A Study Of Competency Of The Entrepreneur In Small And Mid-size High-tech Enterprises

Since 1980's, small and mid-size high-tech enterprises take an important role in economy development in our country. Many research focus on these enterprises and few cares the entrepreneurs whose competency is a crucial factor in enterprise's success. So it is necessary for us to study entrepreneurial competency of the entrepreneur in small and mid-size high-tech enterprises.Based on Greiner's theory of enterprises growth stages, This study proposes the conceptual model of entrepreneurial competency and employs questionnaire method and Behavioral Event Interview method to demonstrate the model empirically. Then, builds up a stage-divided (start-up stage and expansion stage) competency model of entrepreneurs' in small and mid-size high-tech enterprises in China, which including critical competencies, the definitions and behavioral performance, etc. Nearly 140 small and mid-size high-tech enterprises and its entrepreneurs from 9 cities participated in this study. Results suggested that:1) "Innovation" is differentiated competence of entrepreneurs' in small and mid-size high-tech enterprises, but shows few importance in former research.2) Entrepreneurs' competency in small and mid-size high-tech enterprises at start-up stage is significantly different from that at expansion stage.3) Entrepreneurs' competency in small and mid-size high-tech enterprises at start-up stage are as follows:Management & Leadership: Relationship Build-up, Ability of Organization & Management, Influence, Adaptability & Flexibility.Market Expansion: Initiative & Sense of marketing, Strategic planning and Implementation.Cognition & Volition: Analytical & Conceptual Thinking, Innovation, Industry/Technology Know-how (extension), Persistence & Achievement-Oriented.4) Entrepreneurs' competency in small and mid-size high-tech enterprises at expansion stage are as follows:Management & Leadership: Ability of Organization and Management, Influence.Market Expansion: Strategic Planning and Implementation, Initiative & Sense of Marketing.Cognition & Volition: Analytical & Conceptual Thinking, Persistence & Achievement-Oriented, Innovation, Self-learning and Improvement.5) Entrepreneurs with high performance always do better in all aspects of competency while ones with normal performance only do better in some aspects.