Influence of Entrepreneurial Personality Traits on Entrepreneurial Intention of Management Undergraduates in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The Psychological Characteristics School of Entrepreneurship focuses on personality traits and believes that entrepreneurs have unique values and attitudes towards work and life. Undergraduates are considered to represent the knowledge, the creativity of nations with many dreams and ambitions. The main purpose of this study is to examine the entrepreneurial personality traits influencing on entrepreneurial intention of management undergraduates in Sri Lanka. Drawing on the prior studies on entrepreneurial personality traits, the need for achievement, locus of control, innovativeness and entrepreneurial alertness were selected. The primary data was collected from 344 undergraduates through a structured questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses constructed. The results revealed that locus of control and entrepreneurial alertness have a positive significant influence on entrepreneurship intention. The need for achievement and innovativeness were not significant influencers. Entrepreneurial alertness recorded the highest beta value. The results show that locus of control and entrepreneurial alertness can increase undergraduates’ entrepreneurial intention. Therefore, in order to nurture entrepreneurial intention, the university needs to have specific ways to influence these determinants, from which, undergraduates can be more interested in entrepreneurship and more confident in entrepreneurial-related activities. The scope of the study is limited to four personality trait factors, thus future studies could take other personality traits such as perceived desirability, and propensity to act and perform in-depth analysis.