Characteristics of Managers as Determinants of Entrepreneurial Orientation: Some Spanish Evidence

Abstract

Despite extensive research in recent years, very little is known to date about the features which account for the entrepreneurial orientation in the firm, although previous studies have shown that managers exhibiting entrepreneurial orientation can be distinguished from other managers in their objectives. This work, on a sample of 233 firms, studies the relationship between the psychological characteristics of the manager of a SME and its entrepreneurial orientation. In particular, the following characteristics are analysed: locus of control, need for achievement and tolerance of ambiguity. The results indicate that the most entrepreneurial firms are managed by individuals with a greater locus of control, a higher need for achievement and a greater tolerance of ambiguity.