Entrepreneurial Profile Research Articles

How to teach Entrepreneurship: Results of the new teaching methodology in the Course „Creating Innovative Companies” with graduate students

In this paper we described the course “Creating innovative companies” (6 ECTS credits) and the entrepreneurial profile of the students. The course is taught in the fourth year of the Business Administration and Management Degree, at the Faculty of Economics and Business, in the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). We deal with its justification and its place in the degree, skills and objectives, program and content, activities (individual practical work, optional seminars, preparation and presentation of a business plan) and the teaching methodology, which emphasizes autonomous individual and group work, scheduled work sessions (entrepreneurship, entrepreneur, business ideas, business plan), the evaluation criteria and grading. The socio-demographic profile of the students is also presented in terms of gender; age; nationality (with a high representation of foreign students); family background; student entrepreneurial self-perception; desirability, feasibility, and intention of creating a business; and student perception of risk. The questionnaire used is based on models by Shapero (1982), Ajzen (1987) and Krueger (2007). We also presented students’ evaluation of the methodology (preparation of activities, the methodology itself, the usefulness of learning activities, group work) and of the course (usefulness, interest, content, materials, assessment criteria, professors, etc.) and the achieved academic results. The findings will help us improve the adjustment of the methodology used, generating good practices that will result in a more efficient achievement of the course objectives. On the other hand, and more importantly, we would allow for knowing the impact of the training on student entrepreneurial intentions.

Innovation management capabilities in rural and urban knowledge intensive business services: empirical evidence

The purpose of this research involves describing and modelling the innovation management capabilities in effect at knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) firms in addition to identifying the profile of entrepreneurs when classified by location (urban vs. rural) dimensions. Our results show that KIBS innovation capabilities differ according to their location. They also demonstrate that, from the set of dimensions studied, strategy, learning and network were the dimensions that best explained KIBS innovation capabilities by location. Hence, strategy associated factors are the most important with regard to innovation activities ongoing at rural KIBS while the corresponding activities at urban KIBS are driven by factors associated with learning and networking. The study also provides recommendations for entrepreneurs seeking to refine their innovation capabilities.

Typologies of bootstrap financing behavior in small ventures

Bootstrapping behavior in small ventures is examined in this study through a prism of typologies to advance our understanding of entrepreneurial behavior. Based on a survey of 91 entrepreneurs in small ventures and interviews with 10 entrepreneurs, this study develops a taxonomy of strategies for bootstrapping behavior and explores the strategies' constitutive elements and underlying logics. The statistically identified ‘chunks’ of entrepreneurial bootstrap behavior formed a basis for further qualitative exploration and confirmation of a taxonomy of such behavior. The study offers a multifaceted image of bootstrap financing practiced in small ventures by proposing discriminating strategy profiles. By delineating the nature of three entrepreneurial strategy profiles and their underlying logics, and highlighting their effects, the present research contributes to the understanding of how small ventures orient themselves to resource mobilization and gives insights into why entrepreneurs use specific bootstrapping strategies. The taxonomy outlines three bootstrap financing strategies for resource mobilization in small ventures: ‘quick-fix bootstrappers’, which emphasize temporary access to resources and prefer internally oriented activities for such purposes; ‘proactive bootstrappers’, which focus on operational resource issues; and ‘efficient bootstrappers’, which prefer activities that are externally and vertically oriented, up or down in the value creation chain.

Entrepreneurial characteristics among university students: Implications for entrepreneurship education and training in Pakistan

Purpose-This study aims to explore the entrepreneurship profile of the Pakistan university students (Peshawar region) and evaluates their entrepreneurial inclination by making comparison with non-entrepreneurially inclined students. In this study the entrepreneurial profile of the students is constituted by six traits namely need for achievement, innovativeness, locus of control, risk taking propensity, tolerance for ambiguity, self-confidence. A random sample of master students (n = 137) from two Peshawar universities was adopted for the study. A question “what are you planning to do after completion of your studies” was asked the students to differentiate entrepreneurially inclined students from non-inclined. Respondents with answers that “I am planning to start my own business” were taken as potential entrepreneurs. Then the entrepreneurial characteristics of these students were subjected to comparative analysis with other students who do not plan to start their own business. A 31 item questionnaire is used with questions related to the student’s entrepreneurial inclination and six entrepreneurial traits with Likert type items. The results of t-test showed that except for tolerance for ambiguity and self-confidence all entrepreneurial traits are found to be higher in entrepreneurially inclined students as compared to non-inclined students. It means these students rated higher score on five traits except the one. This study is restricted only to the master students only, and the percentage of the entrepreneurially inclined students is low (27 per cent). Also, only the study restricted to two universities, could be conducted on a wider basis. This study probes entrepreneurial characteristic providing a clear understanding of entrepreneurial education, as to which entrepreneurial characteristics can be developed to produce good entrepreneurs. Key words: Entrepreneurship, students, education, Pakistan.

