Reassessing Passion and Perseverance as Dimensions of Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation: A Conceptual and Empirical Investigation into Theory and Measurement

Santos, G., C. S. Marques, and J. J. Ferreira. 2020. “Passion and Perseverance as Two New Dimensions of an Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation Scale.” Journal of Business Research 112: 190–9 proposed a five-dimensional conceptualization of individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO), but more evidence is needed before authors can reliably apply their conceptualization and operationalization. We provide a theoretical critique of their conceptualization and continue their scale development process. Four of five dimensions converged with other scales of the same constructs, but their passion dimension did not. The factor structure and predictive validity evidence also suggested that passion should not be included within the scope of IEO, and we assert that Santos et al.’s conceptualization of IEO is better represented with a hierarchical structure. Proactiveness and perseverance as well as risk-taking and innovativeness load onto two separate second-order factors, and these two second-order factors load onto the broader factor of IEO. We suggest that the construct measured by Santos et al.’s passion dimension may instead be a mediator between IEO and entrepreneurial outcomes, and we provide further insights into the measurement of IEO.