Title: Entrepreneurial skills assessment: the perspective of SBDC directors

Authors: Ken Schallenkamp, William L. Smith

Addresses: School of Business, Emporia State University, 1200 Commercial, Campus Box 4058, Emporia, KS 66801, USA. ' School of Business, Emporia State University, 1200 Commercial, Campus Box 4058, Emporia, KS 66801, USA

Abstract: This paper examines the perspective of Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) directors located in several mid-American states on 17 skills suggested as being critical to individuals seeking to embark on entrepreneurial activities. A survey questionnaire was completed by the directors regarding the importance and usefulness of these skills to individuals pursuing entrepreneurial activities. The results of this survey are compared to an earlier exploratory study of SBDC clients of one regional office in their first two years after initial contact with the office. Two of the skills (Operational and Higher-Order) viewed most differently by the two groups are examined in more detail. Implications for future research and for practice are discussed.

Keywords: skills assessment; entrepreneurial skills; Small Business Development Centre; SBDC directors; USA; United States; entrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2008.015904

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2008 Vol.5 No.1, pp.18 - 29

Published online: 02 Dec 2007 *

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