Purpose: A model is developed to analyse what personality traits impact entrepreneurial cognitive and social strategic decision-making skills, originating from the effectuation framework. Design/methodology/approach: 128 participants from an entrepreneurial pre-launch programme were assessed by experienced incubator and business coaches. Personality was measured by a Big Five test. Based on a confirmatory factor analysis, the relationships were analysed between personality and three core dimensions of the effectuation framework: 1) the bird-in-hand principle, 2) the crazy quilt principle and 3) the pilot in the plane principle. Findings: Specific patterns (moderation effects) as opposed to levels of personality traits proved to be relevant. The bird-in-hand and the crazy quilt principles are related to the moderating effect between sensitivity to feedback, sociability and ambition. The pilot in the plane principle was related to the whole pattern of entrepreneurial key qualities embedded in the extraversion domain. Furthermore, relationships of personality with key issues in the effectuation framework were found, examples being reflecting on a high diversity of means or on own talents, conducting a thorough risk analysis and engaging in inspirational networking. The final model revealed a direct positive influence of the capacity to conduct a thorough risk analysis on the overall capacity to apply the effectuation principles. Originality/value: The research results offer deeper insights for the mobilisation and development of complex entrepreneurial behaviours. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-06-2019-0343 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rainer-hensel-phd-8ba44a43/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronald-visser-4591034/
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In the last decade, directed from the European Union, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education became a main topic on both, political and strategic managerial agenda’s. Despite the enormous effort and money invested, the failure rate of starting entrepreneurs seems to be stable. Next to an increase of starting entrepreneurs, more young people are faced with the trauma of an entrepreneurial failure. This paper want to explore the causes of a negative entrepreneurial outcome an the possibilities to prevent from this.
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Despite its widespread occurrence, the topic of failure is barely addressed in entrepreneurship education. Consequently, students are given an incomplete and unrealistic picture of the complexity of being entrepreneurs. This study explores the pedagogical potential of introducing vicarious learning about failure in educational programs rather than focusing solely on starting, growing and success. Taking a qualitative approach, this study examined students’ reflective reports written after an interview with an entrepreneur on their experience of failure. Using concepts emerging from these reports and theoretical constructs, it was established whether and how students drew lessons and reflections from the failure stories. The findings show that interviewing and reflecting about the experiences of entrepreneurs allow for vicarious learning from failure, yet without students having to experience it themselves. The lessons learned and the reflections feed each other in a continuous loop. Students recognized that entrepreneurship involves trial and error instead of one straight road. Important lessons include the importance of adaptable behavior, access to key resources, insights in business development and the benefits of networking. Hence, this article contributes to the pedagogy of entrepreneurial education and provides initial suggestions for educators to introduce vicarious learning about failure as a topic in their programs.--Malgré sa fréquence élevée, le sujet de l’échec est à peine abordé dans l’enseignement de l’entrepreneuriat. En conséquence, il est communiqué aux étudiants une image incomplète et irréaliste de la complexité d’être un entrepreneur. Cette étude explore le potentiel pédagogique de l’apprentissage par procuration sur l’échec dans les programmes éducatifs, plutôt qu’une focalisation seulement sur le démarrage, la croissance et la réussite. En adoptant une approche qualitative, l’étude a examiné les rapports de réflexions rédigés par les étudiants à la suite d’un entretien avec un entrepreneur, centré sur son expérience de l’échec. À l’aide de concepts émergeant de ces rapports et de constructions théoriques, la manière dont les étudiants tiraient des leçons et des réflexions des récits d’échec – si tel était le cas - a été établie. Les résultats montrent que les entretiens et la réflexion sur l’expérience des entrepreneurs permettent un apprentissage par procuration concernant l’échec, sans pour autant que les étudiants aient eux-mêmes à vivre un échec. Les leçons apprises et les réflexions se nourrissent mutuellement dans une boucle continue. Les étudiants ont reconnu que l’entrepreneuriat a pour implication des épreuves et des erreurs, plutôt qu’une ligne toute droite. Parmi les leçons apprises majeures, citons l’importance des comportements adaptatifs, l’accès aux ressources-clés, les connaissances en matière de développement commercial et les avantages du travail en réseau. Ainsi, cet article contribue à la pédagogie de l’éducation sur l’entrepreneuriat et fait des suggestions pour les enseignants afin qu’ils introduisent l’apprentissage par procuration sur l’échec en tant que sujet à aborder dans leurs programmes.
