Differentiating the effects of entrepreneurs’ intelligence and educational attainment on venture outcomes
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research
ISSN: 1355-2554
Article publication date: 21 September 2018
Issue publication date: 4 April 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Intelligence or general mental ability (GMA) is a strong predictor of job performance across most occupations, and educational attainment has been shown to be a predictor of entrepreneurial outcomes. However, there has been little research examining the simultaneous effects of entrepreneurs’ GMA and educational attainment on their venture outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of these human capital resources on venture performance and survival.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of 234 self-employed entrepreneurs from a longitudinal database, regression analysis was employed to examine the predictors of venture performance. A hazard model was utilized to assess venture survival.
Findings
Entrepreneurs’ intelligence influenced venture performance directly and indirectly via educational attainment. Entrepreneurs with higher GMA were subsequently able to obtain more education, and GMA had an indirect, positive influence on venture performance through this additional educational attainment. Findings also demonstrated an inverted-U, curvilinear effect on venture survival for GMA and educational attainment. This indicates that both intelligence and educational attainment should be considered when examining how likely entrepreneurs are to persist or survive in their ventures.
Originality/value
Entrepreneurs with higher GMA had ventures that performed better and obtained more education, which influenced venture survival. These findings suggest that entrepreneurs’ intelligence is likely to be an important predictor of venture outcomes, as well as a source of entrepreneurs’ human capital acquisition. Therefore, GMA should have a more central role in the human capital discussion within the entrepreneurship literature.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank to Dan Holland, Jie Li, Kirby Shedden, Mark Simon and two anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and assistance in developing the manuscript. Thanks also to the Hagerman Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for financially supporting this project.
Citation
Blume, B.D. (2019), "Differentiating the effects of entrepreneurs’ intelligence and educational attainment on venture outcomes", International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, Vol. 25 No. 3, pp. 518-537. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-12-2017-0507
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited