Using attitudinal, situational, and personal characteristics variables to predict future entrepreneurs from national laboratory inventors

Success of research-based spin-offs. State-of-the-art and guidelines for further research

“…Other demographic factors of spin-off founders, like personal environment, family background and religious denomination, are scarcely ever subject to empirical investigation. All these factors seem to affect the decision to found a company, but do not influence the later success of spin-offs (ADT 1998; Kassicieh et al 1997;Kriegesmann 2000;Roberts 1991;Szyperski and Klandt 1981). Personality and motives of spin-off founders are similar to those of other technological entrepreneurs.…”

“…However, empirical results are ambiguous. Roberts (1991) finds an inverted U-relation between company performance and educational level whereby successful founders are more likely to (1985), Egeln et al (2002Egeln et al ( , 2003, Franke and Lüthje (2000), Kriegesmann (2000), Roberts (1991), Smilor et al (1990) Need for achievement Positive Positive (together with moderate need for power) Kassicieh et al (1997), Roberts (1991) Need for leadership Positive -ADT (1998), Kriegesmann (2000) Internal locus of control Positive - Kassicieh et al (1997), Klandt (1980, 1981) Need for personal responsibility Positive -ADT (1998), Kriegesmann (2000) Need for authority and power Positive Positive (moderate need for power and high need for achievement) Roberts (1991) Attraction to challenges Positive - Kassicieh et al (1997), Roberts (1991) Self-confidence, self-esteem Positive - Klandt (1980, 1981) Risk-taking propensity Positive -ADT (1998), Franke and Lüthje (2000), Kriegesmann (2000) Striving for guaranteed income Negative -ADT (1998), Kriegesmann (2000) Preference for flat structures Positive -Kriegesmann (2000) Career orientation Positive Positive Egeln et al (2003), Gassmann et al (2003), Kassicieh et al (1997), Klandt (1980, 1981) Occupational and regional mobility Positive - Klandt (1980, 1981) Opportunity orientation Positive -Beibst and Lautenschläger (2002), Kassicieh et al (1997) Success of research-based spin-offs 249 have a moderate educational level in the form of a Master of Sciences degree, and lower rated performers are even more highly educated. Evidence from German studies seems to contradict this and show a positive relationship between success and educational level (Egeln et al 2003;Hunsdiek 1987;…”

“…Empirical evidence shows that the gender of the founder is in no way connected to the entrepreneurial success of the spin-off; indeed, women play a very small role in research-based company foundation. Women comprise only 6-15% of the spin-off founders and (2004), Egeln et al (2002Egeln et al ( , 2003, Lendner (2003), Steinkühler (1994), Roberts (1991), Hunsdiek (1987), Kulicke (1987) Employment growth Schmelter (2004), Egeln et al (2002Egeln et al ( , 2003, Steinkühler (1994), Kulicke (1987) Productivity or profitability Egeln et al (2002Egeln et al ( , 2003, Steinkühler (1994), Roberts (1991) Credit rating, overall credit line, credit line per employee Egeln et al (2002Egeln et al ( , 2003 IPO or venture capital funding Shane and Stuart (2002) Cost efficiency in comparison to competitors Steinkühler (1994) Time in market Roberts (1991) Sales and sales prospects Roberts (1991) (2002), Kassicieh et al (1997), Klandt (1980, 1981) Entrepreneurial potential and entrepreneurial ability of researchers ADT (1998), Beibst and Lautenschläger (2002), Kriegesmann (2000) Incubators' attitude towards entrepreneurship (commitment of the head of the institute and the former co-workers) Bird et al (1993), Knecht (1998) Quantity of spin-offs ADT (1998), Berndts and Harmsen (1985), Knecht (1998), Kriegesmann (2000), Smilor and Matthews (2004) Phases, definition and characteristics of the spin-off process or characteristics of the spin-offs …”

“…The high importance of research institutes for the development of technological firms in a region is shown by cases like Silicon Valley and the Boston Area in the US as well as Cambridge and Oxford in the UK (ADT 1998; Gibson and Smilor 1991;Kassicieh et al 1997). Even in Germany, a country known rather for outstanding technological inventions than for an active economic use of research results, starting one's own business has become a smart career option for scientists and faculty members (Achtenhagen and Welter 2004;Beibst and Lautenschläger 2004;Egeln et al 2002;Spielkamp et al 2004;Van Gelderen et al 2004).…”

The entrepreneurial motivation in academia: a multidimensional construct

“…Crossuniversity variation in spin-off activity can be explained by differences in university policies, venture capital availability, the possibility of leaves of absence for business creation, the opportunity to use university facilities in the early stages of the company, and staff attitudes towards entrepreneurial activities, among others (Kassicieh et al 1997;DiGregorio and Shane 2003;Shane 2004;Landry et al 2006;Searle 2006;O'Shea et al 2004).…”