Abstract:
Entrepreneurial personality research can be said to be at crossroads as researchers are
unable to formulate an approach that has predictive and explanatory powers. The
developments in personality research have prompted entrepreneurial personality researchers
to suggest a model that is capable of explaining the structure and processes of
entrepreneurial personality. The configurational model suggested in this paper draws upon
the trait dynamics and the Cognitive-Affective Personality System theory of personality
reflecting the features of a total system view of entrepreneurial personality that clearly
differentiates the patterns of entrepreneurial and non-entrepreneurial behaviours. Trait
theory and the Cognitive-Affective Personality System theory variables delve into the
deeper psychological processes to identify the basic structure and the processes of
entrepreneurial personality. The configurational dynamics espouse the general pattern of
entrepreneurial personality in an interactive and mediating relation among the intraindividual structures including the situation. The configurational dynamics further identify
and differentiate the specific entrepreneurial personality constructs that researchers and
practitioners frequently refer to.
