Psychosocial aspects of entrepreneurial potential

• Author(s): Santos, Susana Correia ; Caetano, António ; Curral, Luís
• Date: 2014
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10451/11048
• Origin: Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa
• Subject(s): Entrepreneurial potential; Scale development; Entrepreneur; Competencies
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

Versão pós-print. This study presents a theoretical model regarding the entrepreneurial potential construct, and the main psychosocial aspects that contribute towards an individual’s preparedness to engage in activities typically associated with entrepreneurship. The general question addressed in this study is: How to explain the entrepreneurial potential construct theoretically, and how to assess it empirically? This study seeks to contribute by creating an instrument (the EPAI – Entrepreneurial Potential Assessment Inventory) that can be used to measure the entrepreneurial potential construct. In this paper we present four studies on its empirical validation. The results suggest reliable scale characteristics, convergent and discriminant validity. The EPAI can be used by an entrepreneur for self-assessment, for training, and for professional development. Cette etude pr esente un mod ele th eorique relatif au construit d’un potentiel d’entreprise, ainsi que les principaux aspects psychologiques contribuant a la pr eparation d’un individu dans la mise en place d’activit es g en eralement associ ees a l’entreprenariat. La question g en erale a laquelle cette etude s’adresse est : Comment expliquer th eoriquement le construit d’un potentiel d’entreprise et comment l’ evaluer empiriquement? Cette etude esp ere contribuer a la r eponse a cette question en cr eant un instrument (l’EPAI – Inventaire d’ evaluation du potentiel d’entreprise) pouvant ^etre utilis e pour mesurer le construit du potentiel d’entreprise. Cet article pr esente quatre etudes sur sa validation empirique. Les r esultats indiquent des caract eristiques d’ echelle fiables, ainsi qu’une validit e convergente et discriminante. L’inventaire d’ evaluation du potentiel d’entreprise peut ^etre utilis e par un entrepreneur pour l’auto- evaluation, la formation et le d eveloppement professionnel.