Linking entrepreneurs perceptions of their entrepreneurial competence to entrepreneurial performance: proposition of a conceptual framework

Abstract

The failure of new ventures in their early stages of development is a common occurrence (Hackett and Dilts, 2004; Watson et al., 1998; Zacharakis et al., 1999). One of the key factors of failure identified in the literature is the lack of experience and skills of nascent

entrepreneurs. This often results in the lack of long-term vision and the difficulty or even

inability to find a profitable niche for the new company (Festervand and Forrest, 1991;

Gaskill et al. 1993; Baldwin et al., 1997; Saint-Jean, 2008). Consequently, the capacity of

entrepreneurs to acquire new knowledge and skills during the start-up process is as critical as

to new venture success (Gartner et al., 1998).

Given that the importance of entrepreneurial competence (EC) and entrepreneurial

competence development are widely acknowledged as being key to new venture success, it is

surprising to see that very little research has investigated this issue in the context of new

venture support and/or incubation programmes.

In this context, our paper aims to explain, by proposing a conceptual model, the role played

by new business support and/or incubation programmes in the improvement of entrepreneurs‟

perceptions of their entrepreneurial competence and how this affects the performance of

entrepreneurial activities. Several propositions are then generated and discussed that are

designed to explore the relationships between the main variables of our model.