Abstract
Organizations increasingly expect people to move between roles which involve varying combinations of professional (vocational), leadership, and entrepreneurial responsibilities. While there has been considerable research into the relationship between values and leadership style, we know little about how values contribute to entrepreneurial, professional and leadership motivations. This study of 272 undergraduate students from a Singapore public university suggests that both universal and cultural values can distinguish between these motivations. Leadership and entrepreneurial motivation share a basis in personal achievement and stimulation values, while entrepreneurial motivation is distinguished by low emphasis on values of conformity and security. Entrepreneurial motivation also appeared grounded in collectivist values, while leadership motivation seems to be underpinned by a desire to benefit others. Professional motivation shares little in common with the other two types; it is characterized by hedonism and uncertainty avoidance, raising questions about the extent to which students pursuing vocational or professional careers may be willing to explore entrepreneurial and leadership options.
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Kennedy, J.C., Ho, MH.R. (2020). The Influence of Values on Entrepreneurial, Professional, and Career Motivations. In: Ho, M., Kennedy, J., Uy, M., Chan, KY. (eds) Entrepreneurship–Professionalism–Leadership. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3121-7_9
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