Impact of group interactions on farmers’ entrepreneurial behaviour

Ekonomika a managemen 46 2014, XVII, 4 DOI: 10.15240/ ul/001/2014-4-004 In oduc ion Amids he di e si y o app oaches o examine i , one can ind di e en de ini ions o en e- p eneu ship. D ucke iden i ied en ep eneu s as people who see “change” as he s anda d, and ac i ely go looking o exis ing change in o de o exploi i [13]. The e is a long his o y o economic esea ch on en ep eneu ship. In ‘Theo y o Economic De elopmen ’ Schumpe e iewed he en ep eneu as an agen o change ha is he sou ce o his amous c ea i e des uc ion [31]. Schumpe e iden i ied an en ep eneu could be a single pe son, he coun y i sel , o i s agenda, can ac as an en ep eneu [12]. He indica ed ha success ul en ep eneu s elici widesp ead imi a ion and i “p esupposes a g ea su plus o ce o e he e e yday demand’ [31]. In de eloping coun ies an en ep eneu is iden i ied as a pe son who is sel -employed, ea ns his li ing, es ablishes his business and has a s a us in socie y [14]. Webs e ’s Dic iona y [34] de ines en ep e- neu ship as “c ea ion o a new, inno a i e, p o i o ien ed, isiona y economic o ganiza ion ha exis s in unce ain en i onmen s ca ying some isk”. In o he wo ds, an en ep eneu can ecognize an oppo uni y, and add alue h ough he esou ces. Empi ical e idences sug- ges en ep eneu ial beha iou as a unc ion o he cha ac e is ics o he pe son and he en i onmen [10]. Solanki and Soni [32] iewed ha an en ep eneu may be di e en ia ed no only in e ms o he kind o ac i i ies he pu sues bu in he con ex o his li e s yle, a i udes, alues and beha iou con ibu ing o he en ep eneu ial pe sonali y. Findings sugges ha en ep eneu ship is concei ed as ape sonal quali y enabling indi iduals o make decisions wi h a eaching consequences, and success by ac ing di e en ly om o he s. These esul s in luence o he people o change hei mind oo. Many con ex ual ac o s may exe an in luence on en ep eneu ial beha iou and success [37]. En ep eneu s disco e new sou ces o supply o ma e ials and ma ke s and hey es ablish mo e e ec i e o ms o o ganiza ions and pe cei e new oppo uni ies wi h supe -no mal will powe and ene gy, essen ial o o e come esis ance ha social en i onmen o e s [32]. En ep eneu s ha e been ins umen al in ini ia ing socio-economic de elopmen . 1. En ep eneu ship in Ag icul u e Ag icul u al de elopmen acili a es a be e li ing s anda d o a me s by p oducing mo e and selling mo e. Fa ming success ends o inc ease a me s’ sel -con idence. Inc eased con ac s wi h me chan s and go e nmen agencies would d aw a me s in o a close acquain ance wi h he wo ld beyond hem [22]. Compa ed wi h o he en e p ises, ag icul u e has some unique p oblems, as i hea ily depends on a biological ela ionship a ec ed by he ac o s like clima e, diseases, pes s, s o age, and luc ua ion o p ice. An en ep eneu has li le o no con ol o e many o hese ac o s. In he exis ing dynamic and compe i i e economic en i onmen , collec i e e o s o a me s empowe hem wi h g ea e con ol [22]. En ep eneu ial beha iou o a me s has an impac on hei p o i making. En ep eneu ial beha iou depends on a numbe o ac o s like isk aking, eedback usage, pe sis ence, hope o success, con idence, knowledge, manageabili y, achie emen mo i a ion, pu suabili y, and inno a i eness [25]. Solanki and Soni [32] ha e iden i ied 15 indica o s o en ep eneu ial beha- iou iz; Decision making abili y, Economic mo i a ion, Ma ke o ien a ion, Knowledge o imp o ed echnology, Abili y o coo dina e a ai- lable esou ces, Risk aking abili y, Abili y o sol e p oblems, C edi o ien a ion, Sel -con idence, IMPACT OF GROUP INTERACTIONS ON FARMERS’ ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOUR H.R.M.P. Abey a hne, L.N.A.C. Jayawa dena EM_04_14_zlom 1.12.2014 11:13 S ánka 46 Business Adminis a ion and Managemen 474, XVII, 2014 Scien i ic o ien a ion, Communica ion skills, Expe iences, Achie emen mo i a ion, Pe cei ing oppo uni ies, and Pe cei ing managemen se ices. Chaudha i e al. [9] indica ed en ep eneu ial beha iou o be based on nine cha ac e is ics, iz. inno a i eness, achie emen mo i a ion, decision making, isk o ien a ion, co-coo dina ing abili y, planning, in o ma ion seeking beha iou , cosmopoli eness and sel - con idence. And hey de eloped an index o measu e he en ep eneu ial beha iou o dai y a me s. Maye & Jencks [24] ha e indica ed he p o ound in luence o neighbou ing pee s on indi iduals h oughou hei li e spans. Indi idual’s en y o en ep eneu ship ( ely on heo ies o social no ms and indi idual a i udes) posi s ha in en ions p ecede en y and a i udes p ecede in en ions [21]. 1.1 G oups and In e ac ions The alue o a ela ionship is also de ined by he social con ex a ound he ela ionship [6]. Ma in [23] de ined a g oup as “ wo o mo e pe sons engaged in social in e ac ions”. In his si ua ion each membe o he g oup is awa e o he o he membe s and ge s in luenced by hem and ice e sa. Bass [3] called a collec ion o people as a g oup, i he exis ence o such collec ion was ewa ding o i s membe s. Woolcock and Na ayan [38], and Padmaja and Ban ilan [27] de ined social capi al as he “no ms and ne wo ks ha enable people o do collec i e ac ions”. Goleman e al. we e o he iew ha bene i s o bonding social capi al should be ealized in in en ional change by ha ing a ne wo k o us ing, suppo i e, and mu ually ein o cing ela ionships ha acili a e one’s e o s o change [17]. Social capi al ea u es in social o ganiza ions based on ne wo ks o in e ac ion, and no ms o ecip oci y and us acili a ing coo dina ion and coope- a ion o mu ual bene i [29]. A e iew o social psychology li e a u e shows ha wo ypes o g oup in e ac ions exis in g oup p ocesses, i.e. ask, and social in e ac ions, which coexis and a e equally impo an o a g oup [8]. Concep ually, g oup unc ional ac i i ies o p oduc ion o e lap wi h g oup ask in e ac ions, whe eas g oup unc ional ac i i ies o membe suppo and g oup well-being o e lap wi h g oup social in e ac ions. The main cha ac e is ics o no ma i e in luence, such as g oup ela ion- ships, mo ali y o ca e, seeking subjec i e i ue, g oup no ms, p e e ences, main aining ha mony, e c., a e essen ially cen e ed on ela ionships be ween g oup membe s o needs/ p e e ences o membe s [2]. In e pe - sonal ela ions a e he impo an aspec s o social li e and i is easily achie ed a g oup si ua ions [15]. A g oup has been iden i ied as as age whe e membe s mee and nego ia e pe sonal in e es s [23]. And some membe s y o ob ain powe and s a us h ough g oups and o ganiza ions. Padmaja and Ba ilan [27] we e o he iew ha “beha iou o a pe son is go e ned by in e ac ions and in e ela ions wi h o he people”. P e y and Wo d [28] iewed ac o s such as age, educa ion, gende , g oup size, he e ogenei y o membe s, esou ce ul- ness o membe s, and p e ious expe ience on collec i e ac ions, in luence collec i e ac ions. Howe e , K uijssen e al. [22] epo ed ha collec i e ac i i ies we e always no possible in he esou celess a me g oups. Acco dingly, lack o capi al makes i di icul o main ain g oups among poo a me s. Fa me g oups educe ansac ion cos , imp o e ma ke ing acili ies, educe cos o cul i a ion, and acili a e o he se ices [15]. O he bene i s o a me g oups a e; ini ia ing and es ablishing cul u e o coope a ion and coo dina ion o hei own bene i s [24], conduc ing collec i e ac ions o o e come common p oblems [4], imp o ing esou ce managemen s a egies esul ing in g ow h o local ma ke and u al economy [4], de eloping ne wo ks among membe s and acili a e membe s o sha e ideas and ind ways o mu ual suppo . Fa me s’ g oups ha e been ound o help ex ension