Are you an innovator or adaptor? the impact of cognitive propensity on venture expectations and outcomes

• Main Authors: Kevin LaMont Johnson, Wade M. Danis, Marc J. Dollinger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Emerald Publishing 2008-03-01
• Series: New England Journal of Entrepreneurship
• Online Access: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/NEJE-11-02-2008-B003/full/pdf?title=are-you-an-innovator-or-adaptor-the-impact-of-cognitive-propensity-on-venture-expectations-and-outcomes

In this study we confirm the often assumed but largely untested belief that entrepreneurs think and behave differently than others. We examine a group of more than 700 nascent entrepreneurs and 400 nonentrepreneurs. We determine the entrepreneurs’ cognitive style propensity for problem solving (Innovator versus Adaptor); we compare their expectations; and, we examine the outcomes (performance and start-up) of their ventures. We find that nascent entrepreneurs are more likely to be overly optimistic Innovators, most people are Adaptors, and oneʼs cognitive style can indeed play a role in the initial development and outcome for the venture, but not always as expected.