Testing Enterprising Tendency In Occupational Groups

Abstract

SUMMARY The administration of a test of enterprising tendency showed that business owner‐managers were significantly more enterprising than other occupational groups, namely teachers, nurses, civil servants, clerical trainees and lecturers and trainers. This test, which aims to measure key characteristics of enterprising people, is described within this paper. Key enterprise characteristics may include a high need for achievement, a high need for autonomy, calculated risk‐taking, an internal locus of control and a creative tendency. The result of this pilot study may suggest that the occupation of setting up and managing a business requires an enterprising tendency, unlike other occupations. However, it could reflect the fact that business owner‐managers are the most studied sample of enterprising people and that the test is drawn from this literature. However, further studies are required to clarify distinctions within occupational groups and to determine if business owner‐managers are more enterprising than other occupational groups. It would be especially interesting to compare the enterprising tendency of business owner‐managers with managers and enterprising people from other occupational groups.