Ricardo Gouveia Rodrigues

A model of entrepreneurial intention

Purpose – The field of entrepreneurship is dotted across different paradigms. Measuring entrepreneurial intention automatically needs to incorporate insights from the psychological approach and behavioural approach. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a comprehensive structural equation model which combines both psychological and behavioural perspectives aiming to identify what variables have influence on entrepreneurial intention of secondary students.Design/methodology/approach – This research was developed involving a sample of secondary students. The method of data collection was a survey by self‐administered questionnaire, to two secondary student classes, with several groups of questions related to demographic characteristics, behavioural and psychological constructs and entrepreneurial intention. Data was analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM).Findings – The results show that need for achievement, self‐confidence, and personal attitude positively affect entrepreneurial int...

Entrepreneurship Education: How Psychological, Demographic and Behavioural Factors Predict the Entrepreneurial Intention.

Purpose – Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), the purpose of this paper is to approach entrepreneurial intention (EI) and the factors preceding the founding of EI among secondary students, both studying general academic and specific professional programs, and thereby establish causal relationships between psychological, demographic and behavioural factors. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of secondary students, both studying general academic and specific professional programs, was chosen. Data were collected through questionnaires and analysed with resource to structural equation models (SEM) to measure the causal relationships among different constructs. Findings – The results show that the EI of secondary school students is influenced by such demographic, psychological and behavioural factors. However, the hypothesis of becoming entrepreneurs in the future remains independent of the fact of whether or not students had already experienced engagement with entrepreneurship‐related themes having no impact on EI. These results raise a series of pertinent questions and deserve being subject to a more profound reflection and not only among the scientific and academic community but also among political and government entities. Originality/value – The paper provides important evidence to expand entrepreneurship education specifically in the field of secondary school education. These students are already about to face choices over their professional careers. This remains valid whether or not students intend to proceed with higher education studies or to join the workforce. Therefore this research contributes towards meeting a better understanding of EI and the factors preceding the formation of this intention among secondary school students.

Entrepreneurship education and the propensity for business creation: testing a structural model

This study aims to identify the factors that contribute the most to the intention to start up a business. The research also aims to identify the profile of student who is a potential entrepreneur concerning several aspects: personal attributes, family, demographic variables and motivations. Based on a sample of university students, a structural model was tested. Research findings include the idea that entrepreneurship education is the most relevant factor in the propensity for business creation. On the other hand, personal characteristics have an important role in shaping the motivation to start up a business and perceived hurdles have a negative impact on the intention to start one up.

Entrepreneurial intention among secondary students: findings from Portugal

This paper aims to identify some factors that may be explaining differences among secondary students in start-up intentions. For that, the study develops an entrepreneurial intention model sustained by the use of Azjens theory of planned behaviour (TPB). This theory is considered as a relevant tool to model the development of entrepreneurial intention through pedagogical processes and learning contexts. Using a sample of students aged between 14 and 15 years old, it was administrated a questionnaire based on the Linan and Chens entrepreneurial intention questionnaire (EIQ). Data was collected before the entrepreneurship education programme. The purpose is to test a model of entrepreneurial intention using structural equations, before the educational experience.

The Effect of an Entrepreneurial Training Programme on Entrepreneurial Traits and Intention of Secondary Students

One of the earliest discussions in entrepreneurship literature is whether to be an entrepreneur can be learned or not. This discussion reflects two extreme positions: in one side there are those who defend that “entrepreneurs are born”, on the other side there are those who believe that “entrepreneurs can be made”. In the confront of these positions it seems to win the line that defends that it is possible to learn to be an entrepreneur making use of differentiated policies and instruments in education. The support for this view comes from a widely literature review of entrepreneurship and business creation, which suggest important links between entrepreneurship education, business creation and entrepreneurial performance.

Franchisee-based brand equity and performance

This study focuses on the perceptions of franchisees and analyzes the influence of brand equity on franchisee performance. The factors that constitute brand equity are also assessed. Factor analysis was used to generate valid and reliable scales based on a sample of 205 Portuguese franchisee firms, and structural equation modeling methodology was then employed in the analysis. The results show franchisee-based brand equity (FBBE) to be a multivariate factor with strong influence on performance. This study contributes significantly to the literature by showing the perspective of franchisees toward franchising. It also has implications on the adequacy of corporate strategy in achieving performance.

