ENTREPRENEURIAL PROPENSITY: COMPONENTS AND MEASUREMENTS
Mark
D. Yockey, Washington State University
Jerman W. Rose, Washington State University
Principal Topic
Entrepreneurship researchers have investigated many potential antecedents to new venture creation including psychological, sociological, and environmental variables. Results on individual variables have been inconsistent. To overcome the lack of individual effects, researchers have begun to refer to the combined effects of these factors as entrepreneurial propensity (EP). This research extends previous work by investigating the nature and viability of the EP construct. We review previous literature to identify probable components. Possible forms of interaction are explored.
Method
A survey instrument designed to measure proposed entrepreneurial propensity components using previously validated measures was created and sent to over 400 individuals who have recently started their own business and to 400 non-entrepreneurs. The results of the survey are interpreted by testing models of the components using logistic regression.
Results and Implications
Although surveys are still arriving, early results indicate that entrepreneurial propensity is a measurable construct composed of psychological, sociological, and environmental factors. Analysis is not yet completed but preliminary indications are that the components do not contribute equally. Sociological factors appear to contribute the most and environmental factors the least to overall propensity. Some factors seem to contribute to proposed models in an additive manner but it also appears that there may be some specific, multiplicative interactions between psychological and sociological variables that increase the likelihood of new venture creation. There remains however, a smaller percentage of subjects who create ventures even though their overall propensity is low. This remains an area that needs further investigation.
CONTACT: Mark Yockey, Department of Management and Decision Sciences, Washington State University, PO Box 644736, Pullman, WA 99164-4736; (T) 509-335-1185; (F) 509-335-7736; myockey@mail.wsu.edu
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