Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Intelligent entrepreneurship and firm performance: A cross-cultural investigation

  • Published:
Journal of International Entrepreneurship Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This is a cross-cultural study that explores the relationship between entrepreneurs’ social intelligence and firm performance in six countries (China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, France, Ireland, and Turkey). These firms were founded during the 7 years preceding the study. Data for this study were collected with questionnaires from three managers of each firm who rated their founding CEOs on social intelligence and performance of their firms. Data from each firm were averaged. Data analyses in each sample with structural equations models suggest that CEOs with greater social intelligence contributed more to firm performance in each country. Implications for management, directions for future research, and limitations of the study are discussed.

Abstrait

Cette étude multiculturelle explore la relation entre l’intelligence sociale des entrepreneurs et la performance de leurs entreprises dans six pays (Chine, Malaisie, Bangladesh, France, Irlande et Turquie). Ces entreprises ont été créées au cours des sept années précédant l’étude. Les données ont été recueillies à l’aide de questionnaires envoyées à trois dirigeants de chaque entreprise, qui ont évalué leurs dirigeants fondateurs en matière d’intelligence sociale et de performance de l’entreprise. Les données de chaque entreprise ont été moyennées. Les analyses de données dans chaque échantillon avec des modèles d’équations structurelles suggèrent que les PDG ayant une plus grande intelligence sociale ont davantage contribué à la performance des entreprises dans chaque pays. Les implications pour la gestion, les orientations pour les recherches futures et les limites de l’étude sont discutées.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albrecht K (2007) Social intelligence: the new science of success. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JC, Gerbing DW (1988) Structural equation modeling in practice: a review and recommended two-step approach. Psychol Bull 103:411–423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ang RP, Goh DH (2010) Cyberbullying among adolescents: the role of affective and cognitive empathy, and gender. Child Psychiatry: Human Development 41:387–397

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Argyris C, Schon D (1996) Organizational learning–II. Reading, Addison-Wesley

  • Baron RA (2008) The role of affect in the entrepreneurial process. Acad Manag Rev 33:328–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baron RA, Ensley MD (2006) Opportunity recognition as the detection of meaningful patterns: evidence from comparisons of novice and experienced entrepreneurs. Manag Sci 52:1331–1344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baron RA, Markham GD (2000) Beyond social capital: how social skills can enhance entrepreneurs’ success. Acad Manag Exec 14:106–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron RA, Tang J (2009) Entrepreneurs’ social skills and new venture performance: mediating mechanisms and cultural generality. J Manag 35:282–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron RA, Hmicleski KM, Henry RA (2012) Entrepreners’ dispositional positive affect: the potential benefits—and potential costs—of being “up”. J Bus Ventur 27:310–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennis WG, Thomas RJ (2002) Geeks and geezers. Harvard Business School Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Burch G, Batchelor J, Humphrey J (2013) Emotional labor for entrepreneurs: a natural and necessary extension. Entrep Res J 3:331–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Carr CL (2002) A psychometric evaluation of the expectations, perceptions, and difference-scores generated by the IS–Adapted SERVQUAL Instrument. Decis Sci 33:281–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherniss C, Adler M (2000) Promoting emotional intelligence in organizations: making training in emotional intelligence effective. ASTD, Alexandria

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson JE, Downing CL (2000) Contemporary models of intelligence. In: Sternberg R (ed) Handbook of intelligence. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 34–49

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Endsley MR (1995) Measurement of situation awareness in dynamic systems. Hum Factors 37:65–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner H (1983) Frames of mind: the theory of multiple intelligences. Basic Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Goleman D (1998) Working with emotional intelligence. Bantum Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Goleman D (2005) Social intelligence: the new science of human relationships. Bantum Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayton JC, Cholakova M (2012) The role of affect in the creation and international pursuit of entrepreneurial ideas. Enterp Theory Pract 36:41–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jöreskog KG, Sörbom D (1996a) LISREL 8: user’s reference guide. Scientific Software International, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Jöreskog KG, Sörbom D (1996b) PRELIS 2: user’s reference guide. Scientific Software International, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Judge TA, Colbert AE, Ilies R (2004) Intelligence and leadership: a quantitative review and test of theoretical propositions. J Appl Psychol 89:542–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaukiainen A, Bjorkqvist K, Lagerspetz K, Osterman K, Salmivalli C, Rothberg S, Ahlbom A (1999) The relationships between social intelligence, empathy, and three types of aggression. Aggress Behav 25:81–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kihlstrom JF, Cantor N (2000) Social intelligence. In: Sternberg RJ (ed) Handbook of intelligence, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 359–379

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Loniel SC, Carter RE, Parker S (2015) The impact of organizational orientation on medium and small firm performance: a resource-based perspective. J Small Bus Perspect 53:94–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matusitz J, Forrester M (2009) Successful glocalization practices: the case of Seiyu in Japan. J Trans Manag 14(2):155–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer JD, Salovey P, Caruso DR (2008) Emotional intelligence: new ability or eclectic traits? Am Psychol 63:503–517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitroff II (1998) Smart thinking for crazy times: the art of solving the right problems. Berrett-Koehler, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitroff II, Silvers A (2010) Dirty rotten strategies: how we trick ourselves and others into solving the wrong problems precisely. Stanford University Press, Stanford

