Towards an empirical methodology for the measurement of the quality entrepreneur: the case of sevillian entrepreneurs

Since the process of globalization increased its importance during the nineties, the entrepreneur's role in regional economic development is considered essential. This economic agents, besides their financial and entrepreneurial functions, carry out a 'booster' function that is manifested in the adoption of a series of strategic decisions (new investment projects, innovation in new products and processes, technological and marketing cooperation ...). The quality in the performance of these booster tasks, which depends basically on the psychological and sociological characteristics of entrepreneurs, is essential to increase the competitiveness of the regional economy and, through it, the employment and well-being levels. Local development policies have been implementing since the early eighties a wide variety of measures to promote entrepreneurship, without sufficiently favourable results. Those measures have tended to address the entrepreneur's financial and managerial functions, and not the booster one, which is where the entrepreneurial spirit lies. In this sense, the authorities -if they are to improve that entrepreneurial spirit with measures that raise the quality of the booster function- should previously have an appropriate diagnosis on the qualities of entrepreneurs in the area. The main objective of this paper is to elaborate an empiric methodology that allows measuring the quality of the entrepreneur's booster function. That is to say, it tries to establish the stages and instruments that are critical to globally value the qualities of entrepreneurs in a given region. Among the instruments, it is essential the elaboration of an index of entrepreneurial quality starting from partial indicators of several qualities. And among the stages, it is highlighted the possibility to establish an entrepreneurial typology with respect to quality levels, and a profile of each type of entrepreneur. As an example, this methodology is applied to determine the quality level of Sevillian (southern Spain) entrepreneurs, thus showing its validity

Skill and value perceptions: how do they affect entrepreneurial intentions?

This paper starts from Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior to test the role of different perceptions on the individual’s intention to become an entrepreneur. Support has most often been found for this theory in the field of entrepreneurship. However, little is yet known about the way in which perceptions are formed. It may be argued that social values regarding entrepreneurship, and also personal skill perceptions, would both affect entrepreneurial intentions. Our objective, therefore, is testing the existence and reach of both effects. Empirical analysis has been carried out on a sample of 249 university students. Structural equations models have been used to test our hypotheses. Results generally confirm them, since values and skills do play a significant role in explaining intention. However, the role of perceived skills seems to be more relevant. Implications may be derived in several areas, and especially regarding entrepreneurship educatio

Considering business start-up in recession time. The role of risk perception and economic context in shaping the entrepreneurial intent

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine under-researched psychological and environmental factors related to entrepreneurial motivation and intention. This helps us to explore the links between risk perception (risk as opportunity and risk as threat), economic context (in a recession), entrepreneurial motivation (personal attitudes and perceived behavioral control) and intention for new venture creation. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 619 individuals from two European countries, Spain and Great Britain, is studied. A range of control variables have been considered, including demographics, human/social capital and country effects. Structural equation modeling is used to analyze the relationships among the model constructs. Findings – The structural model broadly holds and adequately fits the data. Entrepreneurial risk perception is strongly linked with entrepreneurial motivation. Entrepreneurial motivation, in turn, is strongly linked with entrepreneurial intention. It suggests, therefore, an indirect effect of risk perception on intentions. Economic context is also linked with risk perception and entrepreneurial intentions. Research limitations/implications – Results from this exploratory study suggest a role of risk perception in establishing the entrepreneurial intention of individuals. Therefore, greater attention should be paid to this element in entrepreneurship education programs. Similarly, perceptions about the economic (recessionary) environment and its relationship with risk perception also have to be taken into account, with the purpose of letting students understand the possibilities that are present in a recessionary situation. Originality/value – This is the first time that perceptions about risk and the economic context are tested within the theory of planned behavio

Testing alternative measures of subjective norms in entrepreneurial intention models

Although the theory of planned behaviour can be applied to entrepreneurship, study outcomes concerning the role of the subjective norm construct vary substantially. Using da ta from ten dissim ilar countries, two critical topics held res ponsible for conflicting outcomes in research on entrepreneurial intention are investigated: 1 measurement issues 2 possible indirect influences betw een the motivational antecedents of intention. On the first topic, structural equations suggest that a simple multi-item subjective-norm measure is better than the frequently-applied product of normative beliefs and motivation to comply. On the second, structural equation modelling reveals that the internal consis tency and explanatory capacity of the constructs is about the same with the original model than with a modified model taking into account the indirect influences of subjective norms on attitudes and on perceived behavioural c ontrol. These results should serve as a guide for future theoretical and empiri cal development, and put existing study outcomes into perspective

A proposed model for the culture`s mode of influence on the entrepreneurial process

Entrepreneurial intention models are well established in the entrepreneurship literature. However, the rate of transformation from intention into action (start-up behaviour) is relatively low, and little is yet known on the factors that contribute to this transformation. In this chapter, we focus on the role of culture in the entrepreneurial process. We identify two components of culture (values and practices), and argue that their mode of influence is different. While cultural values shape personal motivations, attitudes and intentions, cultural practices affect the actual start-up behaviour. The interaction with the economic conditions is also considered. An integrative model for the culture’s mode of influence on the entrepreneurial process is proposed

The future of research on entrepreneurial intentions

Entrepreneurial intention is a rapidly evolving fi eld of research, with a growing number of studies using entre- preneurial intention as a powerful theoretical framework. Some authors, however, are now calling for scholars to rethink the future of research on entrepreneurial intentions. This paper addresses this issue and, on the basis of a number of knowledge gaps in the literature, proposes future directions for researc

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 size