Entrepreneur's traits and firm innovation capability: an empirical study in Malaysia

This research investigates how entrepreneurs' personality traits affect firm innovation capability. It posits that entrepreneurs would feel inclined to become involved into the different phases of the innovation process in the firm depending on their personality traits. The convenient sampling of non-probability sampling was adopted. Most of the major towns in Peninsular Malaysia have been chosen for the purpose of collecting the data. Hypotheses relating the personality factors (achievement, opportunity, confidence, innovativeness, independent, risk taking and openness to experience) and firm innovation capability were tested by using multiple regression analysis on survey data from a sample of 1416 entrepreneurs from Malaysia. The study revealed that the personality traits of an entrepreneur had significant impact on the firm innovation capability in Malaysia. The area on which this study concentrates does not have many extensive academic researches yet. Even though this study has some limitations and problems, it has several managerial implications. This study could be particularly useful for policy makers to get some ideas and develop suitable training programs to help and assist the entrepreneur in their future endeavors.