    Google Scholar 

  • Mossholder KW, Bennett N, Kemery ER, Wesolowski MA (1998) Relationships between bases of power and work reactions: the meditational role of procedural justice. J Manag 24:533–552

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien KS, O’Hare D (2007) Situational awareness ability and cognitive skills training in a complex real-world task. Ergonomics 50:1064–1091

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Podsakoff PM, MacKenzie SB, Lee JY, Podsakoff NP (2003) Common method bisases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. J Appl Psychol 88:879–903

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poon JML, Ainuddin RA, Junit SH (2006) Effects of self-report traits and entrepreneurial orientation and performance. Int Small Bus J 24:61–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahim MA (2014) A structural equations model of leaders’ social intelligence and creative performance. Creat Innov Manag 23:44–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahim MA, Bonoma TV (1979) Managing organizational conflict: a model for diagnosis and intervention. Psychol Rep 44:1323–1344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahim MA, Kim T-Y, Jasimuddin SA, Soranastaporn S, Rahman MS (2014) A cross-cultural model of leaders’ social intelligence and creative performance. Curr Top Manag 17:155–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahim MA, Civelek I, Liang H (2015a) A model of department chairs’ social intelligence and faculty members’ turnover intention. Intelligence 53:65–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahim MA, Civelek I, Liang H (2015b) Department chairs as leaders: a model of social intelligence and creative performance in a state university. Bus Creaty & Creativ Econ 1(1):53–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahim MA, Civelek I, Liang H (2016) A model of leaders’ social intelligence and followers’ satisfaction with annual evaluation. Curr Top Manag 18:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahim MA, Civelek I, Liang H (2018) A process model of social intelligence and problem solving style for conflict management. Int J Confl Manag 29:487–499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt WH, Tannenbaum R (1990) Management of differences. Harv Bus Rev 107–115

  • Sternberg RJ (1985) The triarchic mind: a new theory of human intelligence. Viking, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg RJ (2002) Successful intelligence: a new approach to leadership. In: Riggio RE, Murphy SE, Pirozzolo FJ (eds) Multiple intelligences and leadership. Erlbaum, Mahwah, pp 9–28

    Google Scholar 

  • van Dyne L, Ang S, Koh CKS (2008) Cultural intelligence: measurement and scale development. In: Moodian MA (ed) Contemporary leadership and intercultural competence: exploring the cross-cultural dynamics within organizations. Sage, Thousand Oaks, pp 233–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner RK (2000) Practical intelligence. In: Stenberg R (ed) Handbook of intelligence. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 380–395

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wang CL (2008) Entrepreneurial orientation, learning orientation, and firm performance. Enterp Theory Pract 32:636–657

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zautra AJ, Zautra EK, Rivers C, Rivers D (2013) Foundations of social intelligence: a conceptual model with implications for business performance. Curr Top Manag 16:15–36

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We express our sincere thanks to the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments that helped to improve the paper. We also express our sincere thanks to the Editor for their help and support in improving the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Advanced Studies in Management, 1574 Mallory Court, Bowling Green, KY, 42103, USA

    M. Afzalur Rahim

  2. Management and Organization Studies, Odette School of Business, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada

    Zhenzhong Ma

  3. Institut Aminuddin Baki, Ministry of Education, Kompleks Pendidikan Nilai, 71760, Bandar Enstek, Malaysia

    Cheng-Sim Quah

  4. Department of Management, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, 4331, Bangladesh

    Md. Sahidur Rahman

  5. Kedge Business School, Marseille, France

    Sajjad M. Jasimuddin

  6. ESCP Europe Business School, 79 Avenue de la République, 75011, Paris, France

    Leslie Shaw

  7. Department of Business Administration, Mustafa Kemal University, Tayfur Sokmen Campus, 31100, Antakya, Hatay, Turkey

    Adnan Ozyilmaz

Authors
  1. M. Afzalur Rahim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhenzhong Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cheng-Sim Quah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Md. Sahidur Rahman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sajjad M. Jasimuddin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Leslie Shaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Adnan Ozyilmaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Afzalur Rahim.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 3 China sample: means, standard deviations, indicator reliabilities, correlations, and variance inflation factor
Full size table
Table 4 Malaysia sample: means, standard deviations, indicator reliabilities, Pearson correlations, and variance inflation factor
Full size table
Table 5 Bangladesh sample: means, standard deviations, indicator reliabilities, Pearson correlations, and variance inflation factor
Full size table
Table 6 France sample: means, standard deviations, indicator reliabilities, Pearson correlations, and variance inflation factor
Full size table
Table 7 Ireland sample: means, standard deviations, indicator reliabilities, Pearson correlations, and variance inflation factor
Full size table
Table 8 Turkey sample: means, standard deviations, indicator reliabilities, Pearson correlations, and variance inflation factor
Full size table
Table 9 Statistics: structural equation model and fit indexes
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rahim, M.A., Ma, Z., Quah, CS. et al. Intelligent entrepreneurship and firm performance: A cross-cultural investigation. J Int Entrep 17, 475–493 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843-019-00252-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843-019-00252-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation