Title: A comparative study of cultural influences on intentions to found a new venture in Germany and Poland

Authors: Ricarda B. Bouncken, Jevgenija Zagvozdina, Andreas Golze, Anna Mrozewska

Addresses: Department of Organization, HR and Innovation, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Greifswald, Friedrich – Loefflerstr, 70/D 17487 Greifswald, Germany. ' Department of Organization, HR and Innovation, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Greifswald, Friedrich – Loefflerstr, 70/D 17487 Greifswald, Germany. ' Department of Organization, HR and Innovation, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Greifswald, Friedrich – Loefflerstr, 70/D 17487 Greifswald, Germany. ' Technical University, Koszalin, ul.Kwiatkowskiego 6e PL 75343 Koszalin, Poland

Abstract: This study investigates cultural antecedents of motivators and intentions of new venture-generation. By using a sophisticated data analysis method – multi-group structural equation modelling – we compare German and Polish MBA students in order to study cultural influences on entrepreneurship. In general, we find some similar, but also contrasting, results through the analyses of three cultural dimensions: power distance; collectivism; individualism. Also, results show that in both countries the motivation to start a new venture leads to the intent to start a new venture. This study not only considers different cultural antecedents, but also indirectly analyses the dissimilarities between a developed and a transitional economy.

Keywords: culture; entrepreneurship; structural equation modelling; multi-group comparison; transition economies; cultural influences; new ventures; Germany; Poland; MBA students.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2009.021631

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2009 Vol.3 No.1, pp.47 - 65

Published online: 30 Nov 2008 *

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