Investigation of Relationship between Entrepreneurs Values and their Definition of Success

Abstract1
One of the key issues in the design of entrepreneurship development programs
are entrepreneurs’ values. Values determine a person' orientation and criteria to
choice and decision-making, so these can play an important role in the objectives
and actions of people. On the other hand, several studies have been conducted in
relation to the success of entrepreneurs but unfortunately less to define and
understand the success of an entrepreneur's point of view. On the other hand, many
studies have been conducted in the field the success of entrepreneurs but
unfortunately less attention has been paid to define and understand of success from
the perspective of entrepreneurs. While the success is a wide scope that can have
multiple dimensions. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship
between entrepreneurs’ values and their perceptions of success. The data gathering
was carried out with the participation of 92 entrepreneurs in three sectors (industry,
services and agriculture) that are working in Kermanshah Township. The results
showed that there is a significant relationship between entrepreneurs’ values and
their definition of success, so that entrepreneurs that believe in values of power,
achievement and self-direction, described the success by income, growth and
reputation indicators and give less important to balance between business and
family responsibility and social participatory indicators in their success. On the
other hand, entrepreneurs who are committed to the values of benevolence and
universalism, described your success by customer satisfaction, product quality and
enjoyment of work criteria and give less important to growth and income
indicators. Also entrepreneurs, who believed that emotionality value, described the
success by innovation indicator.