agen s o imp o e membe a me s’ knowledge and p ac ical skills o ag icul u al echnologies [29]. En ep e- neu ial ac ion was ound embedded in social in e ac ions wi h o he indi iduals [30]. Au io and Wennbe g [1] e ealed s ong g oup-le el e ec s on en ep eneu ial beha iou s. They ound nea ly 50% o he o al a iance in en ep eneu ial beha iou s esides be ween social g oups, and no a ibu able o indi idual le el cha ac e is ics. Fu he , he in luence o g oup-le el a i udes and social no ms on indi idual le el en ep eneu ial beha iou s was up o h ee imes as s ong as he in luence o indi idual-le el a i udes and no ms. Abo e indings indica ed ha indi idual-le el en ep e- neu ship o a g ea e deg ee is a e lec ion o g oup-le el disposi ions. I sugges ed he EM_04_14_zlom 1.12.2014 11:13 S ánka 47 Ekonomika a managemen 48 2014, XVII, 4 dominan , indi idual-cen ic and disposi ional explana ions o en ep eneu ship a e he e o e, a bes , incomple e. 1.2 Ne wo k Linkages Social con ex is impo an o deepe unde - s anding o en ep eneu ship ac i i ies and he na u e o in ol emen s [35]. Johannison [19] iden i ied a high deg ee o ne wo k linkages and ies in wo u al egions in Sweden, indica- ing ha in some ci cums ances he ne wo k may lead o di ec suppo in aising inance, in e ading and coope a i e e o s. In a S i Lankan s udy, Wijekoon, and Jayawa dena [36] ound posi i e signi ican ela ionships ‘be ween he use o in o ma ion sou ces and pe sonal ac o s, iz. age, social pa icipa ion, deg ee o exposu e o mass media, inno a i eness, and isk o ien a ion’. They iden i ied ellow a me s o be he mos a ailable in o ma ion sou ce. Johannisson [19] poin ed ou ha he en ep eneu is a ne wo king pe son and ha he pe sonal ne wo k is he ehicle by which he es ablished en ep eneu exchanges in o ma ion while he acqui es esou ces om he en i onmen . In he conduc o a collabo a i e ask, he e a e a ying le els o in e ac ion among g oup membe s. I has been ound ha main cha ac e is ics o in o ma ional in luence such as in o ma ion sha ing, ac ual and ask messages, a ional decision model, e c., a e e lec ed in ask ac i i ies o asking o and gi ing in o ma ion, sugges ions, and di ec ions [2]. Social in e ac ions e e o pa icula o ms o ex e nali ies, in which he ac ions o a e e- ence g oup a ec an indi idual’s p e e ences. The e e ence g oup depends on he con ex and is mos ly i consis s o an indi idual’s amily, neighbou s, iends o pee s in social in e ac ions. C ea i ely accessing social ne wo ks o mobilize inancial and o he esou ces needed o business c ea ion and expansion has been obse ed in many s udies [16], [18]. This heo y add esses he e ec s ha indi iduals ha e on o he s who come in o con ac wi h hem. In e pe sonal a ac ion heo y [7] posi s ha indi iduals wi h simila belie s a e a ac ed o each o he , hus ein o cing a sha ed se o a i udes and beha iou s. Bo h hese heo ies p edic ha indi iduals will ha e a i udes and beha iou s simila o hose wi h whom hey in e ac . Iden i ica ion o social capi al opens ab oade iew owa ds social s uc u es and p ocesses, social alues and no ms. Signi ican di e ences ha e been ound in Eas Asia in how social capi al wo ks in China and Vie nam, han in Japan o Ko ea [26]. Padmaja and Ban ilan [27] ha e iden i ied ha , beha iou o ape son is go e ned by in e ac ions and in e ela ions wi h o he people. The di e en ways how b idging ne wo ks con ibu e o en ep eneu ial ac i i ies has been con i med in empi ical indings [5]. 1.3 Scope o he S udy Empi ical indings sugges he in luence o g oup in e ac ions in he en ep eneu ial beha- iou o a me s. Howe e , he e is a dea h o s udies in examining he abo e using compa- a i e g oups o ege able a me s p ac icing one season, and wo seasons pe yea espec i ely. This s udy was ocused on examining ‘whe he he e is an impac om g oup in e ac ions o imp o e en ep eneu ial beha iou o a me s? and, wha a e he esul ing e ec s?.’ Gene al objec i e o he s udy was o examine he impac o g oup beha iou on he en ep eneu ial beha iou o ege able a me s. Speci ic objec i es o he s udy we e o iden i y, and assess he majo en ep eneu ial beha iou al cha ac e is ics o a me s, and o examine he ela ionship be ween he g oup in e ac ions and en ep eneu ial beha iou o a me s. 2. Me hodology The epis emological app oach o his esea ch s udy was posi i ism. Acco dingly he unde line me hodological aim was exposu e. The esea ch design consis ed o wo case s udies, using wo samples o ege able a me s p ac icing espec i ely a single season, and wo seasons ( h oughou he yea ) annually. The choice o abo e wo ypes o a me o ganisa ions was mean o cap u e he in icacies ha a me s ge exposed in a ming con inuously, and only du ing a de ined pe iod (single season) pe yea . These condi ions a e nume ous, a y and in ol e di e ing socio-cul u al conno a ions, especially in an Asian con ex . Acco dingly, ou come o his s udy was ocused on es ing exis ing heo y in di e en backg ound condi ions. En ep eneu ship p ac i ione s, policymake s, and academics alike ha e shown a g owing in e es in he con ex ual ac o s in which en ep eneu ial ac i i ies ake place [33]. EM_04_14_zlom 1.12.2014 11:13 S ánka 48 Business Adminis a ion and Managemen 494, XVII, 2014 2.1 Ope a ionaliza ion o Resea ch S i Lanka was selec ed o he s udy due o he a ailabili y o compa a i e g oups o ege able a me s p ac icing only a single season, and bo h seasons pe yea wi hin geog aphically close by loca ions. S i Lanka has 22 adminis a i e dis ic s. Ma ale dis ic has been among he op 4 dis ic s p oducing high amoun o ege ables in S i Lanka. Fa me o ganiza ions o Ma ale dis ic in S i Lanka was selec ed as he sampling ame o he s udy. Ma ale has o e 220 a me O ganiza ions. An explo a o y esea ch o iden i y he a me g oups, and ac i i ies was conduc ed wi h he pa icipa ion o communi y leade s and go e nmen Ag icul u al Ins uc o s (AIs’). Acco dingly, Naula, and Dambulla Di isional Sec e a ia (DS) a eas we e selec ed om he Ma ale dis ic . Naula DS a ea consis ed o a me o ganisa- ions g owing ege ables h oughou he yea , namely du ing he seasons o Yala and Maha. Howe e , majo i y o a me s in Dambulla DS a ea cul i a ed ege ables only du ing he Yala season. Two a me o ganiza ions we e selec ed om he wo DS a eas. Sinha a me O ga- niza ion om Naula DS a ea and Mahasen a me O ganiza ion om Dambulla DS a ea we e selec ed o he s udy. Among he 75 a me o ganiza ions in Naula DS a ea, Sinha a me o ganiza ion was among he mos ac i e a me o ganiza ions, as pe he epo s o AIs’. Simila ly, among he 90 a me o ganiza ions in Dambulla DS a ea, Mahasen a me o ganiza- ion was among he mos success ul. S a i ied andom sampling was used o selec a sample o 60 ege able a me s, 30 each om hese wo a me o ganiza ions. Fa ming expe ience, Age, and con inui y in a ming we e iden i ied as he majo c i e ia o he selec ion o a me o ganisa ions. 2.2 Resea ch Ins umen s and Da a Analysis P ima y da a we e collec ed h ough aques ionnai e su ey, which was ollowed by in o mal discussions and key in o man discussions. The en ep eneu ial beha iou scale de eloped by Chaudha i e al. [9], was inco po a ed in o he ques ionnai e o assess he en ep eneu ial beha iou o a me s. Assessmen o g oup in e ac ions was based on he i e s a emen s (co e ing he di e ing aspec s) used o assessing g oup in e ac ions in oduced by Kaplan and Mille [20] o esea ch on g oup decision making. I included decision making ac i i ies in di e en s ages. I had a Like scale o answe s in he ange o 1 (No a all) o 5 (Ve y high) o each s a emen . Da a we e analysed using he S a is ical Package o Social Sciences. Desc