Footloose and fancy-free: sojourning entrepreneurs in China

Purpose – At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the paper is witnessing a new phenomenon of international entrepreneurship; skilled entrepreneurs from developed countries are temporarily moving to emerging economies in order to pursue business opportunities. While anecdotal evidence exists, very little theoretical development has taken place so far to explain to this phenomenon. The paper presents two short cases based on such anecdotal evidence. These cases form the basis for the development of a conceptual framework which entails a profile of entrepreneurs who have the ability to establish and operate new business ventures in an emerging economy which is characterized by a high psychic distance. Design/methodology/approach – Using Siu's work on immigrant laborers, the paper suggests that skilled, professional entrepreneurs from Israel, who seek business opportunities in China, have a profile that differs from typical immigrant entrepreneurs described in literature and is closer to the immigrant laborers described by Siu and the paper suggests therefore naming them “sojourning entrepreneurs”. Findings – These entrepreneurs have the ability to overcome liability of foreignness, without integrating in the host society, and without becoming part of the local culture and the ability to engage both networks in the home country and in the host country to further the entrepreneurial venture in the host country. The paper poses that these foreign entrepreneurs will be more successful in China when using strategic alliances and that they will be more successful if they are able to leverage their foreignness temporarily and become liaisons and mediators between agents in the home and in the host country. Originality/value – If, as posed, these entrepreneurs will indeed be more successful in China when using alliances rather than WOFEs and if their unique capabilities enable them to become liaisons and mediators, this line of research can lead to guidelines for such entrepreneurs as well as for the Chinese Government. The paper expects that in the Chinese century, more entrepreneurs will be footloose and fancy-free and exploit opportunities in globally emerging markets and they will be in need of guidelines based on empirical research.

Level of Management Practices of Micro and Small Businesses in Ilocos Norte

This research work determined the similarities and differences of the management practices and entrepreneurial competencies of micro business and small business owners in Ilocos Norte. This study focused on the similarities and differences of the management practices of micro business and small business owners in the Province of Ilocos Norte. It looked into the entrepreneur profile such as personal characteristics, entrepreneurs’ competencies and on the organizational profile and management practices. The respondents consisted of two groups; a sample of business owners coming from the different municipalities namely Badoc, Burgos, Bacarra, Pasuquin, Bangui, Pinili, Piddig, Solsona, Currimao, Batac, Banna, Marcos, Paoay, Sarrat, Pagudpod, Dingras, San Nicolas and Laoag City and sample of employees of these business owners. The respondent businesses were limited to those who have been existing for five years and more because they are already established and successful businesses considering their number of years of existence. Questionnaires were constructed by the researcher to determine the level of management practices and for the level of skills and competencies, questionnaire was adapted to the PECs Questionnaire of McClleland and Mcber. The micro-businesses and small business owners in Ilocos Norte is relatively young dominated by college graduate and married women. Most of them have not attended seminars and trainings and are not members of professional organizations. The small business owners, on the other hand, are also relatively young, dominated by college graduate and married men. They have attended seminars and trainings and are members of professional organizations. Majority of the micro-businesses in Ilocos Norte have existed for less than 5 years engaged in retailing and are sole proprietor. Majority of the micro-businesses in Ilocos Norte started with less than P 500,000.00 as initial capital from their savings and hired 1-2 employees who are usually family members. Lastly, they are averaging below P 150,000 annual sales. On the other hand, small businesses in Ilocos Norte have existed for at least five years and are engaged in retailing and are sole proprietors. Majority of them have at least 10 employees. Micro business and small business owners have the capability to handle and manage businesses as revealed by their level in the personal entrepreneurial competencies survey. Micro-entrepreneurs of Ilocos

The Path Travelled from Thinking to Perception

Both academics and practitioners recognize the importance of certain variables such as organizational culture, a company’s size and age or the entrepreneur's profile in explaining the success of a new company’s service. However, it remains unclear if there is a direct and significant relationship, especially when the entrepreneur uses different indicators for measuring the performance of a new released service. (1) objective indicators, -such as financial-, or (2) subjective indicators, -based on entrepreneur's judgements, preferences and expectations-. The analysis of a sample of 354 Spanish SMEs belonging to the service sector that have developed new services in the last two years confirms that the importance and significance of these variables vary according to the type of indicator used.

