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“Who Is an Entrepreneur?†Is the Wrong Question

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  • William B. Gartner

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is the creation of organizations. What differentiates entrepreneurs from non-entrepreneurs is that entrepreneurs create organizations, while non-entrepreneurs do not. In behavioral approaches to the study of entrepreneurship an entrepreneur is seen as a set of activities involved in organization creation, while in trait approaches an entrepreneur is a set of personality traits and characteristics. This paper argues that trait approaches have been unfruitful and that behavioral approaches will be a more productive perspective for future research in entrepreneurship.

Suggested Citation

  • William B. Gartner, 1989. "“Who Is an Entrepreneur?†Is the Wrong Question," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 13(4), pages 47-68, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:13:y:1989:i:4:p:47-68
    DOI: 10.1177/104225878901300406
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cole, Arthur H., 1946. "An Approach to the Study of Entrepreneurship: A Tribute to Edwin F. Gay," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 6(S1), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Cole, Arthur H, 1942. "Entrepreneurship as an Area of Research," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 2(S1), pages 118-126, December.
    3. Cole, Arthur H., 1944. "A Report on Research in Economic History1," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(1), pages 49-72, May.
    4. James H. Stauss, 1944. "The Entrepreneur: The Firm," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 52(2), pages 112-112.
    5. Steinmetz, Lawrence L., 1969. "Critical stages of small business growth : When they occur and how to survive them," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 12(1), pages 29-36, February.
    6. Eugene Gomolka, 1977. "Characteristics of Minority Entrepreneurs and Small Business Enterprises," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 2(1), pages 12-21, July.
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