Perceptions of the Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs: An Empirical Study in China

Abstract

The degree to which an entrepreneur fits a specific cultural prototype may have important consequences for the success of an entrepreneurial venture. To date, research regarding the impact of cultural dimensions on entrepreneurial characteristics has been somewhat limited in scope. The current study is aimed at filling this gap in the literature. This study examines the entrepreneurial attributes of success in China by examining a sample of 25 Chinese students, each of whom is a business owner. Their views are explored in a series of focus groups and their responses are subject to a taxonomic analysis. In China, the entrepreneur is perceived to be visionary, possessing some degree of creativity and innovation, and willing to explore new opportunities. They are also perceived to be determined individuals who can persevere in difficult times. Managerial implications are discussed. Introduction As far back as Weber (1904) scholars have considered the impact of culture on entrepreneurship. Building on Weber's work, McClelland (1961) theorized about the impact of socialization on certain personality attributes (i.e. need for achievement). Indeed, McClelland predicted that cultures which valued achievement orientations would exhibit higher levels of entrepreneurship. Other studies have followed investigating various personality traits (Shane, 1992; Baum, et al., 1993; Shapero, 1975). In their review of culture and entrepreneurial potential, Mueller and Thomas (2000) note that one would expect that some cultures would be more closely associated with certain entrepreneurial orientations than others. For example, Huisman (1985) found significant variation in entrepreneurial activity across cultures and noted that cultural values greatly influence entrepreneurial behavior. Similarly, McGrath et al. (1992) in their comparison of entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs found significant differences in cultural values and beliefs. Examples of personality dimensions believed to be culturally determined include innovativeness, locus of control, risk-taking, and energy level (Thomas and Mueller, 2000). To date, the research conducted on cultural dimensions in entrepreneurial characteristics has been somewhat limited in scope (Hayton et al., 2002), employing student samples (Mueller and Thomas, 2000; Thomas and Mueller, 2000) and examining few cultural dimensions (Scheinburg and MacMillan, 1988). This paper is aimed at filling this gap in the literature. Further, this study examines Chinese entrepreneurs from an attributional perspective which has rarely been done in past literature. Indeed, although a few previous studies have used an attributional lens to view nascent entrepreneurs (Shaver et al., 2001) and attributional biases of entrepreneurs (Rogoff et al., 2004), there have been no studies to interpret entrepreneurship in different cultures using this perspective. Perceptions from Chinese entrepreneurs as well as employees of entrepreneurs were analyzed in the current study. This study examines the entrepreneurial attributes of success in China. The paper reflects results of the first stage of the broader international research program Work in Organizations Requiring Leadership Development (E-WORLD). The first section of the paper reports on the current state of entrepreneurship in China. Then, a theoretical framework based in attribution theory is presented to explain how culture can impact perceptions of entrepreneurial traits and characteristics. Thirdly, focus group results are presented. Focus groups were used to explore characteristics of successful entrepreneurs in the current study. Implications of the results are also discussed. The Entrepreneurial Context of China The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report for 2007 identifies some interesting findings about the entrepreneurial nature of China. China was one of 42 countries that participated in the 2007 research and was in the category of middle- and low-income countries. …

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