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Abstract
The majority of theoretical models for the study of entrepreneurial performance emphasize motivation as one of the key elements in the success of small businesses. In this study, entrepreneurial motivation is seen as objectives or goals that entrepreneurs seek to achieve through business ownership. These entrepreneurial objectives are presumed to determine the behavioral patterns of the entrepreneurs and, indirectly, the success of their business. The purpose of this study is to develop a new instrument to measure the perceptions entrepreneurs have of their entrepreneurial goals and verify its metrical qualities. The results show that the newly devised instrument has the desired metrical qualities: construct validity, content validity, predictive validity and strong internal consistency or reliability.
Key words: entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial motivation, entrepreneurial objectives, performance and goals-directed behavior
The majority of theoretical models for the study of entrepreneurial performance emphasize motivation as one of the key elements in the success of small businesses. (Blawatt, 1995; Naffziger et al., 1994; Herron & Robinson, 1993; Keats & Bracken 1988; Cragg & King, 1988; Hollenbeck & Whitener, 1988). Some of these models specifically emphasize the role of objectives or goals that entrepreneurs seek to achieve through business ownership. The attention devoted by researchers to entrepreneurial objectives is based on the premise that richer insights into entrepreneurial motivation will contribute to a better understanding of the behavioral patterns of entrepreneurs and of the impact of these patterns on their businesses' performance.
Given the importance of the motivation variable in theoretical models of entrepreneurial performance, it appears necessary first to identify the motivational objectives which drive entrepreneurs to maintain a business in operation, and second to develop a valid method of adequately measuring the perceptions that entrepreneurs have of their entrepreneurial objectives. In order to do so, the goal statements measurement instrument developed by Kuratko et al. (1997) was used throughout this paper as a comparative instrument. This instrument was retained because it takes into account the goal statements that most frequently emerged from recent research on the subject.
An efficient instrument to accurately measure entrepreneurial motivation would be useful from several points of view. It would contribute to a better understanding of the subject and allow entrepreneurs to become aware of what motivates them, thus minimizing the...