Mushroom Entrepreneurial Behaviour: Dimensions and Measurement
Mushroom Entrepreneurial Behaviour: Dimensions and Measurement
Mushroom Entrepreneurial Behaviour: Dimensions and Measurement
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Abstract : Mushrooms are appreciated world over for their nutritional and medicinal properties. Though, global mushroom
industry has seen a rapid growth, India is beginning to see the spurt in its growth only recently. Mushroom entrepreneurship
offers major scope both for small farmers and large entrepreneurs. Absence of standardised scale to measure the performance
of mushroom entrepreneurs has rendered us unclear about the status of mushroom entrepreneurship and in turn the mushroom
industry in India. Hence, a scale on mushroom entrepreneurial behaviour is developed to address the existing research gap.
The social research methodology using Guilford procedure was followed to develop the scale. The eleven dimensions of
entrepreneurial behaviour assumed different scale values from 7.469 to 1.071, with innovativeness of entrepreneurs getting
highest weightage. The scale developed will have utility in identifying and studying the successful and unsuccessful
mushroom entrepreneurs in framing policies by the Government and designing trainings and seminars by training and
research institutions. The researchers of social sciences will find the scale useful for studying entrepreneurial behaviour of
mushroom growers and similar entrepreneurs. The financial institutions can adopt the scale in deciding criteria for extending
the loans to the new entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs themselves may use the scale to assess their own entrepreneurial skills.
Key words : Mushroom, Entrepreneurial behaviour, Measurement, Management.
In recent times, small farmers in their quest to but the opportunity identification is the function of
ensure their livelihood security and large Agri-preneurs interaction between the individual entrepreneur and the
in anticipation of higher profit are exploring high value environment [Shane and Venkataraman (2000)].
enterprises like floriculture, apiculture, terrace or roof Furthermore, the importance of studying and analysing
gardening, mushroom cultivation, etc. Mushroom entrepreneurial behaviour lies with the fact that the
cultivation is emerging as an important horti-business relationship between human capital and various
activity and helping small farmers and entrepreneurs in outcomes associated with entrepreneurship may be
realising round the year returns. Mushroom mediated by entrepreneurial behaviour [Baron and
entrepreneurship is a potential, yet largely untapped Kenny (1986), Cohen (2003)].
venture to address many of the problems plaguing rural Hence, it is to be noted that though there is vast
India like hunger and malnutrition, decreasing land body of research in the area of entrepreneurship, the
holdings, declining soil fertility, poverty, lack of nature of this research has been highly diverse. There
employment and opportunities for income generation is a lack of an agreed definition and theory of
[Verma (2014)]. Further, the need for promoting entrepreneurship and a concern over what
mushroom entrepreneurship emanates from the fact entrepreneurship constitutes [Gartner (1990)]. The
that per capita consumption of mushroom is very low similar problem of what constitutes mushroom
(30 g per annum) in India, compared to more than 4000 entrepreneurship in India is hardly studied. To add to it,
g in the western countries [Wakchaure (2011)]. there is huge variation in the performance of mushroom
It is widely believed that the entrepreneurial units across India owing to several factors like, location
function is a vital component in the process of economic of the unit, accessibility to raw materials, scale and size,
growth [Schumpeter (1950) and Reynolds et al. (1994)]. variety of mushroom grown, differences in composting
The recognition for entrepreneurship has accelerated and cultivation technology, market dynamics and
since the mid-1990s, with policy makers in many entrepreneurial skills of mushroom producers. These
countries and international organisations beginning to twin reasons have augmented the need for research
explicitly recognise its importance by developing policies studies focussing on entrepreneurial behaviour of
to improve the entrepreneurial environment, either by mushroom entrepreneurs.
removing obstacles or by direct targeted actions such Entrepreneurial behaviour has to be studied to
as subsidies [Lundström and Stevenson (2005)]. This understand the factors that promote or constrain an
has engendered to lay enough emphasis on entrepreneurial activity. However, lack of systematic
entrepreneurial behaviour of entrepreneurs. and standardised procedure to measure the
Minzberg (1976) stated that entrepreneurial entrepreneurial activity, let alone the mushroom
behaviour is characterised by active search, entrepreneurship has led to a void in horticulture
expansionist outlook and decision making. Heredero research. As there is an exigent need for
(1979) described agricultural entrepreneur as a person, entrepreneurial behaviour measurement tool for
who introduces changes, which directly or indirectly mushroom entrepreneurship, procedure to measure, it
lead to higher agricultural product. Entrepreneurial has been standardized and presented in this article.
