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The effect of entrepreneurship education programmes on satisfaction with innovation behaviour and performance

Natalia Martin Cruz (University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain)
Ana Isabel Rodriguez Escudero (University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain)
Juan Hernangomez Barahona (University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain)
Fernando Saboia Leitao (University of Ceara, Ceara, Brazil)

Journal of European Industrial Training

ISSN: 0309-0590

Article publication date: 3 April 2009

3596

Abstract

Purpose

This paper attempts to shed light on the effect of educational programmes aimed at entrepreneurs on innovation and business success.

Design/methodology/approach

We use as theoretical framework the theory of planned behaviour. We use a sample of 354 entrepreneurs from Castile and Leon, Spain. To estimate the model we use a path analysis (AMOS 7).

Findings

Individuals who are concerned about further management education and entrepreneurship education show themselves to be more innovative. Moreover, indirectly, by means of the relationship between innovation and success, specific entrepreneurship education contributes to obtaining better business results. However, to have reached high levels of formal education makes entrepreneurs less conformist regarding the activity of innovation. The existence of a direct effect of innovative behaviour on business success is confirmed.

Research limitations

The limitations which our study presents are principally related to the measurement of the variables. Some of the characteristics of education should be studied more deeply.

Practical implications

The results obtained lead us to recommend that the educational centres and institutions which organise the programmes should give preference to specialised education and less to entrepreneurship education when seeking to reinforce the innovative spirit of the entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

The debate concerning the effectiveness of entrepreneurship educational programmes is still undecided, so much so that both supporters and detractors of entrepreneurship education exist. For that reason, this paper aims to shed some light on the effects of the educational programmes aimed at the entrepreneur.

Keywords

Citation

Cruz, N.M., Rodriguez Escudero, A.I., Hernangomez Barahona, J. and Saboia Leitao, F. (2009), "The effect of entrepreneurship education programmes on satisfaction with innovation behaviour and performance", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 33 No. 3, pp. 198-214. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090590910950578

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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