Title: Personality of Finnish innovative entrepreneurs

Authors: Vesa Routamaa; Tiina Brandt; Piia Uusi-Kakkuri

Addresses: Department of Management and Organisation, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, 65101 Vaasa, Finland ' Department of Management and Organisation, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, 65101 Vaasa, Finland ' Department of Management and Organisation, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, 65101 Vaasa, Finland

Abstract: Although anyone can form a company, having certain personal characteristics and behaviour patterns may benefit those running an enterprise. Earlier studies indicate that entrepreneurs as individuals differ from other people, in that they have different personality structures. It can be assumed that the choice of entrepreneurs to work in certain fields or forms of enterprising might be connected with their having certain characteristics. In this study, entrepreneurs' personality types will be analysed and compared with the general population. Additionally, the study will compare the creativity and innovation orientations of different personality types to discern who the innovators are. The analysis is based on the typologies of Jung and of Myers and Briggs, and on an empirical Finnish sample. The results indicate that the most typical entrepreneurial personalities are often spontaneous, curious, adaptable, and open to what is new and changeable. Correspondingly, creative innovators are often intuitive and spontaneous.

Keywords: entrepreneurial personality; psychological types; Myers-Briggs type indicator; MBTI; innovative entrepreneurs; creativity; Finland; entrepreneurship; personal characteristics; behaviour patterns; entrepreneurial orientation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2016.078015

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2016 Vol.29 No.1, pp.133 - 148

Received: 17 Oct 2014
Accepted: 17 Jan 2015
Published online: 31 Jul 2016 *

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