O MARKETING SOCIAL E A PROMOÇÃO DE MUDANÇAS ESTRUTURAIS NO ALEITAMENTO MATERNO

To assess the practical implications in relation to the breastfeeding behavior, regarding the dimension of the structural problems in the framework of social marketing, a qualitative exploratory research based on the Social Ecological Model (SEM) was developed, through in-depth interviews with lactation counselors and consultants in Portugal. The content of these interviews revealed some of the key barriers to breastfeeding behavior in the dimension of the structural problems and in the context of social marketing.To assess the practical implications in relation to the breastfeeding behavior, regarding the dimension of the structural problems in the framework of social marketing, a qualitative exploratory research based on the Social Ecological Model (SEM) was developed, through in-depth interviews with lactation counselors and consultants in Portugal. The content of these interviews revealed some of the key barriers to breastfeeding behavior in the dimension of the structural problems and in the context of social marketing.

Entrepreneurial intentions and entrepreneurship in European countries

Purpose This 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/approach To 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. Findings The 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/implications This 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 implications In 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 implications Results 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/value To 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.

A quadruple helix model of entrepreneurship, innovation and stages of economic development

The purpose of this paper is to study the role of entrepreneurship in economic development based on the four dimensions of the quadruple helix model (Government, University, Enterprise and Society) in relation to the three stages of economy defined by the GEM (innovation-, efficiency- and factor-driven economies). In this context, the authors considered a set of variables that allowed them to measure and verify the stimulus that the four helixes represent in economic development.,This study was supported on secondary data from the GEM platform for 58 countries, for 2015. SPSS software was used to analyze data, which allowed the use of the ANOVA and Kruskall-Wallis tests, as well as the generalized linear regression.,The results show that in the factor-driven economies, there is a greater influence by the industry, while in the efficiency-driven economies, there is homogeneity among the four dimensions, highlighting only the variables “R&D transfer” and “Entrepreneurial Intention”. Because of the constant need for innovation to become more competitive, in the innovation-driven economies, business and government are the most important dimensions.,Both in the scientific community with future empirical studies that can confirm the relevance of this model to better understanding which dimensions of quadruple helix improve economic development, and in the governmental community, to serve for policies and strategies that stimulate entrepreneurship to foster the transition from one stage of economic development to another.,Proposal and test of a quadruple helix model, using the variables available in the GEM database, to the three stages of economic development of the economies that were involved in the GEM.

Do Individual Characteristics Influence the Types of Technostress Reported by Workers

ABSTRACT Based on the perspective that the diversity of the workforce has implications for attitudes and behaviors at the individual and group levels, this article examines the role of individual differences related to gender, age, formal education, and length of professional experience in the levels of stress caused by the use of information technology (IT) in the daily activities of workers. This phenomenon, termed in the literature as technostress, is studied by identifying and measuring the factors that create technostress (the technostress creator factors: techno-uncertainty, techno-invasion, techno-overload, and techno-complexity). The technostress phenomenon is related to the most varied types of disorders in workers and losses in organizations, such as fatigue, dissatisfaction, anxiety, and reduced productivity. To achieve the goal of this research, we applied structural equation models in a sample of 927 questionnaires completed by 14 different Brazilian public institutions that were distributed among all regions of the country and that were strongly dependent on IT for their main business processes. The results indicate that workers’ demographic characteristics relate to one another differently and specifically with the various forms of manifestation of technostress. More precisely, older workers or those with longer professional experience reported greater difficulties with the increase of technological complexity for the execution of tasks (techno-complexity). Women reported being subject to higher levels of techno-complexity and techno-uncertainty, while men indicated feeling greater effects from techno-overload and techno-invasion. We did not detect differences related to the levels of formal education of workers. This study presents the implications of the results for theory and for the everyday life of modern organizations that are increasingly dependent on the use of IT.