Abstract:
The new economy has spirited a transformation ofwork organizations from big
business structures into smaller, more flexible enterprises, many of which are
launched as self-employment initiatives. The growing trend towards increasing selfemployment
in Canada demands aeritical review of how educational programs
support and encourage entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities for
students ofpost-secondary and adult training programs.
The focus ofthis study was threefold. First, the study examined whether a
relationship exists between self-directedness and success in self-employment.
Secondly, the purpose of this research was to determine whether a relationship
exists between psychological type as defined by Jung and success in selfemployment.
Finally, this research effort attempted to develop a model for
identifying individual potential for self-employment based on combined factors of
self-directedness and psychological type.
Success was measured in three stages: 1) Did the subject start a selfemployment
initiative? 2) Did the business survive six months? 3) Did the
business survive one year? The research went beyond classroom training activities
to determine whether individuals actually started a business enterprise while
participating ina self-employment program designed for individuals who were
unemployed. Given that many people initiate a self-employment venture.without actually operating the business beyond the initial start-up, this research effort
measured success based on a commitment of at least one year to the selfemployment
initiative.
Results ofthe study revealed that individuals with a high level of selfdirected
learning readiness tended to be more likely to succeed in business in terms
ofbusiness starts, survival for six months, and survival for one year.
In addition, it was discovered that individuals who were extraverted intuitive types
succeeded more often in business at all three levels than any other type. These
findings supported a model using the SDLRS and the PET Type Check as
predictors for success in entrepreneurial ventures.