Credit-rationing and entrepreneurial experience: Evidence from a resource deficit context

This study explores the following novel research question: Do attributes relating to the resources and signals of lead entrepreneurs, particularly prior business ownership experience quality signals, reduce the probability that entrepreneurs will be chronic credit-rationed entrepreneurs in a developing economy context with resource deficiencies? Guided by insights from signalling, resource-based view of the firm and human capital theory, profiles of credit-rationed entrepreneurs (i.e. debt finance obtained but below the amount requested) are highlighted. The length of the debt finance gap was considered with regard to temporary (over one year), major (over two years) and chronic (over three years) finance gaps. We find support for our hypotheses relating to entrepreneurs whose firms are more innovative being more likely to be chronically credit-rationed, whilst firms with partners, entrepreneurs with longer prior business ownership experience and habitual entrepreneurs are less likely to be credit-rationed. The interaction with serial or portfolio entrepreneur reduces the chronic credit-rationing problem faced by innovative firms. A case for developing linkages between inexperienced novice entrepreneurs and habitual entrepreneurs, particularly successful portfolio entrepreneurs, is made. Notably, we suggest that building upon the experienced entrepreneurs who do exist may be particularly beneficial in resource deficit contexts such as Ghana

Characteristics of Entrepreneurs and the Practice of Islamic Values in Influencing the Success of Small Medium Enterprises in Kelantan and Selangor

Although many studies have been done in connection to the entrepreneurial characteristics, they only described the profile of entrepreneurship through the listing of characteristics and factors affecting the success of entrepreneurs. However, in this study, the researchers aim to identify the positive features and their relationship with the success of entrepreneurs in Kelantan and Selangor in terms of Islamic values practice.The study was conducted on 200 respondents in Kelantan and Selangor. Through correlation analysis, the characteristics were observed to have significant relationship with the success of small entrepreneurs. All key variables have significant relationship with the entrepreneurs’ success excluding the type of product and education. The multiple regression analysis showed that the characteristics of small entrepreneurs have a positive influence on success. The results also showed that the interaction of characteristics of entrepreneurs with the Islamic values have positive correlation with success.

In Pursuit of Corporate Entrepreneurship: How Employees Perceive the Role of Formalization and Centralization

Corporate entrepreneurship is one of the key strategies of today’s organizations in search of acquiring and sustaining competitive advantage in the global markets. Although many companies claim that entrepreneurial spirit is an inherent part of their organizational cultures, it is not common to see organizations gained competitive edge through solid corporate entrepreneurship strategies. Among many other organizational antecedents and oxymorons that have impact on the entrepreneurial profiles of the organizations, formalization and centralization stand out among other variables as key characteristics of the organizational structures. This study aims to analyze the relationship between corporate entrepreneurship, formalization and centralization. The findings of this study indicate that centralization and formalization have impact on the entrepreneurial behaviors within the companies. A sample of 273 surveys was collected from three leading companies operating in the ceramics industry.

Entrepreneurial and innovative competences, are they the same?

PurposeThis paper aims to study competencies between two groups of professionals: employees in innovative companies and entrepreneurs. Therefore the following questions arise: Are these two types of competences the same? Do innovative companies demand an entrepreneurial profile? Are entrepreneurs' companies spontaneously innovative?Design/methodology/approachThis paper analyses personal competences in two different groups of professionals. On one hand the authors work the common characteristics among successful entrepreneurs; on the other, they study the competences that innovative companies demand of their employees. The authors study if there is an overlap between both types of competences, considering that the areas in common may represent a training opportunity for both the entrepreneurs and organizations seeking innovation.FindingsThe authors find that innovative organizations value six characteristics in their employees, which are related to entrepreneurs' characteristics and describe individuals within the organization that are able to work in teams, are committed to their work, seek information and new opportunities, and are able to take risks in innovative ventures. However, there are characteristics that entrepreneurs have and that organizations that want to be innovative are not seeking. If employees had these characteristics, they would allow them to be persistent despite difficulties. Finally, the authors find that there is a competence that innovative organizations need but entrepreneurs may not have, which is having previous experience in the field.Originality/valueThe paper shows that the individual competencies that characterize the entrepreneur are also found in innovative organizations.

