Abstract
We analyze the role of emotional intelligence competencies and their impact on business outcomes in a sample of entrepreneurs of small and medium sized Italian firms. We focus on the measurement of competencies by using a variety of tools and identify those ones that distinguish superior performers (i.e. distinctive competencies). Using factor and regression analysis we identify three factors of distinctive competencies and show that the relational dimension primarily affects organizational results. In particular, competencies such as Efficiency orientation, Organizational awareness and Teamwork are related to a higher firm financial performance.References
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Baron, R.A., & Markman, G.D. (2003). Beyond social capital: the role of entrepreneurs’ social competence in their financial success. Journal of Business Venturing, 18(1), 41-60.
Boyatzis, R.E. (1982). The Competent Manager: A Model for Effective Performance. New York: Wiley.
Boyatzis, R.E. (1998). Transforming Qualitative Information. Thematic Analysis and Code Development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Boyatzis, R.E. (2008). Competencies in the 21st century. Journal of Management Development, 27(1), 5-12.
Boyatzis, R.E., & Goleman, D. (2001). Emotional Competence Inventory-University Version. Boston, MA: Hay Group.
Boyatzis, R.E., Cowen, S.S., Kolb, D.A. & Associates (1995). Innovation in Professional Education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Boyatzis, R.E., Goleman, D., & Rhee, K. (2000). Clustering competence in emotional intelligence: Insights from the emotional competence inventory (ECI)s. In R. Bar-On & J. D.A.
Parker (Ed.), Handbook of emotional intelligence (pp. 343-362). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Byrne, J.C., Dominick, P.G., Smither, J.W., & Reilly, R.R. (2007). Examination of the discriminant, convergent, and criterion-related validity of self-ratings on the emotional competence
inventory. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 15(3), 341-353.
Camuffo, A., & Gerli, F. (2004). An integrated competency-based approach to management education: an Italian MBA case study. International Journal of Training and Development, 8 (4): 240-257.
Camuffo, A., Gerli, F., & Chiara, F. (2006). Tracking careers to improve competency-based management education: a longitudinal study of Italian MBAs. In C. Wankel & De Fillippi, R. (Eds.), New Visions of Graduate Management Education; Research in Management Education and Development Series. Greenwich: Information Age Publishers.
Camuffo, A., Gerli, F., & Gubitta, P. (2012). Competencies matter: Modelling effective entrepreneurship in North East of Italy Small Firms. Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal,19(1), 48-66.
Carland, J.W., Hoy, F., Boulton, W.R., & Carland, J.A.C. (1984). Differentiating Entrepreneurs from Small Business Owners: A Conceptualization. The Academy of Management Review, 9(2), 354-359
Chandler, G.N., & Hanks, S.H. (1994). Founder competence, the environment, and venture performance. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 18, 77–89.
Chen, C.A., Greene, P.G., & Crick, A. (1998). Does entrepreneurial efficacy distinguish entrepreneurs from managers? Journal of Business Venturing, 13, 295-316.
Cuervo, A. (2005). Individual and Environmental Determinants of Entrepreneurship. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 1, 293-311.
Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence. London: Bloomsbury.
Hansson, B. (2001). Competency models: Are self-perceptions accurate enough? Journal of European Industrial Training, 25(9), 428-441.
Hayton, J.C., & Kelly, D. (2006). A Competency-Based Framework for Promoting Corporate Entrepreneurship. Human Resource Management Journal, 45(3), 407-427.
Horne, M., Lloyd, P., Pay, J., & Roe, P. (1992). Understanding the competitive process: A guide to effective intervention in the small firms sector. European Journal of Operational
Research, 56(1), 54-66.
Kolb, D.A., & Boyatzis, R.E. (1970). Goal-setting and elf-directed behavior change. Human Relations, 23(5), 439-457.
Kolb, D.A., Winter, S.K., & Berlew, D.E. (1968). Self-directed change: Two studies. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 6 (3), 453-471.
Loecher, U. (2000). Small and medium-sized enterprises – delimitation and the European definition in the area of industrial business. European Business Review, 12(5), 261 – 264.
Lumpkin, G.T., & Dess, G.G. (1996). Clarifying the entrepreneurial orientation construct and linking it to performance. Academy of Management Review, 21(1), 135– 172.
