There has been much research on planned behaviour (Ajzen) and personal traits (like the Big Five) in an attempt to predict performance and success. More recent research intends to take competence as a starting point for predicting performance and success (such as the research which resulted in the Great Eight by Bartram). This research is often aimed at managers in large organizations. However, Lans et al did research in small business on entrepreneurial processes to model entrepreneurial competence for this sector. The model was validated and used to study the relationship between elements of entrepreneurial competence, the type of the entrepreneurs (in terms of their adaptivity and orientation towards change), education level and years of experience. Data based on empirical research with 348 small-firm owner-managers showed that there are three dominant competencies in the entrepreneurship competence domain which were named ‘analysing’, ‘pursuing’, and ‘networking’. Other entrepreneurship competencies defined earlier by other researchers all fall in these three broad categories. Further analysis showed that these three competencies are related to the type of entrepreneur, education level and years of experience. There is a positive relationship between type of entrepreneur, pursuing and networking. Education level correlates most with analysing and networking. Years of experience shows a negative correlation with networking.
Source: Lans, T., J. Verstegen and M. Mulder (2011). Analysing, pursuing and networking: Towards a validated three-factor framework for entrepreneurial competence from a small firm perspective. International Small Business Journal, 29(6) 695–713.
