Articulating prototypical entrepreneurs in China: Implicit entrepreneurship theory

Abstract

Background: China has witnessed a nation-wide upsurge of entrepreneurship and innovation over the last decade, with a particular emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The value of finding effective ways to identify aspiring talents is equally important as entrepreneurship grows. To advance the entrepreneurship education field, this paper reports on the development and validation of an instrument to measure traits revealed as important by implicit entrepreneurship theory (IET). Methods: Based on a literature review, this article developed and validated an instrument to assess implicit entrepreneurship theory held by individuals in China, using semi-structured interviews and surveys across four studies. Results: The findings suggest that it is feasible to define, assess and report on key characteristics of what is commonly referred to as a "protoyptical entrepreneur" in the Chinese context. Conclusions: The paper discusses a conceptual analysis of key theory, presents insights from four waves of psychometric modeling and validation, and concludes by considering contributions to STEM education, to entrepreneurial practice, and hence to broader socioeconomic development.