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Does direct experience matter? Examining the consequences of current entrepreneurial behavior on entrepreneurial intention

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Abstract

Entrepreneurial behavior research has used intention models to explain how an individual’s beliefs shape the attitudes and motivations that influence entrepreneurial intention. Nevertheless, as entrepreneurship promotion initiatives become global, it becomes relevant to explore the consequences of being engaged in entrepreneurial behavior on entrepreneurial intention. We aim to shed light on whether the direct experience reinforces an individual’s entrepreneurial intention or reduces it. Building on an extended version of the planned behavior theory, we use the behavioral reasoning theory to propose a research design to study the influence of being currently engaged in entrepreneurial behavior on entrepreneurial intention. We introduce individual’s age as an additional moderator of the effects of directly experiencing entrepreneurial behavior. We use PLS-MGA to complete a multi-group SEM analysis for different groups of individuals (from a sample of 430), comparing groups based on their entrepreneurial activity and age group. Results of this research work evidence that current engagement in entrepreneurship activities produces significant differences in the intention to start a new venture between older and younger participants. The results suggest that engagement in entrepreneurial activity modifies entrepreneurial intention and that these effects are contingent to the individual’s age. This research work contributes to the extant call to explore reverse causality between actual behavior and an individual’s intention by introducing behavioral reasoning theory. These results provide support to initiatives to adapt entrepreneurship promotion efforts to the specific characteristics of the participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. La Salle – Ramon Llull University, Sant Joan de La Salle, 42, Barcelona, Spain

    Francesc Miralles, Ferran Giones & Brian Gozun

  2. University of Southern Denmark, Alsion 2, Sønderborg, Denmark

    Ferran Giones

  3. De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila, Philippines

    Brian Gozun

Authors
  1. Francesc Miralles
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  2. Ferran Giones
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  3. Brian Gozun
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ferran Giones.

Appendix

Appendix

Questions on the measures of the variables in the theoretical framework were built using the Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (EIQ) developed by Liñan & Chen (2009). In addition, the questionnaire included measures for Entrepreneurial Knowledge (EK) and for their entrepreneurial behavior activity (currently running a new venture or not).

In the questionnaires distributed to the sample, the questions were sorted in random order (not grouped by construct) to avoid acquiescence bias.

Entrepreneurial Knowledge (EK)

Indicate your level of agreement with the following sentences (total disagreement: 1, total agreement: 7)

  

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

EK1

Thanks to my experience, I know how to start a viable business

       

EK2

Thanks to my professional experience, I know well clients’ problems

       

EK3

It is easy for me to identify business opportunities in my professional area

       

EK4

Thanks to my knowledge, I am comfortable at my work as I know how the business works

       

Personal Attitude (PA)

 

Indicate your level of agreement with the following sentences (total disagreement: 1, total agreement: 7)

PA1

Being an entrepreneur implies more advantages than disadvantages to me

       

PA2

A career as entrepreneur is attractive for me

       

PA3

Among various options, I would rather be an entrepreneur

       

Social Norm (SN)

Do you perceive support for entrepreneurial initiatives in your close environment? Indicate from 1 (total disapproval) to 7 (total approval).

 SN1

Your close family

       

 SN2

Your friends

       

 SN3

Your colleagues

       

Do you perceive a positive perception towards entrepreneurial initiatives in your close environment? Indicate from 1 (total disapproval) to 7 (total approval).

 SN4

Your close family

       

 SN5

Your friends

       

 SN6

Your colleagues

       

Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC)

 

Indicate your level of agreement with the following sentences (total disagreement: 1, total agreement: 7)

       

PBC1

I am prepared to start a viable firm

       

PBC2

I can control the creation process of a new firm

       

PBC3

I know the necessary practical details to start a firm

       

PBC4

I know how to develop an entrepreneurial project

       

PBC5

If I tried to start a firm, I would have a high probability of succeeding

       

Entrepreneurial Intention (EI)

 

Indicate your level of agreement with the following sentences (total disagreement: 1, total agreement: 7)

       

EI1

I am ready to do anything to be an entrepreneur

       

EI2

My professional goal, in the short term, is to create a business

       

EI3

I am determined to create a firm in the future

       

EI4

I have the firm intention to start a firm someday

       

E1 At this time, do you have your own venture?

-Yes -No

E2(if Yes) since when (in months) ____________

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Miralles, F., Giones, F. & Gozun, B. Does direct experience matter? Examining the consequences of current entrepreneurial behavior on entrepreneurial intention. Int Entrep Manag J 13, 881–903 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-016-0430-7

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