ASSESSING ENTREPRENEURS CHARACTERISTICS AMONG SMALL BUSINESSES IN JOS SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE

Abstract

This research work assessedentrepreneurs characteristics among small businesses in Jos South LGA of Plateau State with the objective to determine self-efficacy, creativity and goal setting characteristics among entrepreneurs. The literature review identified extroversion, ambiguity tolerance, locus of selfcontrol, self-efficacy, creativity, moderate risk taking, goal setting, information seeking, persistence, responsibility acceptance among others as the personal characteristics of entrepreneurs. 120 entrepreneurs were used as the sample with 402 as the population. Data were also analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics involved the used of mean and standard deviation at 3.00 criterion mean in which all the statements agreed. Inferential statistics were used to measure the difference between variables with the aid of statistics package for social scientist (SPSS) using t-test. The hypotheses and the result revealed that there is a significance difference between creativity and self-efficacy also between creativity and goal setting. The researchers concluded thatcharacteristics of entrepreneurs play more important roles in business success than business knowledge and craftsmanship. The paper recommends that Entrepreneurs should possess self-efficacy characteristics because it will give them the ability to make decisions that will help in the growth of the business enterprise. Entrepreneurs should be creative not necessarily be an inventor but should be able to modify and synthesize existing ideas.

KEYWORDS: Entrepreneurs Characteristics, Small Business