This
article aims to explore and empirically test a comprehensive model on
entrepreneurial intentions of final year university students in which some personality,
environmental and situational factors were included. The questionnaire survey
method was applied by a random sample of 487 students from various programmes
such as commerce & economic, sciences, computer & IT, law, agriculture,
medical and engineering studying at two major universities in Yemen. Using a
modified version of Davidsson’s model as a conceptual framework, this article
attempted to integrate three constructs personality traits, instrumental
readiness and situational factor to explain the relationship between these
antecedents and entrepreneurial intention. The results were based on
correlation and regression analysis. The results indicated that personality
traits have significant impacts on entrepreneurial intention; instrumental readiness does not have a significant impact and situational
factor has a significant impact on entrepreneurial intention. The article also
found need for achievement as the most important and significant impact on
entrepreneurial intention and prior work experience contributed as the second
factor but negatively impacts on entrepreneurial intention. This puts
personality traits as the dominant factor of the entrepreneurial intention of
university students. This article adds to the existing entrepreneurship literature
on factors affecting entrepreneurial activities that the crisis does not
motivate university students for entrepreneurial intentions, as well as that it harmed their entrepreneurial intentions. In addition, the article
concluded that Davidsson’s model could be considered as the primary antecedent
of entrepreneurial intentions.
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