Toward More Effective Training of Future Entrepreneurs

TOWARD MORE EFFECTIVE TRAINING OF FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS Through the establishment of courses and programs in entrepreneurship and small business, colleges and universities have attracted and prepared students with the necessary skills to start their own enterprises. Through academic research, the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs have been identified, problems facing entrepreneurs have been defined, and solutions to problems are being developed. In addition, educational institutions have established links with business development centers, small business institutes, and small business incubator facilities. Given the importance of the relationship between entrepreneurs and the college campus, it is worthwhile to examine methods which might improve the effectiveness of entrepreneurship programs. The purpose of this discussion is to focus on the training of future entrepreneurs in university settings. The first part of this article reviews research on the psychological characteristics of entrepreneurs, followed by a review of learning style theory. The second part of the article links the research of learning style theory to suggest a "preferred' learning style for entrepreneurs. Finally, suggestions are presented for developing and improving entrepreneurial courses and programs. BACKGROUND Entrepreneurial Research A substantial body of literature indicates that entrepreneurs may have personality traits which differ from those of others in the population. Such research has led to the belief that entrepreneurs share common personality traits which account for their entrepreneurial behavior. McClelland's research characterizes entrepreneurs as individuals with a high need for achievement.1 Such individuals tend to set goals, achieve those goals through their own efforts, solve problems, and like to receive feedback on how well they have accomplished their tasks. 1. D. C. McClelland, The Achieving Society (New York: Van Nostrand, 1961); D. C. McClelland, "Need Achievement and Entrepreneurship: A Longitudinal Study,' Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (April 1965), pp. 389-392; and D. C. McClelland and D. G. Winter, Motivating Economic Achievement (New York: Free Press, 1969). Others have found entrepreneurs to have both a high need for achievement and internal locus of control.2 Individuals with an internal locus of control believe they can determine their own fate, within limits. Schere's research indicates that entrepreneurs have a higher tolerance than others for ambiguity and novelty,3 characteristics which may underlie the entrepreneur's impetus to innovate. Other traits which have been associated with entrepreneurs are a high need for autonomy, dominance, and independence.4 2 J. A. Hornaday and C. S. Bunker,' The Nature of the Entrepreneur,' Personnel Psychology (Spring 1970), pp. 47-54; and J. Pandy and N. B. Tewary,' Locus of Control and Achievement Values of Entrepreneurs,' Journal of Occupational Psychology (December 1968), pp. 649-662. 3 J. Schere, "Tolerance of Ambiguity as a Discriminating Variable Between Entrepreneurs and Managers,' Proceedings of the Academy of Management (Academy of Management, 1982), pp. 404-408. 4 O. F. Colling, D. G. Moore, and D. B. Unwalla, The Enterprising Man (East Lansing, Michigan: MSU Business Studies, 1964); Hornaday and Bunker. ' The Nature of the Entrepreneur,' Personnel Psychology (Summer 1971), pp. 141-153; and D. L. Sexton and N. Bowman,' Determining Entrepreneurial Potential of Students,' Proceedings of the Academy of Management (Academy of Management, 1983), pp. 408-412. Learning Style Theory An understanding of the learning process may be gained by examining Kolb's four-stage learning model, as presented in figure 1. (5) 5 D. A. Kolb, Learning Style Inventory: Technical Manual, rev. ed. (Boston: McBer & Co. …