ip i e da a we e p esen ed using abula analysis and ela ionships we e es ed h ough co ela ion es s, and using 2-independen sample - es s (Mann Whi ney Tes ) o non-pa ame ic da a. 3. Findings 3.1 G oup In e ac ions among Responden s G oup in e ac ions o a me s we e assessed by measu ing hei in ol emen in g oup ac i i- ies o selec ed eigh p ac ices in ege able cul i a ion. The eigh iden i ied ac i i ies we e namely; seasonal planning, c op selec ion, land p epa a ion and ield plan ing, i iga ion wa e dis ibu ion, con olling o pes s and diseases, pa icipa ing in aining p og ammes, ha es ing, and selling. G oup in e ac ions o each p ac ice we e measu ed using i e s a emen s. These i e s a emen s we e measu ed using a 5 poin Like scale, and esponses a e depic ed in able 1. Table 2 depic s he ca ego iza ion o g oup in e ac ions o p ac ices as low, mode a e, and high. Tab. 1: Sco ing pa e n o g oup in e ac ions Answe Sco e Maximum sco e o a single p ac ice Ve y high 5 25 High 4 20 Low 3 15 Ve y low 2 10 No a all 1 5 Sou ce: Au ho s’ classi ica ion EM_04_14_zlom 1.12.2014 11:13 S ánka 49 Ekonomika a managemen 50 2014, XVII, 4 3.1.1 G oup In e ac ions in Seasonal Planning, and Selec ion o C ops In Mahasen a me g oup, in e ac ions in seasonal planning we e high. They had a g oup no m ha 80% o he membe s o he a me o ganiza ion should pa icipa e a he seasonal planning. O he wise hey ha e o pay a ine. Bu in Sinha a me g oup 86.7% o a me s had esponded ha hei g oup in e ac ions we e a a mode a e le el. They had no g oup no m o in ol emen o g oup membe s like in Mahasen Fa me O ganiza ion. Fo y eigh pe cen o he esponden s had mode a e g oup in e ac ions in c op selec ion. In Mahasen a me g oup, 60% pe cei ed a high le el o g oup in e ac ions in c op selec ion. Bu in Sinha a me g oup, he e we e no high g oup in e ac ions in c op selec ion. Mahasen a me g oup had a p e seasonal mee ing o decide c ops o he season, and 80% o membe s’ pa icipa ion was conside ed a no m. Majo i y o he membe s pa icipa ed o he mee ing and in ol ed in c op selec ion. In Sinha a me g oup, he e was no such no m o membe s’ pa icipa ion o he p e seasonal mee ing. Majo i y o he Sinha G oup a me s had decided sui able c ops o season indi idually, wi h low g oup in e ac ions. 3.1.2 G oup In e ac ions in Land P epa a ion, Field Plan ing, and I iga ion Wa e Dis ibu ion Eigh y wo pe cen o a me s pe cei ed g oup in e ac ions in land p epa a ion and ield plan ing o be low. In Sinha a me g oup all he a me s pe cei ed gi ing in o ma ion, sha ing in o ma ion among g oup membe s, and helping each o he o be a a low le el. In Mahasen a me g oup also majo i y o he a me s (63.3%) pe cei ed g oup in e ac ions o be low. This could also be due o non-p ac icing o he adi ional labou sha ing sys em by many a me s. They ied o manage a ming ac i i ies by hemsel es using hi ed labou . Fo y pe cen o he esponden s o Mahasen a me g oup, and he en i e Sinha a me g oup pe cei ed in e ac ions in i iga ion wa e dis ibu ion o be a a low le el. Though he en i e membe ship should ge in ol ed in deciding he da es, and du a ion o i iga ion wa e dis ibu ion, i has been decided by he commi ee membe s o a me g oups. 3.1.3 G oup In e ac ions in Con olling o Pes s and Diseases in Vege able Cul i a ion, and T aining P og ammes Eigh y i e pe cen o he o al esponden s ound g oup in e ac ions in con olling o pes s and diseases a a low le el. Whene e pes a acks o diseases occu ed, a me s had used o ge ad ices om ag ochemical selle s and had used chemicals as emedy. Sha ing o in o ma ion, ge ing ad ices om subjec ma e specialis s, and adhe ing o he con ol measu es in an ou b eak as a g oup, we e a a low le el. Deciding aining p og ammes, sha ing knowledge om aining p og ammes, and selec ing membe s o aining p og ammes based on hei p e e ences we e low among o e all esponden s, as 60% o hem pe cei ed so. In Mahasen a me g oup, in e ac ions we e mode a e in pa icipa ing o aining p og ammes, and hey had pa icipa ed o a leas i e aining p og ammes pe yea . On he con a y, membe s o Sinha a me g oup had pa icipa ed o only one o wo aining p og ammes pe yea . 