Need for Autonomy: Entrepreneurial motivation
Autonomy has two parts, which may be called ‘will’ and ‘ability’. The first part, will, is relatively straightforward in that anyone can make decisions, although the quality of those decisions may vary, particularly in consideration of future risks. Ability includes having both skill and resources
The importance of autonomy is suggested by research on entrepreneurial motivation and satisfaction, as well as by a range of societal trends that favor increased self‐reliance. Two perspectives, self‐determination theory and self‐directed learning, provide leads about how to put autonomy centre stage in entrepreneurship education.
The need for autonomy is a desire for independence and being responsible and accountable to oneself rather than some external authority for performance. It is the desire for an opportunity for the fullest expression of one’s abilities. Entrepreneurs play important roles both in relation to economic development and in relation to the enterprise. In relation to economic development, entrepreneurs contribute to growth in GDP, capital formation and employment generation besides creating business opportunities for others and bringing about an improvement in the quality of life in the community in which they operate.
In the context of entrepreneurship, it is usually interpreted as the determination not to work for someone else. In most job situations, employees are given little freedom to exercise their discretion in taking decisions and choosing a course of action so much so that absence of it drives them into starting their own ventures. In the developing country context they also assume the responsibility for the day-to-day management of the enterprise.
In explaining and developing entrepreneurial motivation, it is important to learn that different individuals are motivated differently, and that one may be trying to satisfy more than one need through one’s pursuit. This is an important observation as economic theory very simply says that the objective of the firm or that of the entrepreneur is profit maximization.
