1. ENTR 207 Week 2 Theories of entrepreneurial Behaviour The personality perspective: Trait Theory Dr Luke Pittaway

10. The born versus made/ nature versus nurture debate INFLUENCES ON OWNER-MANAGERS AND ENTREPRENEURS Personal character traits Antecedent influences Situational factors Culture of society From: Burns, 2001

13. The importance of learning and experience ‘ While there is an undeniable core of such inborn characteristics as energy and raw intelligence, which an entrepreneur either has or does not, it is becoming apparent that possession of these traits does not an entrepreneur make. There is also a good deal of evidence that entrepreneurs are born and made better and that certain attitudes and behaviours can be acquired, developed, practised and refined – through a combination of experience and study… … not all attitudes and behaviours can be acquired by everyone at the same pace and with the same proficiency…Painstaking effort may be required, and much will depend on the motivation of an individual to grow, but it seems people have an astounding capacity to change and learn if they are so motivated and committed to do so’. (Timmons, 1999; p219)