This article highlights key issues / factors that motivated MrJohnston to start his business. These key issues will be analysed using the external and internal factors of entrepreneurship. The internal factors will include theories such as personality theories, behavioural theories and sociological and cognitive approaches studied by various individuals and groups. We will also apply the Krueger Model which is an integrated approach to entrepreneurship.
We will briefly examine certain external factors that could contribute to / influence the behavioural characteristics of an enterprising individual, especially the cultural, political and economic conditions.
We will also discuss Mr Johnston’s views and practices on enterprise, in comparison to the various approaches and how they have evolved over the years, and examine the factors that contributed towards his success and continuity so far.
2. Enterprise
There are various narrow and broad definitions that have been used by different authors to define an Enterprise. However, essentially in a narrow sense enterprise is a profit making firm that contributes to the economical growth (Bridge, O 'Neill, & Cromie, 2003).
In a broader sense however, enterprise is a culture. It’s the attitude of an enterprising individual towards many different areas including social, individual, group, economic etc.
A definition by (Coffield & MacDonald, 1991) summarises the broader meaning nicely; “One can be enterprising both by making a million before one’s fortieth birthday and by shepherding passengers out of a burning aeroplane”.
These considerations of narrow and broad meanings of enterprise and some of approaches we will look at should help us explore the attributes and behavioural characteristics of enterprising individuals, in this case Mr Johnston. Do all entrepreneurs create enterprising businesses? Does EOL have an enterprising culture? We might find some clues to this by analysing the ‘stages of
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