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Can an Entrepreneurial Personality Compensate for a Boring Job?

Author

Listed:
  • Pearl D’Souza

    (Pearl D’Souza is Assistant Manager, Corporate Human Resources, Vodafone Essar Limited, Mumbai, India)

  • Zubin R. Mulla

    (Zubin R. Mulla is Assistant Professor, School of Management and Labour Studies, Mumbai, India)

Abstract

We examined the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and employee engagement by studying 101 Indian managers across three companies. In addition, we studied the moderating role of three job characteristics (autonomy, skill variety and task feedback) on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and employee engagement. The results of this study show that individuals who score high on entrepreneurial orientation are likely to score high on employee engagement. In addition, we found that individuals high on entrepreneurial orientation experienced high engagement levels when their jobs were characterised by low levels of autonomy, low levels of skill variety and high levels of task feedback. The findings indicate that a proactive personality does compensate for some non-motivating elements of job design.

Suggested Citation

  • Pearl D’Souza & Zubin R. Mulla, 2011. "Can an Entrepreneurial Personality Compensate for a Boring Job?," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 20(2), pages 207-226, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jouent:v:20:y:2011:i:2:p:207-226
    DOI: 10.1177/097135571102000203
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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