Nandram, Sharda S. Born, Maryse Ph. Samsom, Karel J. (Nyenrode Business Universiteit)
Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between entrepreneurial attributes and life stages of entrepreneurs and enterprises in a sample of 276 entrepreneurs. Findings revealed that most attributes remained constant across the life stages of the enterprises. Yet, as was expected, flexibility and awareness of opportunities became less characteristic as the enterprise moved from the start-up stage through its entrepreneurial and maturity stage. The attributes achievement orientation, assertiveness, awareness of opportunity and integrity became less characteristic across the life stages of the entrepreneur. The results are in contrast with the findings of the maturity model of personality development (Roberts, Robin 2004) but confirm organizational and vocational choice models (Schneider, Goldstein, and Smith 1995). A self-selection principle is probably at work: individuals who score very high on entrepreneurial attributes are attracted to this vocation but over their lifetime the scores on these attributes converge to more average levels
Download Info
To download:
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the
proper application to
view it first. Information about this may be contained
in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read
the IDEAS help
page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS
site. Please be patient as the files may be large.