Predicting firm survival from a aknowledge of entrepreneur task motivation

Abstract

Data are presented on the task or achievement motivation, as measured by the Miner Sentence Completion Scale — form T, of 118 technologically innovative entrepreneurs whose subsequent behaviour caused them to be placed in one of three groups: (a) entrepreneurs who were found to be no longer with their firms; (b) entrepreneurs who could not be located; and (c) entrepreneurs who had survived in their relationships with their firms. The results indicate rising test scores across the three groups, thus demonstrating that pre-existing motive patterns can have a causal impact on entrepreneurial outcomes.

Keywords:

• entrepreneur
• task motivation
• causation