Man, T.W.Y, Lau, T. & Snape, E. (2008). Entrepreneurial Competencies and the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises: An investigation through a Framework of
Competitiveness. Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 21(3), 257–276.
Man, T.W.Y, Lau, T., & Chan, K.F. (2002). The competitiveness of small and medium enterprises: A conceptualization with focus on entrepreneurial competencies. Journal of Business Venturing, 17 (2), 123-142.
Mitchelmore, S., & Rowley, J. (2010). Entrepreneurial competencies: a literature review and development agenda. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 16(2), 92-111.
Morris, M., Schindehutte, M., & Allen, J. (2005). The entrepreneur’s business model: toward a unified perspective. Journal of Business Research, 58 (6), 726-735.
Noor, H.A., Ramayah, T., Wilson, C., & Kummerow, L. (2010) Is entrepreneurial competency and business success relationship contingent upon business environment?: A study of Malaysian SMEs. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 16 (3), 182-203.
Nunnally, J.C. (1978), Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw Hill.
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (1993). Small and medium-sized enterprises: Technology and competitiveness. Paris: Organisation for Economic Cooperation
and Development.
Rasmussen, E., Mosey, S. & Wright, M. (2011). The Evolution of Entrepreneurial Competencies: A Longitudinal Study of University Spin-Off Venture Emergence. Journal of Management Studies, doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2010.00995.x
Salovey, P., & Mayer, J.D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9, 185-211.
Spencer, L.M., & Spencer, S.M. (1993). Competence at Work: Models for Superior Performance. New York: Wiley.
Stewart, W.H, Watson, W.E., Carland, J.C., & Carland, J.W. (1999). A proclivity for entrepreneurship: A comparison of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and corporate managers.
Journal of Business Venturing, 14(2), 189-214.
Stoner, C.R. (1987). Distinctive competence and competitive advantage. Journal of Small Business Management, 25 (2), 33–39.
Welter, F. (2011). Contextualizing Entrepreneurship—Conceptual Challenges and Ways Forward. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 35, 165–184.
Zahra, S.A. (1991). Predictors and financial outcomes of corporate entrepreneurship: An exploratory study. Journal of Business Venturing, 6 (4), 259–285.
Zahra, S.A., Nielsen, A.P., & Bogner, W.C. (1999). Corporate Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, and Competence Development. Entrepreneurship: Theory & Practice, 23(3), 169-189.
Baron, R.A., & Markman, G.D. (2003). Beyond social capital: the role of entrepreneurs’ social competence in their financial success. Journal of Business Venturing, 18(1), 41-60.
Boyatzis, R.E. (1982). The Competent Manager: A Model for Effective Performance. New York: Wiley.
Boyatzis, R.E. (1998). Transforming Qualitative Information. Thematic Analysis and Code Development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Boyatzis, R.E. (2008). Competencies in the 21st century. Journal of Management Development, 27(1), 5-12.
Boyatzis, R.E., & Goleman, D. (2001). Emotional Competence Inventory-University Version. Boston, MA: Hay Group.
Boyatzis, R.E., Cowen, S.S., Kolb, D.A. & Associates (1995). Innovation in Professional Education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Boyatzis, R.E., Goleman, D., & Rhee, K. (2000). Clustering competence in emotional intelligence: Insights from the emotional competence inventory (ECI)s. In R. Bar-On & J. D.A.
Parker (Ed.), Handbook of emotional intelligence (pp. 343-362). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Byrne, J.C., Dominick, P.G., Smither, J.W., & Reilly, R.R. (2007). Examination of the discriminant, convergent, and criterion-related validity of self-ratings on the emotional competence
inventory. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 15(3), 341-353.
Camuffo, A., & Gerli, F. (2004). An integrated competency-based approach to management education: an Italian MBA case study. International Journal of Training and Development, 8 (4): 240-257.
Camuffo, A., Gerli, F., & Chiara, F. (2006). Tracking careers to improve competency-based management education: a longitudinal study of Italian MBAs. In C. Wankel & De Fillippi, R. (Eds.), New Visions of Graduate Management Education; Research in Management Education and Development Series. Greenwich: Information Age Publishers.
Camuffo, A., Gerli, F., & Gubitta, P. (2012). Competencies matter: Modelling effective entrepreneurship in North East of Italy Small Firms. Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal,19(1), 48-66.
