Beyond Innovators and Imitators : A Taxonomy of Entrepreneurs

In an earlier study of the policy orientations of innovative entrepreneurs, it was observed that there were considerable variations within the high-innovation and low-innovation groups identified for the purpose of comparing policy orientations. The possibility of identifying sub-types within the two groups was apparent and therefore the sample was subjected to cluster analysis. The most interpretable clusters were obtained when the two groups were clustered separately on the basis of the innovators' orientations. Seven sub-types were identified within the high-innovation group which were named as inventor/tinkerer, adventurer, searcher/problem-solver, gap-filler, social visionary, opportunity-grabber, and specialist pioneer. The low-innovation group, on the other hand, got grouped into six sub-types which were named as chance entrant, agent-turned producer, concession-grabber, obsessed producer, ancillary/imitator, and non-pioneer niche holder. Some observed similarities among the sub-types of low and high innovation groups may be interpreted as offering empirical support to the theory that all entrepreneurs are innovators, with the differences being explained as those of degree. Common entrepreneurial subtypes were hypothetically identified on this basis. Alternatively, it could be proposed that innovativeness is a moderating variable which has a transformational impact on the basic entrepreneurial sub-types