Entrepreneurial and innovative competences, are they the same?

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to study competencies between two groups of professionals: employees in innovative companies and entrepreneurs. Therefore the following questions arise: Are these two types of competences the same? Do innovative companies demand an entrepreneurial profile? Are entrepreneurs' companies spontaneously innovative?Design/methodology/approachThis paper analyses personal competences in two different groups of professionals. On one hand the authors work the common characteristics among successful entrepreneurs; on the other, they study the competences that innovative companies demand of their employees. The authors study if there is an overlap between both types of competences, considering that the areas in common may represent a training opportunity for both the entrepreneurs and organizations seeking innovation.FindingsThe authors find that innovative organizations value six characteristics in their employees, which are related to entrepreneurs' characteristics and describe individuals within the organization that are able to work in teams, are committed to their work, seek information and new opportunities, and are able to take risks in innovative ventures. However, there are characteristics that entrepreneurs have and that organizations that want to be innovative are not seeking. If employees had these characteristics, they would allow them to be persistent despite difficulties. Finally, the authors find that there is a competence that innovative organizations need but entrepreneurs may not have, which is having previous experience in the field.Originality/valueThe paper shows that the individual competencies that characterize the entrepreneur are also found in innovative organizations.

Individual Innovation Competence: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda

“…Jena & Sahoo, 2014;Mitchelmore & Rowley, 2010, 2013Taatila, 2010) after testing in educational settings. While studies have recognised the connection between entrepreneurship and innovation (Becherer & Maurer, 1999;Bergh et al, 2011;Bunk, 1994;Szerb, 2003), we found that innovation and entrepreneurship were also linked (Bjornali & Støren, 2012;Cerinšek & Dolinšek, 2009;Chell & Athayde, 2011;Edwards-Schachter et al, 2015;Gundry, Ofstein, & Kickul, 2014;Kasule et al, 2015;Santandreu-Mascarell et al, 2013;Waychal et al, 2011). The fifth area for further research is the different competences in each phase of the innovation process (Standing et al, 2016).…”

“…Self-esteem affects performance, behaviour and attitudes at work because it influences self-perceptions of confidence, worthiness, competence and capabilities. Santandreu-Mascarell et al (2013) emphasise the importance of independence and self-confidence, which both indicate the ambition for autonomy from rules or control by others. According to Cerinšek and Dolinšek (2009), the development of innovation is associated with significant risk and uncertainty.…”

A Cross-cultural Assessment of the Competency Needs of Women Operating in the Context of SMMEs in South Africa

“…This has been approached through two broad themes, with the first focusing on personality trait profiling of the entrepreneur and known as the trait approach (E Chell 1986;Entrialgo et al 2001;Andreas Rauch andFrese 2007a, 2007b), while the other is focused on the competencies of the individual entrepreneur and known as the competency approach (Elizabeth Chell 2013;Santandreu-Mascarell et al 2013;Tan and Tan 2012;Thongpoon et al 2012). These two approaches are discussed further below.…”

Women entrepreneurship in South Africa: Understanding the role of competencies in business success

“…This has been approached through two broad themes. The first is the trait approach, which focuses on personality trait profiling of the entrepreneur (Entrialgo et al 2001;Rauch and Frese 2007), and the second is the competency approach, which is focused on the competencies of the individual entrepreneur (Chell 2013;Santandreu-Mascarell, Garzon & Knorr 2013;Tan & Tan 2012;Thongpoon, Ahmad & Yahya 2012). The focus of this paper is the competency approach and it is discussed further below.…”