Japanese entrepreneurs and corporate managers: A comparison
通过问卷调查比较日本企业家与大型公司管理者的差异，发现企业家在个人决策风格、外在奖励偏好和公司增长导向方面显著更强。
This paper presents some preliminary findings from a psychological study of entrepreneurial phenomena in Japan. A questionnaire was developed to identify two major ways in which entrepreneurs were different from managers of large corporations. First, the perceived difference between the entrepreneurs and managers was measured to create a Personal Difference Index (PDI). Second, the perceived difference between the entrepreneurs' firms and a typical large firm was measured to develop a Corporate Difference Index (CDI). The primary finding was that among the entrepreneurs, both PDIs and CDIs were much stronger than those of the corporate managers surveyed. Factor analysis of the questionnaire items were conducted and four factors relating to perceived differences between respondent and corporate managers were found: degree to which individuals prefer an entrepreneurial versus consensus decision style; degree to which the respondent prefers extrinsic over intrinsic rewards; degree to which the respondent prefers a commercially oriented over a functionally oriented structure; and degree to which the respondent prefers growth over security of firm. Entrepreneurs were found to have significantly higher preferences for entrepreneurial decision style, extrinsic rewards and a growth orientation. Four factors reflecting the perceived differences between respondent's firm and a typical firm were also assigned: degree to which decision processes are individualistic as opposed to following due process; degree of access to a supportive infrastructure; degree of technology management competence; and relative access to networks. Entrepreneurs felt that their firms rated higher on individualistic decision processes, had superior access to a supportive infrastructure, and had lower technological capabilities.