Extending the Concept of Technology Entrepreneurs’ Competence by an Interpretive Approach; a Phenomenological Study

The study of the competence of technology entrepreneurs as the heart of technological business is one of the main areas of research in the field of technological entrepreneurship. However, in the dominant rationalistic view in this studies, technology entrepreneurs’ competence is seen as constituted by a specific set of components used in performing particularly given functions. In the present study, phenomenology is proposed and explored as an interpretive methodology alternative to this view, which is more compatible with technology entrepreneurship. Findings showed that the nature of the competence required for technology entrepreneurship is emergent, holistic, and relational. Also, the findings of this study suggest that technology entrepreneurs’ way of conceiving the entrepreneurship specifies which competence’s components they develop and what meaning these components take. Our research provides technology entrepreneurs with an understanding of competence when creating and development of their businesses. Moreover, education services, identification of technology entrepreneurs in accelerators, and venture capital and business angels’ investment can be enhanced based on information gathered in this study.