The entrepreneurial process: an integrated model

Abstract

In this study, a model for examining the process of how a person becomes an entrepreneur was developed by integrating planned behavior theory (PBT) with motivation-opportunity-ability (MOA) theory. The model posits that motivation, opportunity, and ability affect entrepreneurial intentions through personal attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. A sample of 258 valid questionnaires was collected from entrepreneurial training-course participants in Taiwan. Based on this sample, a structural-equation analysis reveals several interesting results. First, personal attitude and perceived behavior control have a direct effect on entrepreneurial intentions. Second, subjective norms indirectly affect entrepreneurial intentions through personal attitude and perceived behavior control. Third, motivation affects entrepreneurial intentions through personal attitude and perceived behavioral control. Fourth, ability exhibits a directly positive association with entrepreneurial intentions, and indirectly affects entrepreneurial intentions through perceived behavioral control. Fifth, subjective norms affect entrepreneurial intentions through personal attitude and perceived behavioral control. These findings suggest that our model provides more information than those offered by PBT or MOA in understanding the process of becoming an entrepreneur.

Appendix

Measures of constructs

• I. How do you assess the related entrepreneurial opportunity in the surrounding environment? Indicate from 1 (no aptitude at all) to 5 (very high aptitude).

  	1	2	3	4	5
  O1. There are many entrepreneurial ideas in the surrounding environment.	□	□	□	□	□
  O2. There are numerous ways to absorb related entrepreneurial information.	□	□	□	□	□
  O3. I can get sufficient information from a variety sources offering entrepreneurial ideas.	□	□	□	□	□
  O4. Changes in the external environment offer many creative entrepreneurial ideas.	□	□	□	□	□
  O5. The development of various technologies helps direct entrepreneurship.	□	□	□	□	□

• II. How do you rate yourself on the following entrepreneurial motivation? Indicate from 1 (no aptitude at all) to 5 (very high aptitude).

  	1	2	3	4	5
  M1. I am interested in finding more information about entrepreneurship.	□	□	□	□	□
  M2. I want to obtain more information about entrepreneurship.	□	□	□	□	□
  M3. When I read newspapers and magazines (or television and Internet), I tend to pay more attention to entrepreneurship-related information.	□	□	□	□	□
  *M4. If I want to start a business, I will look up different methods to help my business.	□	□	□	□	□
  M5. Entrepreneurship is one of the main reasons why I am searching for Information.	□	□	□	□	□
  M6. Entrepreneurship inspires me.	□	□	□	□	□
  M7. I am interesting in entrepreneurship.	□	□	□	□	□
  *M8. Before starting a business, I will chat with people who have entrepreneurial experience.	□	□	□	□	□
  *M9. I have some friends who have started a business or some friends who are starting a business.	□	□	□	□	□

• III. How do you rate yourself on the following entrepreneurial abilities? Indicate from 1 (no aptitude at all) to 5 (very high aptitude).

  	1	2	3	4	5
  AB1. Recognition of opportunity	□	□	□	□	□
  AB2. Creativity	□	□	□	□	□
  AB3. Problem solving skills	□	□	□	□	□
  *AB4. Leadership and communication skills	□	□	□	□	□
  *AB5. Development of new products and services	□	□	□	□	□
  *AB6. Networking skills, and making professional contacts	□	□	□	□	□

• IV. Indicate your level of agreement with the following statements about the entrepreneurial behavior including personal attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and intentions. Measurement levels are from 1 (total disagreement) to 5 (total agreement).

  	1	2	3	4	5
  *A01. Starting a firm and keeping it viable would be easy for me.	□	□	□	□	□
  *A02. A career as an entrepreneur is totally unattractive to me.	□	□	□	□	□
  A03. My friends would approve of my decision to start a business.	□	□	□	□	□
  A04. I am ready to do anything to be an entrepreneur.	□	□	□	□	□
  *A05. I believe I would be completely unable to start a business.	□	□	□	□	□
  *A06. I will make every effort to start and run my own business.	□	□	□	□	□
  A07. I am able to control the creation process of a new business.	□	□	□	□	□
  A08. My immediate family would approve of my decision to start a business.	□	□	□	□	□
  *A09. I have serious doubts about ever starting my own business.	□	□	□	□	□
  A10. If I had the opportunity and resources, I would love to start a business.	□	□	□	□	□
  A11. My colleagues would approve of my decision to start a business.	□	□	□	□	□
  A12. Amongst various options, I would rather be anything but an entrepreneur.	□	□	□	□	□
  A13. I am determined to create a business venture in the future.	□	□	□	□	□
  A14. If I tried to start a business, I would have a high chance of being successful.	□	□	□	□	□
  A15. Being an entrepreneur would give me great satisfaction.	□	□	□	□	□
  *A16. It would be very difficult for me to develop a business idea.	□	□	□	□	□
  A17. My professional goal is to be an entrepreneur.	□	□	□	□	□
  A18. Being an entrepreneur implies more advantages than disadvantages to me.	□	□	□	□	□
  *A19. I have a low intention of ever starting a business.	□	□	□	□	□
  *A20. I know all about the practical details needed to start a business.	□	□	□	□	□

  Note: * Items with loadings lower than 0.7 were eliminated.