Journal article

Authors list: Krauss, SI; Frese, M; Friedrich, C; Unger, JM

Publication year: 2005

Pages: 315-344

Journal: European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

Volume number: 14

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 1359-432X

eISSN: 1464-0643

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/13594320500170227

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group

Abstract: 

This study examines the relationship of the psychological construct Entrepreneurial Orientation ( EO) with business success in a sample of N= 248 southern African business owners. We reintroduce the individual in EO research and show the importance of the person of the entrepreneur for business performance: Hierarchical regression analyses revealed significant relationships between EO components ( personal initiative, achievement-, and risk-taking orientation) as well as overall EO and business performance. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis supported a single factor construct of EO that consists of learning, achievement, and autonomy orientation, competitive aggressiveness, innovative and risk-taking orientation, and of personal initiative.

In this study, we develop an individual-based psychological concept of Entrepreneurial Orientation ( EO) and investigate the relationship between business owners' EO and business performance in southern Africa. EO has primarily been discussed from a firm-level perspective ( e. g., Covin & Slevin, 1991; Lumpkin & Dess, 1996). It characterized businesses in their early years and was found to be important for firm success. In contrast, we apply a psychological approach with EO as an interindividual difference variable. Thus, our focus is the business owner and the general relationship between individual EO and performance of southern African small business owners.

Harvard Citation style: Krauss, S., Frese, M., Friedrich, C. and Unger, J. (2005) Entrepreneurial orientation: A psychological model of success among southern African small business owners, European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 14(3), pp. 315-344. https://doi.org/10.1080/13594320500170227

APA Citation style: Krauss, S., Frese, M., Friedrich, C., & Unger, J. (2005). Entrepreneurial orientation: A psychological model of success among southern African small business owners. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology. 14(3), 315-344. https://doi.org/10.1080/13594320500170227