Enterprising Behavior in an Integral Competence Framework

Abstract

We present insights from literature on enterprising behavior and competence followed by an application of the competence perspective. Data collection is based on the Critical Incident Technique among 205 entrepreneurs. The study shows how entrepreneurial behavior benefits from an Integral competence perspective, underlining that entrepreneurs do need different competences related to different outcomes in their entrepreneurial endeavors. An additional study was done to test a survey on competence dimensions that were developed based on the findings of the CIT. The survey shows five competence dimensions. Entrepreneurial behavior is not about learning a single set of competences, it is rather an integral system of competences. Some of them can be taught, while others need to be experienced and tried out.