The Influence of Gender and Education-Related Variables on Career Development: The Case of Portuguese and Brazilian Tourism Graduates

This study examines the influence of higher education-related variables on the career paths of tourism graduates in Portugal and Brazil, while taking into account gender differences. It analyzes whether the geographical location of the educational institution, the educational subsystem, and the level of academic degree influence the graduate outcomes of Portuguese and Brazilian tourism graduates in terms of employment rates, salary levels, and entrepreneurial profile. Data provide empirical evidence that pursuing a tourism postgraduate degree provides access to better conditions in the labor market and attenuates gender inequalities. In addition, the geographical location and the educational subsystem are important factors to consider when selecting a Portuguese higher institution in the tourism field.

Measuring entrepreneurship at the country level: A review and research agenda

The measurement of entrepreneurial activity across national contexts is a relatively recent and under-represented area of study. There was very little research carried out for comparable indicators of entrepreneurship until the end of the 1990s, when the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Consortium launched its annual surveys. In the last decade, other indexes and databases have been created, such as the EIM COMPENDIA database and the World Bank Group Entrepreneurship Survey dataset. The first objective of this paper is to review and analyse the existing entrepreneurship indexes with respect to their conceptual and methodological dimensions. This review shows that the conceptual foundations of most of the indexes are insufficiently developed. The second objective is to integrate and compare the indexes on 21 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries for which complete data is available. Strong convergence was found between the indicators of venture creation, business ownership and growth, while noticeable divergences were observed between these indicators and those concerning innovation. This was further explored through cluster analysis, which indicated that the 21 sampled countries could be classified into three distinct entrepreneurial profiles. The paper concludes by offering research directions and debating the use of unitary or composite measures of entrepreneurship in comparison to the analysis of multiple dimensions as exemplified in this paper.

Business and Social Profiles of Immigrant-Owned Small Firms: The Case of Pakistani Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Greece

This study examines Pakistani immigrant entrepreneurs in Greece in order to identify patterns of ethnic entrepreneurship and socio-economic challenges faced by ethnic entrepreneurs. The research aims to enhance understanding of the characteristics and business profiles of Pakistani immigrant entrepreneurs in Greece's capital, Athens, and make recommendations for the development of a follow-up three-year longitudinal study of Pakistani immigrant businesses in Athens. A survey administered to 13 Pakistani immigrant entrepreneurs recorded a wide range of data from which frequency distributions were processed as well as cross-tabulations and Chi-square tests, to reveal strong associations. Findings of note reveal that Pakistani immigrant entrepreneurs set up enterprises with their own capital rather than turning to the private financial sector, are mostly well-educated despite earlier research noting the opposite, Greece is the terminal migration destination of choice for Pakistani immigrant entrepreneurs, their market-share of work permits is proportionately larger than their residence permit share, they differ from other ethnic groups by substantial preference for operation of call centers, and they are very much bound to their ethnic enclaves. This body of research offers a unique contribution to an area which has until now been largely ignored.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Management of Science Parks: design of a tool based on the analysis of resident companies

The correct management of science parks is strategic for universities, as well as a synergistic effect for companies therein installed. Park managers have to decide, among other things, whether they create new academic spin-offs, invest in technology-based companies, or consolidate start-ups already installed in the park once incubation period is complete. These decisions have a direct impact on the university’s financial capacity. The quality of decisions taken, as well as their associated risk, will depend on the tools available to park managers. Nevertheless, each park has specific characteristics and situations. Hence, managers need to have tools that adapt to the reality of the park, and which, therefore, contemplate: (1) entrepreneurs' profiles; (2) the nature and behavior of the companies installed in the park; as well as (3), the interrelationships which take place between the different players that make up the park. To have information about the current situation of companies in the park will make the decision-making processes easier for managers. Based on these ideas, this paper seeks to design and test a management tool for science parks. In its design, the tool will consider the previously mentioned criteria. Thus, from the observation and analysis of the companies installed in the park, we seek to identify the factors that affect their growth. Meanwhile, the suitability of the tool was tested at the Autonomous University of Barcelona’s Research Park. The analysis of a sample of companies in the park revealed the influence that age, size and type of company financing and the profile of entrepreneurs and their propensity to grow have on the business growth of the companies at the AUB Park. Likewise, we also highlight the usefulness that the tool offers to park managers, as well as its simplicity, flexibility and adaptability for use within the framework of any Science Park model.

