Affective, non-calculative and social motivation to lead : what we know from studies of entrepreneurial, professional & leadership motivation

Abstract

In 2001, Chan & Drasgow developed a 3-factor model and self-report measure of the motivation to lead (MTL) including affective, social-normative and non-calculative factors. Recently, Chan et al. (2012) adapted this 3-factor model for the measurement of entrepreneurial and professional motivations as part of a new measure of entrepreneurial, professional and leadership (EPL) career aspirations. We explore the meanings of the three MTL factors empirically in relation to EPL career intentions, the Big Five personality factors, individualism-collectivism values, and EPL efficacy. Using a data from a university-wide survey of 10,326 students, we examine relationships between affective, social-normative and calculative/non-calculative EPL motivation factors with respective EPL career intentions. We employ structural equation modeling with separate survey data from 638 undergraduate students to examine the relationship between personality, values and efficacy with each of the three factors of EPL motivation. All three factors of EPL motivation are found to correlate with the respective, EPL career intentions. Interestingly, all three professional motivation factors correlate negatively with entrepreneurial career intentions. Like Chan and Drasgow (2001), we also observe different patterns of relationships between the Big Five personality factors, individualism-collectivism values, and EPL efficacy measures with each of the three factors of EPL motivation. Observations are based on cross-sectional, self-report survey data collected from university students in Singapore. Findings are discussed in relation to the meaning and measurement of MTL. We enhance the understanding of MTL by contrasting it with entrepreneurial and professional motivation.