International Journal of Innovation Science

Ferreira, João J.; Trusko, Brett E.

2018 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/IJIS-01-2018-0001

Ferrandiz, Julia; Fidel, Pilar; Conchado, Andrea

2018 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/IJIS-09-2017-0089

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to improve the current knowledge of the effects of a higher education program for entrepreneurs, integrated in an entrepreneurial ecosystem, in the entrepreneurial intention of the students.Design/methodology/approachFor this, group dynamics have been carried out with the students to know the process of entrepreneurial learning, the acquisition of competences, the mentoring received and the influence of the program in its entrepreneurial intention in the short and medium term.FindingsThe results suggest that the program positively influences students’ entrepreneurial intention, especially in the medium term. In particular, they point out that working personal skills in the program contribute to the development of their entrepreneurial project. On the other hand, mentoring requires a more methodical accompaniment and a greater degree of specialization of the mentors.Research limitations/implicationsThis research represents an excellent first step toward a better understanding of the factors that influence entrepreneurial intention. In addition, they lead to improve existing knowledge about the impact of entrepreneurial higher education. The only limitation of the paper is given by its nature as a case study.Practical implicationsThe case study aims to provide the results of the practical experience of a higher education program in entrepreneurship and serve as a basis for future lines of research that address the research gap based on the need of identification of best practices in entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial behavior.Social implicationsThis work brings practical experience that inspires diverse social actors as managers of higher education programs, managers of ecosystems entrepreneurs and public institutions.Originality/valueOur findings respond to previous concerns on the results of programs aimed at training future entrepreneurs. Besides, this work describes an interesting case study based on a postgraduate program, while most of the previous studies have been limited to undergraduate programs.

Teixeira, Sergio Jesus; Casteleiro, Carla Maria Lopes; Rodrigues, Ricardo Gouveia; Guerra, Maria Dulce

2018 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/IJIS-07-2017-0062

PurposeThis study aims to pursue better understanding and investigation of the factor that can have an impact on the level of entrepreneurial activity. To achieve this, statistical analysis was conducted. Indicators from 22 countries of the European Union were reunited to compare the differences between entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachTo analyse entrepreneurial intentions in Europe, two databases of the Global Databases Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) were used, namely, “GEM NES Key Indicators 2007-2015” and “GEM APS Key Indicators 2001-2015”, available at www.gemconsortium.org/data/sets, considering only the data from 2015 and analysed with IBM SPSS Statistics tool. Each original database includes 60 countries, and this study is limited to an analysis of only countries of the European continent, resulting in a sample of 22 countries.FindingsThe major determinants of the entrepreneurial intention in the countries studied were: “perceived capacity”; “entrepreneurial intention” itself which will, in fact, influence the “rate of nascent entrepreneurship”; “governmental and political factors” in relation to the respective “financing for the entrepreneur”; and “basic education and training” in entrepreneurship which influences “research and development”.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has few limitations because, as it refers to a European analysis, it would require a more generalized analysis of the factors, such as to include more and better indicators for the demographic, economic and institutional determinants of the entrepreneurial intentions and entrepreneurship in the European countries under study. For future research on the explanation of commercial activity, we must address the methodological problem of distinguishing the effect of business intentions from other determinants, as these also influence entrepreneurial attitudes. Despite the conceptual and empirical limitations, the conclusions of the study imply and provide several recommendations for the future policy of entrepreneurship in Europe.Practical implicationsIn the past decades, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intentions have gained increasing attention from academics, governments and politicians around the world. It is seen as a critical factor for economic growth and development of a country, as it contributes to the solution of fundamental macroeconomic issues such as increased employment, development of competitiveness, innovation and the creation of economic and social values. Therefore, academics and researchers, governments and politicians are interested in identifying the differences and causes between countries that influence the level of entrepreneurship as a phenomenon associated with business activity in a country.Social implicationsResults reveal that some of the key determinants of entrepreneurial intention in the European countries are related to policy factors, like “governmental and political factors” and “basic education and training” in entrepreneurship. In this way, the study can help politicians elaborate the policies related to entrepreneurship, implying an increase in entrepreneurial intentions in a country and consequently implications for socio-economic development.Originality/valueTo achieve the originality of the study, two databases of the GEM of 2015 were used and duly adapted. In this way, the value of the article is very significant, as it is possible to group data from several countries, to test hypotheses and to arrive at very useful conclusions that may be of interest to policymakers at both the European and national levels. The adoption of adequate policies promotes and supports entrepreneurship in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy, which is the European Union’s growth strategy.

Al-Shammari, Minwir; Waleed, Rana

2018 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/IJIS-06-2017-0058

PurposeThis study aims to explore the level of entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) among students in three private universities in Bahrain. The examined factors that are expected to shape EI are personal attraction toward becoming an entrepreneur, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms and social valuation of entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachA close-ended questionnaire was used to collect data of the study. The total number of questionnaires distributed was 1,530 questionnaires, while the total number of the valid questionnaires retrieved was 550, which makes the total response rate to be 36 per cent.FindingsRegression analysis results indicated that students’ personal attraction toward entrepreneurship and perceived behavioral control had a significant strong positive relationship with their EI. In addition, there was a significant moderate positive relationship between students’ perceived subjective norms and social valuation of entrepreneurship with their EI.Originality/valueThe findings showed that entrepreneurial education is needed to improve students’ skills and knowledge and enhance their EI and perceived behavioral control. In addition, it is important to expose students to entrepreneurial role models and their businesses and to promote entrepreneurial careers as desirable and feasible options that may bring more advantages than working in the government or private sector.

