Exploring the Entrepreneurial Intention of Female Students in Italy
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review and Hypotheses
2.1. Studies on Ajzen’s TPB
2.2. Studies on Women Entrepreneurial Intentions
3. Research Design
Method and Variables Description
- ATT is the mean score of all the answers concerning the attitude towards performing the behaviour.
- INT is the mean score of all the answers concerning the intention to become entrepreneur.
- SN is the mean score of all the answers concerning the perceived social pressure.
- PBC is the mean score of all the answers concerning the self-efficacy.
- DEGREE indicates if the respondent attends a three-year bachelor course (codified as 1-2-3) or a two-year master of science (codified as 4-5). Indeed, the aim of this variable was to verify the impact of cultural degree on the entrepreneurial intentions. In other words, we analysed whether the participation in a bachelor course, rather than a master of science, influenced the final intention.
- STUDIES indicates the type of university studies. We codified students who attend a business study as 1; otherwise, we codified the variable as 0. Students who follow a university course in business and management have a greater propensity to become entrepreneurs, thanks to the skills acquired during ad hoc university programmes.
- WORK_EXP indicates if students have had a previous work experience that could have an impact on the entrepreneurial intention. This variable is codified as 1 if the student has developed a previous work experience; otherwise, the variable is codified as 0.
4. Results
5. Discussion and Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Low, M.B.; MacMillan, I.C. Entrepreneurship: Past research and future challenges. J. Manag. 1988, 14, 139–161. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Timmons, J.A. New Venture Creation: Entrepreneurship for 21st Century, 5th ed.; Irwin-McGraw-Hill: Homewood, IL, USA, 1999. [Google Scholar]
- Black, D.A.; Smith, J.A. Estimating the returns to college quality with multiple proxies for quality. J. Labor Econ. 2006, 24, 701–728. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Shane, S.A. The Effect of Cultural Differences in Perceptions of Transaction Costs on National Differences in the Preference for Licensing. In Academy of Management Proceedings; Academy of Management: Briarcliff Manor, NY, USA, 1992; pp. 122–126. [Google Scholar]
- Shane, S. Cultural influences on national rates of innovation. J. Bus. Ventur. 1993, 8, 59–73. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Shane, S.A. A General Theory of Entrepreneurship: The Individual-Opportunity Nexus; Edward Elgar Publishing: Cheltenham, UK, 2003. [Google Scholar]
- Shane, S.A. The Illusions of Entrepreneurship: The Costly Myths that Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Policy Makers Live; Yale University Press: New Haven, CT, USA, 2008. [Google Scholar]
- Shane, S.; Venkataraman, S. The promise of entrepreneurship as a field of research. Acad. Manag. Rev. 2000, 25, 217–226. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Steyaert, C.; Katz, J. Reclaiming the Space of Entrepreneurship in Society: Geographical, Discursive and Social Dimensions. Entrep. Reg. Dev. 2004, 16, 179–196. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Venkataraman, S. The distinctive domain of entrepreneurship research. Adv. Entrep. Firm Emerg. Growth 1997, 3, 119–138. [Google Scholar]
- Fatoki, O.O. Graduate entrepreneurial intention in South Africa: Motivations and obstacles. Int. J. Bus. Manag. 2010, 5, 87. [Google Scholar]
- Abu-Saifan, S. Social entrepreneurship: Definition and boundaries. Technol. Innov. Manag. Rev. 2012, 2, 22–27. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Baum, J.R.; Frese, M.; Baron, R.A. (Eds.) The Psychology of Entrepreneurship; Psychology Press: East Sussex, UK, 2014. [Google Scholar]
- Hatten, T.S.; Ruhland, S.K. Student attitude toward entrepreneurship as affected by participation in an SBI program. J. Educ. Bus. 1995, 70, 224–227. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hunter, L.; Lean, J. Entrepreneurial learning–a social context perspective: Evidence from Kenya and Tanzania. J. Small Bus. Enterp. Dev. 2018. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Jones, P.; Jones, A.; Packham, G.; Miller, C. Student attitudes towards enterprise education in Poland: A positive impact. Educ. Train. 2008, 50, 597–614. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Langowitz, N.; Minniti, M. The entrepreneurial propensity of women. Entrep. Theory Pract. 2007, 31, 341–364. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Martin, R.L.; Osberg, S. Social Entrepreneurship: The Case for Definition. Stanf. Soc. Innov. Rev. 2007, 5, 28–39. [Google Scholar]
- Oganisjana, K. Promotion of university students’ collaborative skills in open innovation environment. J. Open Innov. Technol. Mark. Complex. 2015, 1, 18. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Omorede, A.; Thorgren, S.; Wincent, J. Entrepreneurship psychology: A review. Int. Entrep. Manag. J. 2015, 11, 743–768. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Robinson, P.B.; Stimpson, D.V.; Huefner, J.C.; Hunt, H.K. An attitude approach to the prediction of entrepreneurship. Entrep. Theory Pract. 1991, 15, 13–31. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rubio-Bañón, A.; Esteban-Lloret, N. Cultural factors and gender role in female entrepreneurship. Suma De Negocios 2016, 7, 9–17. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhao, H.; Seibert, S.E.; Hills, G.E. The mediating role of self-efficacy in the development of entrepreneurial intentions. J. Appl. Psychol. 2005, 90, 1265. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Kautonen, T.; Tornikoski, E.T.; Kibler, E. Entrepreneurial intentions in the third age: The impact of perceived age norms. Small Bus. Econ. 2011, 37, 219–234. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kolvereid, L. Prediction of employment status choice intentions. Entrep. Theory Pract. 1996, 21, 47–58. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Krueger, N.F.; Reilly, M.D.; Carsrud, A.L. Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions. J. Bus. Ventur. 2000, 15, 411–432. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Black, D.A.; Smith, J.A. How robust is the evidence on the effects of college quality? Evidence from matching. J. Econ. 2004, 121, 99–124. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Blanchflower, D.G.; Oswald, A.J. What makes an entrepreneur? J. Labor Econ. 1998, 16, 26–60. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Blanchflower, D.G. Self-employment in OECD countries. Labour Econ. 2000, 7, 471–505. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bratti, M. Does the choice of university matter?: A study of the differences across UK universities in life sciences students’ degree performance. Econ. Educ. Rev. 2002, 21, 431–443. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Braunerhjelm, P. Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Economic Growth-Past Experience, Current Knowledge and Policy Implications. Available online: https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:484894/FULLTEXT01.pdf (accessed on 3 July 2018).
- Becker, B.A.; Eube, C. Open innovation concept: Integrating universities and business in digital age. J. Open Innov. Technol. Mark. Complex. 2018, 4, 12. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Aizen, I. From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior. In Action-Control: From Cognition to Behavior; Kuhl, J., Beckman, J., Eds.; Springer: Heidelberg, Germany, 1985. [Google Scholar]
- Ajzen, I. The theory of planned behavior. Organ. Behav. Hum. Decis. Process. 1991, 50, 179–211. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ajzen, I.; Fishbein, M. Understanding Attitudes and Predicting Social Behaviour; Prentice-Hall: Upper NJ River, NJ, USA, 1980. [Google Scholar]
- Fayolle, A.; Liñán, F.; Moriano, J.A. Beyond entrepreneurial intentions: Values and motivations in entrepreneurship. Int. Entrep. Manag. J. 2014, 10, 679–689. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gibb, A. In pursuit of a new ‘enterprise’and ‘entrepreneurship’paradigm for learning: Creative destruction, new values, new ways of doing things and new combinations of knowledge. Int. J. Manag. Rev. 2002, 4, 233–269. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hussain, J.G.; Scott, J.M.; Hannon, P.D. The new generation: Characteristics and motivations of BME graduate entrepreneurs. Educ. Train. 2008, 50, 582–596. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kautonen, T.; Gelderen, M.; Fink, M. Robustness of the theory of planned behavior in predicting entrepreneurial intentions and actions. Entrep. Theory Pract. 2015, 39, 655–674. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lortie, J.; Castogiovanni, G. The theory of planned behavior in entrepreneurship research: What we know and future directions. Int. Entrep. Manag. J. 2015, 11, 935–957. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kim, J.H.; Jung, S.H. Study on CEO characteristics for management of public art performance centers. J. Open Innov. Technol. Mark. Complex. 2015, 1, 5. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- De Vita, L.; Mari, M.; Poggesi, S. Women entrepreneurs in and from developing countries: Evidences from the literature. Eur. Manag. J. 2014, 32, 451–460. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Furst, S.A.; Reeves, M. Queens of the hill: Creative destruction and the emergence of executive leadership of women. Leadersh. Q. 2008, 19, 372–384. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Godwin, L.N.; Stevens, C.E.; Brenner, N.L. Forced to play by the rules? Theorizing how mixed-sex founding teams benefit women entrepreneurs in male-dominated contexts. Entrep. Theory Pract. 2006, 30, 623–642. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Themudo, N.S. Gender and the non-profit sector. Nonprofit Volunt. Sect. Q. 2009, 38, 663–683. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Enkel, E.; Bader, K. Why do experts contribute in cross-industry innovation? A structural model of motivational factors, intention and behavior. R D Manag. 2016, 46, 207–226. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Krueger, N.F.; Carsrud, A.L. Entrepreneurial intentions: Applying the theory of planned behaviour. Entrep. Reg. Dev. 1993, 5, 315–330. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Van Gelderen, M.; Brand, M.; van Praag, M.; Bodewes, W.; Poutsma, E.; Van Gils, A. Explaining entrepreneurial intentions by means of the theory of planned behaviour. Career Dev. Int. 2008, 13, 538–559. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Almobaireek, W.N.; Manolova, T.S. Who wants to be an entrepreneur? Entrepreneurial intentions among Saudi university students. Afr. J. Bus. Manag. 2012, 6, 4029–4040. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Carey, T.A.; Flanagan, D.J.; Palmer, T.B. An examination of university student entrepreneurial intentions by type of venture. J. Dev. Entrep. 2010, 15, 503–517. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Harris, M.; Gibson, S. An examination of the entrepreneurial attitudes of US versus Chinese students. Am. J. Entrep. 2008, 1, 1–20. [Google Scholar]
- Acker, J. Hierarchies, jobs, bodies: A theory of gendered organizations. Gend. Soc. 1990, 4, 139–158. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bird, B.; Brush, C. A gendered perspective on organizational creation. Entrep. Theory Pract. 2002, 26, 41–65. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Brännback, M.; Krueger, N.F.; Carsrud, A.; Kickul, J.; Elfving, J. ‘Trying’to be an Entrepreneur? A ‘Goal-Specific’ Challenge to the Intentions Model. SSRN Electron. J. 2007. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Burke, S.; Collins, K.M. Gender differences in leadership styles and management skills. Women Manag. Rev. 2001, 16, 244–257. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Clercq, D.D.; Arenius, P. The role of knowledge in business start-up activity. Int. Small Bus. J. 2006, 24, 339–358. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Davidsson, P.; Honig, B. The role of social and human capital among nascent entrepreneurs. J. Bus. Ventur. 2003, 18, 301–331. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Forbes, D.P. Cognitive approaches to new venture creation. Int. J. Manag. Rev. 1999, 1, 415–439. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Verheul, I.; Stel, A.V.; Thurik, R. Explaining female and male entrepreneurship at the country level. Entrep. Reg. Dev. 2006, 18, 151–183. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Delmar, F.; Davidsson, P. Where do they come from? Prevalence and characteristics of nascent entrepreneurs. Entrep. Reg. Dev. 2000, 12, 1–23. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Scherer, R.F.; Adams, J.S.; Carley, S.S.; Wiebe, F.A. Role model performance effects on development of entrepreneurial career preference. Entrep. Theory Pract. 1989, 13, 53–72. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Veciana, J.M.; Aponte, M.; Urbano, D. University students’ attitudes towards entrepreneurship: A two countries comparison. Int. Entrep. Manag. J. 2005, 1, 165–182. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hackett, G.; Betz, N.E.; Casas, J.; Rocha-Singh, I. Gender, ethnicity and social cognitive factors predicting achievement. J. Couns. Psychol. 1992, 39, 527–538. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Si, S.X.; Cullen, J.B. Response categories and potential cultural bias: Effects of an explicit middle point in cross-cultural surveys. Int. J. Organ. Anal. 1998, 6, 218–230. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Marlow, S.; Patton, D. All credit to men? Entrepreneurship, finance, and gender. Entrep. Theory Pract. 2005, 29, 717–735. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Carter, S. Gender and Enterprise. In Enterprise and Small Business: Principles, Practice and Policy; Prentice Hall: London, UK, 2000. [Google Scholar]
- Calcagnini, G.; Giombini, G.; Lenti, E. Gender Differences in Bank Loan Access. 2012. Available online: http://www.econ.uniurb.it/RePEc/urb/wpaper/WP_12_12.pdf (accessed on 3 July 2018).
- Cavalluzzo, K.S.; Cavalluzzo, L.C.; Wolken, J.D. Competition, small business financing, and discrimination: Evidence from a new survey. J. Bus. 2002, 75, 641–679. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Eagly, A.H. Reporting sex differences. Am. Psychol. 1987, 42, 756–757. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Eagly, A.H.; Carli, L.L. Women and the labyrinth of leadership. Harv. Bus. Rev. 2007, 85, 147–162. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- European Commission. Promotion of Women Innovators and Entrepreneurship; European Commission: Brussels, Belgium, 2014. [Google Scholar]
- Lopez-Zafra, E.; Garcia-Retamero, R.; Martos, M.P.B. The relationship between transformational leadership and emotional intelligence from a gendered approach. Psychol. Rec. 2012, 62, 97–114. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- McKay, S.; Phillimore, J.; Teasdale, S. Exploring the ‘gendered’ nature of social entrepreneurship: Women’s leadership, employment and participation in the third sector. In Proceedings of the 60th Political Studies Association Annual Conference, Edinburgh, UK, 30–31 March 2010; Volume 29. [Google Scholar]
- Autio, E.; Keeley, R.H.; Klofsten, M.; Ulfstedt, T. Entrepreneurial intent among students: Testing an intent model in Asia, Scandinavia, and USA. In Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research, 1997: Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Entrepreneurship Research Conference; Wellesley, Mass.: Babson Park, MA, USA, 1997; p. 97132018. Available online: https://fusionmx.babson.edu/entrep/fer/papers97/autio/aut1.htm (accessed on 3 July 2018).
