In Search for the Heffalump: An Exploration of the Cognitive Style Profiles Among Flemish Entrepreneurs

Abstract

Using a cognitive psychology approach, thisstudy attempts to answer the question: Who is an entrepreneur? Acognitive style is defined as the manner in which one perceives environmentalstimuli and organizes and uses the information. In order to determinewhether entrepreneurs demonstrate a different cognitive style compared tonon-entrepreneurs, data were collected from 1,028 individuals (497entrepreneurs and 531 non-entrepreneurs, blue and white collar workers) inFlanders through an Internet survey. The questions were grouped and analyzed according to four basic cognitivestyles: knowing (analytical and conceptual), planning (analytical andexperiential), creative (holistic and conceptual), and cooperating (holisticand experiential).Entrepreneurs scored higher in both the knowing styleand the creative style than did the non-entrepreneurs. This result supports the proposition that the multidimensional approach tocognitive styles is more useful than a unitarist approach.Using thesedata, six profiles were created: omnipotent thinkers, lazy thinkers,pacesetters, experts, inventors, and implementers.While the entrepreneurstend to have more inventors in their group, the non-entrepreneurs have moreimplementers. (SRD)

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