Self-determination and entrepreneurship : personal values as intrinsic motivators of entrepreneurial behaviour : a thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
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Date
2010
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Massey University
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Abstract
The study of entrepreneurs has often led to conflicting views about what motivates an
individual to engage in entrepreneurship. The historic focus on the traits and
characteristics of specific individuals perceived by others to be entrepreneurs, has yielded
results that are, at best, speculative and difficult to substantiate. This study has taken a
different approach by isolating entrepreneurial behaviour and examining its antecedent
components. Specifically, the study sought to discover the internal loci of causality that
motivate an individual to engage in entrepreneurial behaviour.
The study was based on an inductive and interpretive research design within a
constructivist paradigm. A small quantitative survey was conducted initially to screen an
appropriate sample, the results of which were later used as an aide memoire during indepth
interviews, with thirty New Zealand entrepreneurs. The bulk of the data sourced in
this study originated through the interview process. These focused specifically on the
meaning individuals attributed to certain fundamental values associated with
entrepreneurial behaviour. The resulting narrative was subjected to discourse analysis and
categorised into relevant themes.
Four fundamental values are believed to be critical to entrepreneurial behaviour, namely,
independence, creativity, ambition and daring. These values were expressed as
psychological needs and act as intrinsic motivation for entrepreneurial behaviour. Only
twenty three percent of the sample (7 out of 30), however, could demonstrate consistent
motivation through these four principles. The balance of the participants acknowledged
the importance of these four principles to entrepreneurial behaviour. However, the
majority admitted that there had been a shift in their behaviour toward management,
which placed more emphasis on independence and ambition in the value-set. Creativity
and daring were accorded much lesser attention as the individual focused on growing their
business. This shift in emphasis in the value-set is perceived to be one cause for the
episodic and inconsistent occurrence of entrepreneurial behaviour amongst New Zealand
business people.
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Keywords
Entrepreneurship, Self-determination, Motivation, Psychology, Entrepreneurs, Business, Values, Psychology, Independence, Ambition, Creativity, Daring, Management, New Zealand, Entrepreneurial behaviour