A Comparison of Business Success versus Failure Variables between U.S. and Central Eastern Europe Croatian Entrepreneurs

Abstract

In this study, 15 success versus failure variables were tested for differences between U.S. and Central Eastern Europe Croatian (CEEC) entrepreneurs. Nine of the values were significantly different at the .05 level and two at the .10 level (73%). U.S. Entrepreneurs started with greater capital, had more years of management experience, developed more detailed planning, made greater use of professional advice, had more college graduates, sold products with better product life-cycle timing, started their business during better economic times, were older, included more partnerships, and had more parents who owned a business than CEEC entrepreneurs, while CEEC entrepreneurs had an easier time staffing than U.S. entrepreneurs. The Lussier (1995) U.S. success versus failure prediction model was tested using logistic regression (S/F = f staffing, education, use of professional advice, planning) and it was also a significant predictor in CEEC. The findings should help lead to redefining entrepreneurship in CEEC, as many of its countries commonly believe that human resources have little to do with business success and failure. As the view of human resources changes, more resources should be allocated to develop employees.