behaviour was operationalised by Monika and Talukdar
2. Methodology
(1997) as the extent of qualitative and innovative
activities carried out by a woman entrepreneur in her The methodology in developing the procedure to
enterprise to increase production spontaneously, where measure the entrepreneurial behaviour of mushroom
her activities are also a manifestation of internal mental entrepreneurs is based on the behavioural measurement
events and processes like ideas and attitude. procedure suggested by Guilford (1954). The detailed
steps followed in the methodology are explained under
In many businesses - especially the smaller ones,
the steps listed below.
the entrepreneur is the key resource or a key constraint
of the organisation [Castanias and Helfat (1991), Brown Step 1- Identification of dimensions and
and Kirchhoff (1997)]. The environment may be a statements : The ‘entrepreneurial behaviour’ of
source of opportunities [Kirzner (1973), Gartner (1985)] mushroom growers was identified as a variable, which
would serve as the basis to analyze the performance
Mushroom Entrepreneurial Behaviour : Dimensions and Measurement 63
ra P faQ f
cX h eX j N cX h eX j
P Q P Q
review of vast literature and also to suit the nature of
cS h eS j P Q
mushroom enterprises. These eleven dimensions
identified for the study assumed scale values ranging
The correlation value for split-half method was from 7.469 to 1.071 indicating different weightage to
0.974, suggesting high reliability of the scale. be assigned to them based on the expert opinion arrived
through Judges’ rating. The scale values of respective
Further, Spearman-Brown Prophecy formula was
dimensions are presented in Table 3.
employed to know the reliability of the test of the original
length from the values of split-half reliability. The present research study shows that
innovativeness with a maximum scale value of 7.469 is
2 rhh the most important factor contributing to successful
rXX
1 rhh entrepreneurship among mushroom growers.
Where, rhh is the split-half reliability coefficient and Literature relevant to entrepreneurship suggests
rxx is the estimate of the reliability of a test of the full that creative individuals are more likely to engage in
Mushroom Entrepreneurial Behaviour : Dimensions and Measurement 65
entrepreneurial behaviour [Ward (2004)]. The entrepreneurs need to have knowledge about several
association between entrepreneurship, innovative areas of activity relevant to his domain of enterprise.
behaviour and creativity has long been established Such knowledge helps him plan his strategy and use
[Amabile (1996) and Nystrom (1993)]. It is often his skills effectively. Knowledge about environment,
suggested that, innovation is synonymous with the idea industry and technology is considered important [Pareek
of entrepreneurship [Pareek and Nadakarni (1978) and and Nadakarni (1978)]. Understandably, knowledge on
Khan (1998)]. Entrepreneurs with innovative action the entrepreneurship forms an important basis for
were more likely to have a commercial rather than making the correct decisions in the farm. The knowledge
subsistence economic orientation, they had more of mushroom entrepreneurship is still more critical
favourable attitude towards risk, high level of considering the technical skills involved in spawn
achievement motivation and greater knowledge of production, compost production technology,
innovations [Rogers and Shoemaker (1971)]. Rao understanding and manipulating growing environment
(1989) reported that there was significant relationship to suit to different mushroom varieties, management of
between innovativeness and entrepreneurial behaviour pest and diseases, efficient marketing and processing
of vegetable growers of Andhra Pradesh. of mushrooms to address its fast perishability.
Achievement motivation (scale value of 6.863) Economic motivation and marketing strategy are
emerged as the second important dimension. Higher at 6 and 7th place with scale values of 5.516 and 4.371
need for achievement shows positive relation with respectively. Entrepreneur’s success is measured by
entrepreneurial ability. Atkinson and Miller reported that, the financial stability of his enterprise. Hence, the
achievement motivation was important factor affecting economic motivation of a mushroom entrepreneur is
the entrepreneurial behaviour of the farmers [De and important behavioural character in ensuring success in
Jirli (2010)]. Hence, higher weightage assumed by his enterprise. His economic motivation must be
innovativeness and achievement motivation as important matched by his acumen in designing marketing strategy
indicators of successful mushroom entrepreneurship after the production and processing activities. Hence,
appear to be logical. they have been rated as the next best important
Risk bearing ability, technical competency and dimensions by the experts appear meaningful. The
decision making ability are the next three important scientific orientation and management orientation will
dimensions in the order of importance with a scale value act as complimentary characters for mushroom
of 6.728, 6.122 and 5.650, respectively. All entrepreneurs. They are at 8-9th places with a scale
entrepreneurial activities involve risks, may be in varying value of 3.900 and 3.293, respectively.
degrees. Knight (1921) defined the entrepreneur as a The leadership orientation and information seeking
calculated risk-taker and the recipient of pure profit, behaviour have assumed last two places in the order
where profit is seen as the reward for bearing the costs importance with the scale values of 1.543 and 1.071,
of uncertainty. Cantillon (1955) emphasised risk taking respectively. Entrepreneurs played both the roles of
as the distinguishing attribute of a successful manager and leader. Managerial role was exhibited by
entrepreneur. According to Bhattacharjee and Akhouri entrepreneur in their capacity as head of the enterprise.
