Risk-Taking and Prior-Knowledge as the Antecedents of Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition: A Study on Nascent Entrepreneurs

Abstract

Today, opportunity recognition considered as a constituent of entrepreneurship efforts. Accordingly, the questions of how entrepreneurial opportunities are recognized and how the personal differences play a role in opportunity recognition are of the essence. However, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the antecedents of entrepreneurial opportunities. Moreover, entrepreneurial opportunity recognition analyzed in a limited number of studies in the national literature. The aim of this study, therefore, is to examine the impact of nascent entrepreneurs' prior-knowledge and their tendency toward risk-taking on entrepreneurial opportunity recognition based on cognitive theory and Austrian economics theory. In the context of the study, examined whether entrepreneurial opportunity recognition level differs based on education level. Survey method used to gather data from nascent entrepreneurs, who participated in the entrepreneurship training programs. Results of the multiple linear regression method revealed that prior-knowledge and tendency toward risk-taking found to have a positive effect on entrepreneurial opportunity recognition. Additionally, entrepreneurial opportunity recognition was not found to differ based on education level. 

Keywords

• Opportunity Recognition, Prior-Knowledge, Risk-Taking, Entrepreneurship

Girişimcilik Fırsatlarını Tanımanın Öncülleri Olarak Risk Alma ve Ön Bilgi: Girişimci Adayları Üzerine Bir Araştırma

Öz

Fırsat tanıma kavramı günümüzde, girişimcilik faaliyetleri için temel bir yapıtaşı olarak ele alınmaya başlanmıştır. Dolayısıyla girişimcilik fırsatlarının nasıl tanındığını ve bireysel farklılıkların bu fırsatların tanınmasında nasıl bir rol oynadığını anlamak önem kazanmaktadır. Ancak alanyazında girişimcilik fırsatlarını tanımanın öncüllerine ilişkin bir görüş birliği olmadığı, ulusal yazında ise girişimcilik fırsatlarını tanımanın sınırlı sayıda çalışmada ele alındığı görülmüştür. Bu noktalardan hareketle çalışmanın amacı, Bilişsel teoriden ve Avusturya iktisat teorisinden yola çıkarak, girişimci adaylarının ön bilgilerinin ve risk alma eğilimlerinin, girişimcilik fırsatlarını tanıma düzeyleri üzerindeki etkisini araştırmaktır. Çalışma kapsamında, girişimcilik fırsatlarını tanıma düzeyinin eğitim durumuna göre farklılık gösterip göstermediği de incelenmiştir. Araştırmada kullanılan veriler, KOSGEB'in Adana ve Mersin illerindeki girişimcilik eğitimlerine katılan girişimci adaylarından anket yoluyla temin edilmiştir. Çoklu doğrusal regresyon yöntemi ile gerçekleştirilen analizler sonucunda, girişimcilerin ön bilgileri ve risk alma eğilimlerinin, girişimcilik fırsatlarını tanıma üzerinde pozitif yönde etkili olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca girişimcilik fırsatlarını tanıma düzeyinin eğitim durumuna göre anlamlı bir farklılık göstermediği bulgulanmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Fırsat tanıma
• ön bilgi
• risk alma
• girişimcilik

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