Carland, J.W., Hoy, F., Boulton, W.R., & Carland, J.A.C. (1984). Differentiating Entrepreneurs from Small Business Owners: A Conceptualization. The Academy of Management Review, 9(2), 354-359
Chandler, G.N., & Hanks, S.H. (1994). Founder competence, the environment, and venture performance. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 18, 77–89.
Chen, C.A., Greene, P.G., & Crick, A. (1998). Does entrepreneurial efficacy distinguish entrepreneurs from managers? Journal of Business Venturing, 13, 295-316.
Cuervo, A. (2005). Individual and Environmental Determinants of Entrepreneurship. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 1, 293-311.
Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence. London: Bloomsbury.
Hansson, B. (2001). Competency models: Are self-perceptions accurate enough? Journal of European Industrial Training, 25(9), 428-441.
Hayton, J.C., & Kelly, D. (2006). A Competency-Based Framework for Promoting Corporate Entrepreneurship. Human Resource Management Journal, 45(3), 407-427.
Horne, M., Lloyd, P., Pay, J., & Roe, P. (1992). Understanding the competitive process: A guide to effective intervention in the small firms sector. European Journal of Operational
Research, 56(1), 54-66.
Kolb, D.A., & Boyatzis, R.E. (1970). Goal-setting and elf-directed behavior change. Human Relations, 23(5), 439-457.
Kolb, D.A., Winter, S.K., & Berlew, D.E. (1968). Self-directed change: Two studies. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 6 (3), 453-471.
Loecher, U. (2000). Small and medium-sized enterprises – delimitation and the European definition in the area of industrial business. European Business Review, 12(5), 261 – 264.
Lumpkin, G.T., & Dess, G.G. (1996). Clarifying the entrepreneurial orientation construct and linking it to performance. Academy of Management Review, 21(1), 135– 172.
Man, T.W.Y, Lau, T. & Snape, E. (2008). Entrepreneurial Competencies and the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises: An investigation through a Framework of
Competitiveness. Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 21(3), 257–276.
Man, T.W.Y, Lau, T., & Chan, K.F. (2002). The competitiveness of small and medium enterprises: A conceptualization with focus on entrepreneurial competencies. Journal of Business Venturing, 17 (2), 123-142.
Mitchelmore, S., & Rowley, J. (2010). Entrepreneurial competencies: a literature review and development agenda. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 16(2), 92-111.
Morris, M., Schindehutte, M., & Allen, J. (2005). The entrepreneur’s business model: toward a unified perspective. Journal of Business Research, 58 (6), 726-735.
Noor, H.A., Ramayah, T., Wilson, C., & Kummerow, L. (2010) Is entrepreneurial competency and business success relationship contingent upon business environment?: A study of Malaysian SMEs. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 16 (3), 182-203.
Nunnally, J.C. (1978), Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw Hill.
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (1993). Small and medium-sized enterprises: Technology and competitiveness. Paris: Organisation for Economic Cooperation
and Development.
Rasmussen, E., Mosey, S. & Wright, M. (2011). The Evolution of Entrepreneurial Competencies: A Longitudinal Study of University Spin-Off Venture Emergence. Journal of Management Studies, doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2010.00995.x
Salovey, P., & Mayer, J.D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9, 185-211.
Spencer, L.M., & Spencer, S.M. (1993). Competence at Work: Models for Superior Performance. New York: Wiley.
Stewart, W.H, Watson, W.E., Carland, J.C., & Carland, J.W. (1999). A proclivity for entrepreneurship: A comparison of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and corporate managers.
Journal of Business Venturing, 14(2), 189-214.
Stoner, C.R. (1987). Distinctive competence and competitive advantage. Journal of Small Business Management, 25 (2), 33–39.
Welter, F. (2011). Contextualizing Entrepreneurship—Conceptual Challenges and Ways Forward. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 35, 165–184.
Zahra, S.A. (1991). Predictors and financial outcomes of corporate entrepreneurship: An exploratory study. Journal of Business Venturing, 6 (4), 259–285.
Zahra, S.A., Nielsen, A.P., & Bogner, W.C. (1999). Corporate Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, and Competence Development. Entrepreneurship: Theory & Practice, 23(3), 169-189.
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