ANTECEDENTS TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN SINGAPORE: BELIEFS, ATTITUDES AND BACKGROUND

Abstract

Extant studies on entrepreneurial success that focus on the process of resource acquisition and value creation have led to a deeper understanding of the resource requirements of entrepreneurs, but have shed less light on the antecedents to the propensity for entrepreneurial startups. Our study models the characteristics of university students as antecedents to startups. These are background and experience, beliefs about organizations and attitudes towards entrepreneurship. Background and attitudes are hypothesized to predict the propensity for entrepreneurship while beliefs are hypothesized to moderate the relationship between attitudes and the propensity to start a new business. Empirical data from a large survey of university students in Singapore provide support for the model.