The fit between entrepreneurs’ personality (ENTP) and the profile of the venture (VP) they manage and business success: An exploratory study

Abstract

Person-organization fit, the match between individuals and the organizations in which they work, has been extended to the fit between entrepreneurspsila personality (ENTP) and the profiles of ventures (VP) they manage, and its relationship to the venturepsilas success. Sixty three Israeli entrepreneurs working in new ventures responded to a specially designed questionnaire that included the following parts: (A) provided general data on the new venture; (B) assessed the venture type along two dimensions: novelty and technological uncertainty; (C) assessed the entrepreneurspsila personality that seemed relevant to these two dimensions and (D) assessed the venturespsila success. Findings revealed that entrepreneurs in high novelty and high technological uncertainty ventures had higher education and were more investigative, entrepreneurial, secure, curious and adventurous and less abiding of rules than those in low novelty and technological uncertainty ventures. These findings were interpreted as suggesting that entrepreneurs are more attracted to ventures that fit their personality. In addition, high novelty high technological uncertainty ventures were found to be significantly more successful (on 7 out of 10 success measures used) when compared to the low novelty and low technological uncertainty ventures.