fact that the FDI has no clear influence on the total entrepreneurial activity, or on the established business ownership rate. Nevertheless, our results clearly state that both inward and outward FDI positively influences the necessity-driven entrepreneurs, while having a negative impact on the opportunity-driven entrepreneurs. The results prove to be robust regarding the use of a fixed and random effects panel model, two stages least square (2SLS) model, as well as the use of a system-Generalized Method of Moments (system-GMM) approach.     

Reconceptualizing entrepreneurial framework conditions

This report is an empirical examination of entrepreneurial framework conditions—the environmental conditions that encourage and support entrepreneurial activity at the national level. In particular, it attempts to validate the framework conditions employed in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), a multi-year, multinational study of entrepreneurial activity widely used in entrepreneurship research. The validity of the GEM entrepreneurial framework conditions is examined using empirical analysis of data drawn from Global Competitiveness Report measures for 53 countries over 4 years. The data suggest an alternative conceptualization of entrepreneurial framework conditions: commercial munificence, technology openness, regulatory openness, and technology influx. These findings have implications for theorists and policy makers interested in antecedents to entrepreneurially based economic growth.     

Effective entrepreneurial narrative design in reward crowdfunding campaigns for social ventures

One of the most important challenges for social venture entrepreneurs is acquiring resources. Reward crowdfunding is considered a suitable tool for meeting the financing needs of social ventures, whose backers are particularly interested in firm ideas and core values rather than in collaterals or business plans. A strategic factor that is able to influence the outcome of crowdfunding campaigns is the entrepreneurial narrative. Very few scholars have examined the key factors that support a crowdfunding campaign, particularly those on reward-based crowdfunding platforms, and the effects of entrepreneurial narratives on investors’ decisions. Aiming to fill this research gap, this paper investigates how entrepreneurs in the technology industry describe their social ventures and projects on Eppela, an Italian reward-based crowdfunding platform. Thematic analysis was applied to detect the five following key factors of effective entrepreneurial narratives in reward-based crowdfunding campaigns for social ventures: 1) problem/need; 2) project; 3) product; 4) team; and 5) venture. Each key factor includes specific subfactors. Lexical data analysis was then performed to identify the following expected effects of the examined entrepreneurial narratives on potential investors, leading these investors to understand, trust, and approve the project proposal, and thus, finance the social venture’s project: 1) reassurance, 2) reliability, and 3) credibility. Based on these results, this study proposes an explanatory model about how to design effective entrepreneurial narratives to be presented to contribute as much as possible to the success of projects in crowdfunding platforms.

     

Core entrepreneurial competencies and their interdependencies: insights from a study of Irish and Iranian entrepreneurs,university students and academics

The purpose of this paper is to advance our understanding of core entrepreneurial competencies and their interdependencies. Developing entrepreneurial competencies is increasingly seen as important to foster entrepreneurship. Studies to date have highlighted different entrepreneurial competencies in the context of different sectors, regions and countries. However, there has been a lack of consensus in relation to the perceived relative importance of core entrepreneurial competences and their interdependencies among students, academic and entrepreneurs. Our paper focuses on two key questions: first, what are the core entrepreneurial competencies that need to be developed in educational contexts? Second, what are the interdependencies between these entrepreneurial competencies that need to be developed in educational contexts? Using a collective intelligence methodology a comparative study of Iran and Ireland was undertaken that involved three stakeholder groups of students, academics and entrepreneurs. This methodology was used to identify, rank, and structure entrepreneurial competencies considered important for university students. The results of the study indicated that productive thinking, motivation, interpersonal skills and leadership are core entrepreneurial competences that need to be developed in educational contexts. Findings also highlight critical interdependencies between entrepreneurial competencies and the relative influence of different competencies across groups and regions. We outline the implications of our findings for designing a curriculum for improving students’ entrepreneurial competencies.     

The impact of a necessity-based start-up on subsequent entrepreneurial satisfaction

Necessity entrepreneurship has been much debated in research and policy. This paper examines the impact of necessity as a start-up motive on subsequent entrepreneurial satisfaction. Empirically, the paper is based on a sample of 777 recently established Finnish micro enterprises. The results show that necessity entrepreneurs are somewhat more likely to want to switch back to paid employment later in their entrepreneurial careers. However, if the individual earns a satisfactory livelihood through self-employment, the negative effect of a necessity-based start-up on subsequent entrepreneurial satisfaction diminishes. Training in business skills that helps necessity entrepreneurs to run an economically viable business might thus increase their satisfaction with being self-employed.     

Individual-level antecedents of the entrepreneurial approach: the role of different types of passion in the Italian craft brewing industry

Using an inductive, qualitative approach involving fifty-five entrepreneurs in the Italian craft brew industry we explore the relationship between alternative entrepreneurial logics of action based on effectuation and causation principles and two types of passion – respectively, passion for the product and passion for growth. Our findings suggest entrepreneurs led by a passion for product prioritize decisions made according to the principles of effectuation, while those led by a passion for growth rely predominantly on causal logic. Moreover, such relations do impact the direction pursued by their ventures favouring, in turn, homogenous and heterogeneous strategies. Important practical and theoretical implications to both effectuation theory and passion are drawn from our findings, and possible avenues for future research are depicted.

     

The impact of national culture and type of entrepreneurs on outsourcing

In this paper, we seek to address two important questions. First, why do companies outsource to countries with intensive entrepreneurial activities? Second, we examine the relationship between entrepreneurs and outsourcing success. We argue that national cultures determine the types of entrepreneurs that are more common in a country. We contend that the type of entrepreneurs, promoters versus trustees, influences outsourcing success. Specifically, we propose that promoters tend to outsource more and find an exit strategy faster, but are also more likely to select the wrong vendor than trustees.