- De Groot, J.; Steg, L. General beliefs and the theory of planned behavior: The role of environmental concerns in the TPB. J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 2007, 37, 1817–1836. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Minniti, M. The role of government policy on entrepreneurial activity: Productive, unproductive, or destructive? Entrep. Theory Pract. 2008, 32, 779–790. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Politis, D. The process of entrepreneurial learning: A conceptual framework. Entrep. Theory Pract. 2005, 29, 399–424. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hall, V. Reinterpreting entrepreneurship in education: A gender perspective. In Women School Leadership: International Perspectives; UNY Press: Albany, NY, USA, 2002; pp. 13–28. [Google Scholar]
- Armitage, C.J.; Conner, M. Efficacy of the theory of planned behaviour: A meta-analytic review. Br. J. Soc. Psychol. 2001, 40, 471–499. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- European Commission. La Garanzia per I Giovani e L’iniziativa a Favore Dell’occupazione Giovanile a tre Anni di Distanza; European Commission: Brussels, Belgium, 2016. [Google Scholar]
Constructs | Mean | Median | dev.st. |
---|---|---|---|
ATT | 3.34 | 3.30 | 0.34 |
SN | 2.97 | 3.00 | 0.59 |
PBC | 3.16 | 3.27 | 0.72 |
INT | 1.79 | 1.75 | 0.44 |
DEGREE | 3.22 | 3.00 | 1.08 |
STUDIES | 0.67 | 1.00 | 0.47 |
WORK_EXP | 0.45 | 0.00 | 0.50 |
ATT | PBC | INT | SN | DEGREE | STUDIES | WORK_EXP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ATT | 1 | ||||||
PBC | 0.16 *** | 1 | |||||
INT | 0.13 *** | 0.11 *** | 1 | ||||
SN | 0.12 *** | 0.11 *** | 0.51 *** | 1 | |||
DEGREE | −0.00 | 0.01 | 0.06 | 0.02 | 1 | ||
STUDIES | −0.09 * | 0.19 *** | 0.11 ** | 0.05 | 0.01 | 1 | |
WORK_EXP | 0.08 * | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.01 | 0.09 | −0.09 | 1 |
Model | Beta | Std. Error | VIF (Tolerance) | Student t |
---|---|---|---|---|
Constant | 0.94 | 0.25 | 3.75 *** | |
ATT | 0.11 | 0.05 | 1.02 (0.97) | 1.67 * |
PBC | 0.07 | 0.03 | 1.02 (0.97) | 2.67 ** |
SN | 0.48 | 0.03 | 1.01 (0.99) | 14.52 *** |
DEGREE | 0.01 | 0.02 | 1.00 (0.99) | 0.75 |
STUDIES | 0.09 | 0.05 | 1.07 (0.93) | 1.80 * |
WORK_EXP | 0.01 | 0.04 | 1.02 (0.98) | 0.34 |
F test | 40.92 *** | |||
Adj R2 | 0.35 |
Model | Beta | Std. Error | VIF (Tolerance) | Student t |
---|---|---|---|---|
Constant | 0.93 | 0.26 | 3.53 *** | |
ATT | 1.14 | 0.68 | 1.03 (0.97) | 1.67 * |
PBC | 0.89 | 0.33 | 1.07 (0.93) | 2.67 ** |
SN | 1.01 | 0.07 | 1.02 (0.98) | 14.52 *** |
DEGREE | 0.01 | 0.02 | 1.00 (0.99) | 0.75 |
STUDIES | 0.09 | 0.05 | 1.07 (0.93) | 1.80 * |
WORK_EXP | 0.01 | 0.04 | 1.02 (0.98) | 0.34 |
F test | 40.92 *** | |||
Adj R2 | 0.35 |
© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Ferri, L.; Ginesti, G.; Spanò, R.; Zampella, A. Exploring the Entrepreneurial Intention of Female Students in Italy. J. Open Innov. Technol. Mark. Complex. 2018, 4, 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc4030027
Ferri L, Ginesti G, Spanò R, Zampella A. Exploring the Entrepreneurial Intention of Female Students in Italy. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity. 2018; 4(3):27. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc4030027
Chicago/Turabian StyleFerri, Luca, Gianluca Ginesti, Rosanna Spanò, and Annamaria Zampella. 2018. "Exploring the Entrepreneurial Intention of Female Students in Italy" Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity 4, no. 3: 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc4030027
APA StyleFerri, L., Ginesti, G., Spanò, R., & Zampella, A. (2018). Exploring the Entrepreneurial Intention of Female Students in Italy. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 4(3), 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc4030027