Personality traits in describing entrepreneurial intentions: a sequential mixed methods study

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is shaped by personality traits and driven by personal intention, and it is crucial for economic mobility and societal progress. Despite being an underexplored area, the relationship between traits and entrepreneurial intention is vital for understanding how educational entrepreneurs differ from non-entrepreneurs. This study used a mixed-methods approach to investigate how personality traits influence entrepreneurial intentions. The study’s first phase was a survey of 171 teachers and 125 school owners, employing a validated scale to identify traits such as need for achievement, ambiguity tolerance, enthusiasm, creativity, locus of control, and risk-taking. The results showed that these traits collectively explained 89% of entrepreneurial intention, with enthusiasm as the strongest predictor. The second phase involved case studies of four individuals with extreme trait scores, revealing that school owners possessed stronger traits and excelled at resource utilization and overcoming challenges, unlike the schoolteachers—the non-entrepreneurs. Findings revealed that stronger personality traits significantly impact entrepreneurial intention. The contrasting result was found in individuals with weaker traits characterized by their favor toward traditional job security. The findings enhance our understanding of the psychological drivers behind entrepreneurial intentions and the implication of cultivating these traits through program interventions for entrepreneurship. Recommendations include policy makers fostering specific traits by creating enabling environments and supporting educational entrepreneurs in developing personal confidence and traits like risk-taking and adaptability. The study also calls for a cultural shift to prioritize entrepreneurship over traditional employment.