Enhancing Entrepreneurial Intention and Innovativeness of University Students: The Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Alertness

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is a process of value creation consisting of committing time and effort, considering financial, social and other risks, resulting financial gain. The initial step of entrepreneurship is to recognize opportunities, which refers to a mechanism of intention. Empirical studies have provided evidence that entrepreneurial behavior is best predicted by intention. Intention, in turn, is associated with certain personality traits and attributes. This study aims to investigate the mediating effect of entrepreneurial alertness on the relationship between innovativeness and entrepreneurial intention of Turkish university students. The results of the study demonstrated that innovativeness has a positive effect on entrepreneurial intention, and entrepreneurial alertness fully mediates the relationship between innovativeness and entrepreneurial alertness. The present paper suggests that higher education institutions should focus on modifying personal attitudes of college students through entrepreneurship education and business incubation programs in order to foster enterprise creation and thereby economic development.

Entrepreneurial Passion to Entrepreneurial Behavior: Role of Entrepreneurial Alertness, Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Proactive Personality

“…Moreover, Kirzner (1997) articulated that alertness refers to the entrepreneurs' cognitive abilities and skills that direct the process of opportunity identification in the market. Gozukara and Colakoglu (2016) explained that entrepreneurial alertness is a state of mind that is open to exploring opportunities at all times, even in uncertain environments with limited resources. Tang et al (2012) suggested that the ability to make the relation between dots by linking them on different occasions is a dynamic feature of recognizing opportunities.…”

Uncovering the unseen passion: a fire to foster ambition toward innovation

“…Entrepreneurs with high innovativeness mainly aimed at profit and development because entrepreneurs have the desire to seek innovative resources, environmental changes and the signs suggestive of opportunities for innovation (Gozukara & Colakoglu, 2016).…”

“…It includes the development and enhancement of products and services and new administrative techniques and technologies for performing organizational functions (Okhomina, 2010). Schumpeter (1990) explains innovation as a significant entrepreneurial precursor and entrepreneur as an innovator (Gozukara & Colakoglu, 2016), while Covin and Miles (1999) argue that without innovativeness, entrepreneurship cannot exist and that innovativeness is a crucial part of entrepreneurship survival strategies (Omisakin et al, 2016).…”

“…Schilling (2013) defines innovation as the act of introducing a new device, method, or material for application to commercial or practical objectives. It is the ability to do something in a creative and improved way and the ability to exploit business opportunities (Gozukara & Colakoglu, 2016).…”

“…Innovativeness is the firm's propensity to engage in new idea generation, experimentation, and research and development activities (Lumpkin and Dess, 1996). Mueller and Thomas (2001) have described innovativeness as a significant precursor of entrepreneurial behavior, while Schumpeter (1990) further explains innovation as a significant entrepreneurial precursor and entrepreneur as an innovator (Gozukara & Colakoglu, 2016).…”