Marques, Carla S.E.; Santos, Gina; Galvão, Anderson; Mascarenhas, Carla; Justino, Elsa

2018 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/IJIS-07-2017-0067

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate the impact of entrepreneurship education (EE) on the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of higher education students, as mediated by gender and family history. A survey tool for measuring EO was developed and used in one university. The responses were processed using statistical methods.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected with an online questionnaire distributed to students of engineering and business and social sciences in the past year of their degree program at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Some respondents had a class in entrepreneurship, while others did not have it.FindingsThe results highlight that EE generally has a greater impact on business and social sciences students. Family background and gender are moderating variables with a positive influence on individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO).Practical implicationsThis study’s main practical implication is that evidence was found that universities need to develop more effective didactic approaches to EE. These must take into account new market demands and students’ profile and always taking into account their different academic areas and levels of previous EE.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to filling a gap in the literature by identifying the importance of EE, gender and family background to the development of IEO in students of different academic programs (i.e. engineering, business and social sciences).

Errasti, Nekane; Bezanilla, María-José; García-Olalla, Ana; Auzmendi, Elena; Paños, Jessica

2018 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/IJIS-05-2017-0043

PurposeThe entrepreneurial university is being widely studied, given its importance as an agent in economic and social development. This paper presents the findings of a study that had a twofold objective. First, it sought to establish a model of maturity for the measurement of the level of academic entrepreneurship in universities. Second, it aimed to apply this maturity model to a sufficiently wide and varied sample of faculties to discover their current level of academic entrepreneurship, as well as their differences by area of knowledge, type of university and autonomous region in Spain.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was designed with items grouped into 14 blocks that defined the entrepreneurial university according to the model previously developed. The questionnaire was answered by 84 deans/directors belonging to different faculties/universities from six Spanish regions.FindingsThe findings showed that the Spanish universities stand out in four areas: internationalisation, use of active methodologies, mission and strategy and management team support. However, the legal and administrative context, the funds for entrepreneurship and the training of staff in entrepreneurship are not sufficiently developed. Significant differences were observed between regions but not by type of university or area of knowledge.Originality/valueThe results provide an innovative model that explains the factors that define the entrepreneurial university, as well as guidelines for universities to move forward in developing stages.

Passoni, Diego; Glavam, Rafael Bianchini

2018 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/IJIS-05-2017-0042

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare the levels of entrepreneurial intention (EI) among academics from different fields of university knowledge and to evaluate the effect of entrepreneurial education (EE) on students taking management, engineering and accounting courses.Design/methodology/approachA survey has been conducted with 491 academics from different fields of knowledge at the Brazilian undergraduate level to compare their EI levels and to validate the effect of EE in the EI in management, engineering and accounting courses.FindingsThis study has demonstrated that EE has a positive effect on EI among undergraduate management and engineering students.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has been restricted to some fields of knowledge within the undergraduate courses at university level. It has generated specific conclusions and recommendations that cannot be generalised. It suggests new lines of research from its results.Practical implicationsThis study may encourage investment in EE programmes in certain fields of knowledge within institutions and communities that need to foster entrepreneurship as a driver of economic development.Originality/valueThis study provides empirical evidence of the impact of EE on EI among academics from different fields of knowledge in higher education institutions in Brazil, as well as compares and lists the undergraduate courses where students have more entrepreneurial intention.

Kozlov, Mikhail

2018 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/IJIS-09-2017-0094

PurposeThe purpose of the paper was to help resolve the problem if only the universities possessing strategic entrepreneurship manage to advance significantly in their global ranking positions, while most of their competitors fail.Design/methodology/approachConceptual part of the study introduces a new strategic entrepreneurial latecomer university framework, based on the combination of the resource-based view, dynamic capabilities, strategic innovation, strategic entrepreneurship and latecomer organization concepts. For verification of the proposed conceptual framework, case study of the Lausanne Federal Polytechnic Institute is considered by structuring the materials of its well-documented success story of its advancing in global rankings in terms of the construct dimensions.FindingsThe case study findings were identification of entrepreneurial mindset, managing human resources strategically and strategic innovativeness. It confirms conceptual findings that the presence of strategic entrepreneurship construct dimensions in latecomer university is instrumental in sensing business opportunities at most lucrative market segments of scientific research, carrying out its strategic innovation responsible for university difference in strategic transformational development and exploiting the opportunities ahead of its competitors so as to become more competitive and overtake them.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations of this study are that only one case of university transition to catch-up development is explored and not all strategic entrepreneurship construct distinctive dimensions are considered. The research will be further elaborated to incorporate all strategic entrepreneurship construct dimensions.Practical implicationsThe approach introduced here has shown that to advance in global rankings, university should carry out its strategic innovation ahead of its competitors.Originality/valueThe study is supposed to be the first where university at the stage of its transition to catch-up development is considered using new framework based on strategic entrepreneurship construct dimensions.