What Motivates Start-Up Entrepreneurs? Exploring the Role of Human Values in Success

Resumen

How entrepreneurs perceive success and how their values influence this understanding is not well-studied. In a sample of entrepreneurs, we found different and partly conflicting interpretations of success, suggesting that entrepreneurial success is multidimensional. We coded participants’ qualitative responses using Schwartz’s (1992) model of human values. While many participants interpreted success as related to achievement and power, others interpreted it as related to universalism and benevolence, going beyond past research that defined entrepreneurial success as primarily based on self-enhancement motives. Interestingly, entrepreneurs’ values were unrelated to the understanding of success and the actual success of entrepreneurs, as measured by turnover and the number of staff. This is an encouraging finding because it suggests that people can become successful entrepreneurs independently of their values. Further, entrepreneurs in our sample valued conformity, tradition, and security less than the average person in Ireland, but stimulation and self-direction more. Implications are discussed.

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Cómo citar (APA 7)

Curtin, E., Coelho, G. L. D. H., & Hanel, P. H. (2023). What Motivates Start-Up Entrepreneurs? Exploring the Role of Human Values in Success. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/7wf9v