(1975) and Rao (1985), risk taking ability was found to They also played leadership role when they were driven
be significantly associated with entrepreneurs. The by their own vision to innovate or bring in a change in
risks of uncertainty of economic profitability are to be the manager events took place [Kanungo and Mendonca
handled by good decision making ability. Joshi and (1994)]. Vijaya and Kamalanabhan (1998), Fraser
Kapoor (1973) emphasised the managing a farm as a (1961) and Manjula (1995) concluded that management
continuous process of decision making. Not just the orientation was positively and significantly related to
decisions but correct decisions will lead to successful entrepreneurial behaviour of participant and
management of the entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs nonparticipant women under Development of women
are seen as making judgements based on their superior and children in rural areas (DWACRA) programme.
information and knowledge [Ucbasaran (2004)]. In the present analysis, the Judges might have felt that
Knowledge of the world as well as business was among leadership ability of entrepreneur has little to do with
the special qualities of the entrepreneurs. The the success of mushroom enterprise. Though, an
66 Mahantesh Shirur et al.
Table 1 : Dimensions (D1 - D11) of entrepreneurial behaviour of mushroom entrepreneurs and the scale used for measurement
of dimension.
S. No. Dimensions Scale/ procedure borrowed
1. Innovativeness Scale developed by Anonymous (1981) with modifications
2. Achievement motivation Scale developed by Anonymous (1981) with modifications
3. Economic motivation Scale developed by Supe and Singh (1969)
4. Technical competency Structured schedule developed
5. Decision making ability Scale developed by Anonymous (1981) with modifications
6. Risk bearing ability Scale developed by Anonymous (1981) with modifications
7. Information seeking behaviour Structured schedule developed
8. Scientific orientation Scale developed by Supe and Singh (1969) with modifications
9. Leadership ability Nandapurkar (1982)
10. Management orientation Samanta (1977) with suitable modifications
11. Marketing strategy Structured schedule developed.
Table 2 : Calculation of scale values of all the dimensions of entrepreneurial behaviour based on the Judges’ ranking.
ri Ri D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 P C
1 11 9 5 3 6 2 4 1 1 0 1 3 95.45 8
2 10 5 7 4 3 4 6 0 2 1 1 2 86.36 7
3 9 4 4 5 4 4 5 0 1 2 2 4 77.27 7
4 8 4 3 5 3 5 3 1 3 2 3 3 68.18 6
5 7 3 5 2 5 3 7 0 3 2 3 2 59.09 5
6 6 2 2 3 4 4 3 2 4 1 6 4 50.00 5
7 5 2 5 2 2 3 2 3 8 3 2 3 40.91 5
8 4 3 1 4 2 6 2 4 2 5 4 2 31.82 4
9 3 2 1 1 4 3 2 8 4 3 4 3 22.73 3
10 2 1 0 3 1 1 1 9 6 3 5 5 13.64 3
11 1 0 2 3 1 0 0 7 1 13 4 4 4.55 2
fji 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35
Rj = fji C 215 206 186 195 188 204 120 162 127 153 169
R=Rj / fji 6.14 5.89 5.31 5.57 5.37 5.83 3.43 4.63 3.63 4.37 4.83
Rc * 7.47 6.86 5.52 6.12 5.65 6.73 1.07 3.90 1.54 3.29 4.37
*Rc = 2.357*R-7.01
Table 3 : Dimensions of entrepreneurial behaviour and their respective scale values and ranks.
S. No. Dimension Scale value Rank based on scale values
D1 Innovativeness 7.469 1
D2 Achievement motivation 6.863 2
D3 Economic motivation 5.516 6
D4 Technical competency 6.122 4
D5 Decision making ability 5.650 5
D6 Risk bearing ability 6.728 3
D7 Information seeking behaviour 1.071 11
D8 Scientific orientation 3.900 8
D9 Leadership ability 1.543 10
D10 Management orientation 3.293 9
D11 Marketing strategy 4.371 7
Mushroom Entrepreneurial Behaviour : Dimensions and Measurement 67
important character of many successful entrepreneurs- pilot study for testing the reliability of the scale. Authors
the information seeking behaviour is placed last. The greatly acknowledge the comments of anonymous
reason could be experts’ perceived ease of scoring high reviewers which lead to considerable improvement of
on the dimension by majority of entrepreneurs involved the paper.
in mushroom entrepreneurship.
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