Fostering Entrepreneurial Drive in Business Education: An Attitudinal Approach

Abstract

Drawing from research in individual characteristics of entrepreneurs and the theory of planned behavior from social psychology literature, this study identifies attitudinal dimensions of entrepreneurial drive (ED), proposes a model, and develops and tests an instrument to measure it. Resultsshow that students differentiate among five attitudes that have been found to promote entrepreneurial behavior in prior research, namely, preference for innovation, nonconformity, proactive disposition, self-efficacy, and achievement motivation. Taken together, these attitudes define the authors'conceptualization of ED. The article provides recommendations of initiatives that were proven to be helpful in developing entrepreneurial drive in undergraduate business students.

Factors Associated with Entrepreneurial Intentions in Doctor of Pharmacy Students

“…A c c e p t e d D r a f t Florin et al (2007) did not confirm any association between the Entrepreneurial Drive scale and entrepreneurial intention or entrepreneurial behavior. They did find that overall Entrepreneurial Drive was significantly higher among seniors than among freshman, and found no significant difference based on gender.…”

“…13 15 The included entrepreneurs had each started more than one business, with at least one initiated within the past five years. 13 Florin et al (2007) selected 42 of the highest loading and student appropriate items out of the original 75 validated items from the Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation Scale. Entrepreneur and business specific items were eliminated because of the intended use in students.…”

“…13 Items from the three scales that applied to students were selected for inclusion in the Entrepreneurial Drive scale: preference for innovation (13 of 26 items), achievement motivation (seven of 23 items) and self-esteem (eight of 14 items). Florin et al (2007) labeled the self-esteem items as "self-efficacy" items. They also posited several items from the preference for innovation subscale actually measured nonconformity.…”

The Effect of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Intention: An Experimental Study on Undergraduate Business Students

“…Therefore it is suggested that entrepreneurship education be integrated in the academic curricula at all levels from elementary school to university (Stevenson & Lundstrom, 2001). As emphasized by Florin, Karri, and Rossiter (2007), it is not enough to teach necessary skills for entrepreneurship but, rather, it is essential to develop and enhance an "entrepreneurial drive". "Entrepreneurial drive" means how individual perceive the desirability and feasibility to pursue opportunities in a proactive manner and respond to challenging tasks, needs and obstacles in an innovative and creative way.…”

Advancing Entrepreneurship in An Elementary School: A Case Study

“…Florin, Karri and Rossiter (2007) developed an instrument measuring entrepreneurial drive based upon preference of innovation, nonconformity, proactive disposition, self-efficacy and achievement motivation.…”