On the relationship between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to propose and empirically test a theoretical model positing relationships among emotional intelligence (EI), creativity, proactivity, and attitudes towards entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intent.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was completed by a random sample (n=280) of business, engineering and science students across three Greek universities. Results were based on structural equation modelling analysis.FindingsResults provide strong support for the proposition that students' creativity and proactivity fully mediate the positive effect of trait EI on attitudes towards entrepreneurship. Attitudes towards entrepreneurship fully mediated the effects of creativity and proactivity on entrepreneurial intent.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates that EI is positively related to three important antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions and provides the literature with another important piece of the puzzle concerning entrepreneurial motivation. This evidence adds to the academic literatures on entrepreneurship and trait EI, and offers several practical implications for entrepreneurship education.

Personality Traits and Entrepreneurial Intentions of Business Administration Students of Selected Higher Education Institutions in Pampanga, Philippines

“…This proposition is supported by the study which revealed that creativity and proclivity are positively associated to entrepreneurial intention (Zampetakis et al, 2009). In further argument, Wang et al, (2001) revealed that attitudinal variables have significant impact in building entrepreneurial intention.…”

An empirical analysis of the factors affecting social entrepreneurial intentions

“…Researchers like Gorman et al (Gorman et al 1997), Feldman and Bolino (Feldman and Bolino 2000) and Hamidi et al (Yar Hamidi et al 2008) found that high creativity scores positively affect the intention formation process. Zampetakis et al (Zampetakis et al 2009, Zampetakis 2011 in their research study proved that creativity not only affects the intention process but also d positively associated with the attitude toward choosing entrepreneurship as a career.…”

“…Hence hypothesis (H4a) rejected. In the previous study of emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial intentions, Zampetakis et al 2009 measured the effect of emotional intelligence on attitude and did not test its effect on any other variable of TPB. In the previous study of Ernst (Ernst 2011), subjective norms showed less to no relationship with the antecedents used in the study.…”

“…Shepherd (2004) in his conceptual model of entrepreneurship formation blames emotional factors for the business failure. Zampetakis et al (Zampetakis et al 2009) tried to find out the effect of emotional intelligence on creativity, proactivity and on attitude toward becoming an entrepreneur. Zampetakis, (Zampetakis et al 2009) in his study found out that emotional intelligence positively affects creativity, proactivity and play an important role in the development of the attitude.…”

“…Seven points Likert scale was used to measure the items and out of total 30-items 15 items are negatively coated for example "I usually find it difficult to regulate my emotions". Validity and reliability of this scale in order to predict entrepreneurial intention were tested by (Zampetakis 2011;Zampetakis et al 2009) A sample item to measure emotional intelligence is "I'm usually able to influence the way other people feel" and Cronbach's alpha value of α = 0.86.…”