How Franchisors Describe Their Ideal Entrepreneurial Franchisee

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><p style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-fareast-font-family: "&#39";">This article has two main objectives:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>first, to identify the various entrepreneurial profiles of the ideal franchisee, as perceived by franchisors, and second, to describe and compare each profile on the basis of system characteristics. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Qualitative research of franchisors </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-fareast-font-family: "&#39";">is </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">coupled with analyses of data collected from 90 franchise systems.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-fareast-font-family: "&#39";"> This procedure offers strong sequential evidence in that the results of the first method inform the second-stage sampling and instrumentation (Greene et al., 1989). Th</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">e study reveals </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-fareast-font-family: "&#39";">three main entrepreneurial profiles of prospective franchisees - system developer, in-store craftsperson, and opportunistic investor. It also establishes that the term of the franchise agreement and the level of system plurality are two factors on which entrepreneurial profiles differ. These results offer strong support for franchisors in their selection strategy of future franchise partners.</span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></strong></span></p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span>

Caractéristiques des entrepreneurs et conception de leurs business plans : le cas des primés au concours du Réseau Entreprendre Paris

Dans cet article, nous proposons une méthode d’évaluation de projets de création d’entreprises fondée sur l’étude de profils d’entrepreneurs et d’équipes de projets, ainsi que sur des facteurs externes. Cette méthode s’appuie sur les théories du capital humain et du capital social afin notamment de permettre l’estimation du degré d’ambition et de réalisme des projets étudiés.Les données utilisées pour la présente étude sont issues des business plans de projets primés au concours du Réseau Entreprendre Paris.

Profiles of Nonprofit Startups and Nonprofit Entrepreneurs

The nonprofit sector has been expanding rapidly, but little attention has been paid to the organizations that comprise the group of new market entrants. In 2010 more than 45,000 new nonprofits incorporated, braving crowded grant markets and grueling periods of organizational adolescence. Some reach revenues over $1 million within a couple of years. We implement a survey of these organizations to understand this group of nonprofit entrepreneurs. What drives them to create? What factors are important for survival and growth in the initial years? What are the obstacles they desire more support in addressing? Do they intend to grow aggressively, steadily, or simply stay about the same size for the time being? We consider the policy and management implications of understanding nonprofit startups and their entrepreneurs and provide a baseline of these organizations’ characteristics as well as those of their founders.

The Profile of Social Entrepreneurs Working for Non-governmental Organizations

When searching for possibilities to solve social problems, social entrepreneurs who should implement social mission by not seeking personal wellbeing play a specific role. The essential aim of social entrepreneurship is creation of social value and public profit by attempting to conform to societal needs and problems in the ways, which do not provide profit either for a person or an organization. Social entrepreneurs perform most of their activities at non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The aim of the article is to answer the following questions: what features are characteristic of a social entrepreneur working for a NGO; what profile of a social entrepreneur working for a NGO is distinguished in real performance; how does the disclosed profile correlate with the theoretical model of a social entrepreneur?DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ss.77.3.2766

A Comparative Study on Entrepreneurial Attitudes Modeled with Logistic Regression and Bayes Nets

Entrepreneurship research is receiving increasing attention in our context, as entrepreneurs are key social agents involved in economic development. We compare the success of the dichotomic logistic regression model and the Bayes simple classifier to predict entrepreneurship, after manipulating the percentage of missing data and the level of categorization in predictors. A sample of undergraduate university students (N = 1230) completed five scales (motivation, attitude towards business creation, obstacles, deficiencies, and training needs) and we found that each of them predicted different aspects of the tendency to business creation. Additionally, our results show that the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is affected by the rate of missing data in both techniques, but logistic regression seems to be more vulnerable when faced with missing data, whereas Bayes nets underperform slightly when categorization has been manipulated. Our study sheds light on the potential entrepreneur profile and we propose to use Bayesian networks as an additional alternative to overcome the weaknesses of logistic regression when missing data are present in applied research.