Some Advances in the Explanation of Entrepreneurial Intentions

Abstract

Utilizing the theory of planned behavior (TPB), specific factors contributing to the decision to start a business are examined. Several dependent (e.g., entrepreneurial interest and preference) and independent variables (e.g., attitudes, perceived behavior control [PBC], and subjective norms) are measured to predict entrepreneurial intentions.Perceived behavior control refers to one's beliefs about the role of certain skills, resources and opportunities needed to start and run a business, and perceptions about one's access to those factors.Subjective norms are a person's perceptions about the beliefs of others important to him or her, concerning the appropriateness of starting a business, and the likelihood that the individual feels he or she will comply with those concerns. Data are based on an open-ended questionnaire given to a sample of 303 undergraduate students (second, third, and fourth years of their studies) in business administration at the University of Groningen. The results indicate that: (1) males and older students take more interest in entrepreneurial interest; (2) attitude and PBC explain strict measures of entrepreneurial interest; (3) subjective norms do not significantly contribute to entrepreneurial interest; and (4) attitude, PBC, and perseverance all have impacts on the composite measure of intention. From these findings, it can be concluded that the TPB is very useful when explaining interest in entrepreneurship. This model helps to explain 35% of the variance in interest in entrepreneurship, with regards to a variety of dependent variables. Furthermore, analyses of the dependent variables provide relevant implications for education in entrepreneurship. (NEE)

Keywords: Theory of planned behavior, Intentions, Perseverance, Perceptions, Startups, Age, Attitudes, Beliefs, Decision models, Gender, Management decisions, Motivation