VI-A

SUMMARY

CAREERS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ENGINEERS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON ENTREPRENEURS IN KNOWLEDGE-INTENSIVE FIRMS IN THE NETHERLANDS

Johan G. Brinkman, University of Twente Entrepreneurship Centre
Béatrice I.J.M. van der Heijden, University of Twente
Willem E. During, University of Twente Entrepreneurship Centre

Principal Topic

This contributions forms part of a study into the career paths of engineers who either go into management and/or into entrepreneurship. The intention of the research is to show that a career path for knowledge-intensive entrepreneurs, who started their firm within three years after finishing their study, is not only dependent on the development of the enterprise but also on the individual (career) development as well. From the point of view of ambitions of entrepreneurs we have tried to study the diversity of career paths of entrepreneurs. The critical factors that have been found paths could lead to better understanding of failure in entrepreneurship.

Method

The data for this research were collected within SME’s (mainly in the eastern part of the Netherlands), directed by entrepreneurs who started their enterprise within 3 years after graduating. The questionnaire used for this research was taken, in part, from the Strategic Alliance Research Group (SARG) (Weaver et al., 1998). Parts from the original questionnaire, which is suitable for entrepreneurs, were translated and adapted for the target group. Moreover, some questions that were formulated within our own research institute were added. All entrepreneurs who filled in the questionnaire (except 2) have also been interviewed. The total data set consists of about 35 entrepreneurs in the target group.

Results and implications

Up to now three conclusions can be drawn from this study:

Four categories of entrepreneurial careers have been found which we summarize as follows; personal firm [life style entrepreneur path], professional entrepreneur path, entrepreneurial growth path, managerial growth path.
The job of an entrepreneur has a diversity of tasks, which he or she will gradually learn to fulfil during the career. The job develops towards a management position instead of a “pure technical one.”
We have found a relationship between the amount of strategic posture and the entrepreneurial career.

Looking at entrepreneurship from a personal point of view we have found that the entrepreneur should not only be concerned with development stages of the firm, but with his/her own career development as well.

CONTACT: Ir. J.G. Brinkman, University of Twente Entrepreneurship Centre, BB-Building, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE ENSCHEDE, The Netherlands; (T) + 31 (0) 53 489 4767; (F) + 31 (0) 53 489 2159; j.g.brinkman@sms.utwente.nl