3.1.4 G oup In e ac ions in Ha es ing o C op and Selling Sha ing in o ma ion o new p ac ices among membe s, deciding he ha es ing pe iod as ag oup, and sha ing o labou a ha es ing we e low among a me s. Due o ime limi a ions mos o he a me s we e eluc an o wo k as ag oup, and hey sha ed ha es ing ac i i ies wi h amily membe s, and hi ed labou . Sha ing in o ma ion abou new ma ke s, p ices, place o selling and ba gaining o a easonable p ice o Tab. 2: Ca ego iza ion o g oup in e ac ions by hei sco es G oup in e ac ions ca ego y Sco e Low ≤15 Mode a e 16–20 High ≥21 Sou ce: Au ho s’ classi ica ion EM_04_14_zlom 1.12.2014 11:13 S ánka 50 Business Adminis a ion and Managemen 514, XVII, 2014 hei p oduc s as a g oup we e a low le el in bo h a me g oups. Almos 95% o o al espon- den s pe cei ed ha g oup in e ac ions we e low in selling o p oduce. They pe cei ed di icul ies in selling p oduc s in Dambulla Dedica ed Eco- nomic Cen e as a g oup due o he in luence o middlemen. Majo i y o he a me s a emp ed o sell hei p oduc s o a highe p ice indi i- dually. O e all g oup in e ac ions among a me s we e a a mode a e le el. As shown below in Figu e 1, 67% o he a me s pe cei ed hei g oup in e ac ions in ege able cul i a ion as mode a e. Pe cen age dis ibu ion o Fig. 1: esponden s by g oup in e ac ions Sou ce: Su ey da a 3.2 Task In e ac ions and Social In e ac ions o he Responden s Task in e ac ion among a me s was a a mo- de a e le el. They included ou ine asks ha need he suppo o ellow a me s du ing di e en s ages in a ming. Se en y wo pe cen o he a me s esponded ha , sha ing o in o ma ion; sugges ions, di ec ions, and a ional decision making o he g oup we e a mode a e le els. Social ask in e ac ion o he esponden s was a mode a e le el. Majo i y (55%) esponded ha , con o mi y o no ms, conside a ion abou p e e ences o g oup membe s, and mo ali y o ca e o he g oup we e a mode a e le els. Mahasen g oup had 78 membe s, in compa- ison o Sinha a me g oup’s 172 membe s. 3.3 En ep eneu ial Beha iou Cha ac e is ics o Responden s Responden s we e assessed o he ollowing en cha ac e is ics ha we e iden i ied in hei en ep eneu ial beha iou . i.) Planning abili y o he esponden s: Planning abili y o he esponden s was measu ed by using i e s a emen s, each o hem we e alloca ed sco es om 1 o 5. To al sco es below 10 we e ca ego ized as low; 10–15 sco es we e ca ego ized as mode a e, and sco es o e 15 was ca ego ized as high. Almos 70% o he esponden s had planned hei cul i a ion ac i i ies well. In Mahasen a me g oup planning abili y o he esponden s was highe han a Sinha a me g oup. Fa me s in he Mahasen a me g oup had adop ing he seasonal plan. And hose who could no ollow ha had o pay a ine. Bu in Sinha a me g oup he e was no such ule. ii.) Coo dina ing abili y o he esponden s: Coo dina ing abili y o he a me s was measu ed by using ou s a emen s alloca ing sco es om 1 o 5. To al sco es below 8 we e ca ego ized as low, sco es om 8–12 we e ca ego ized as mode a e, and sco es o e 12 we e ca ego ized as high. Thi y se en pe cen o he esponden s had a high coo dina ing abili y. They decided he equi ed amoun o land, capi al, and inpu s o hei cul i a ion well in ad ance. Bu 31.4% o a me s had decided hem jus a he momen , and he es (31.6%) had ne e planned a all. iii.) In o ma ion seeking beha iou o he esponden s: In o ma ion seeking beha iou o he a me s was measu ed by using 14 in- o ma ion sou ces and hei equency o usage by a me s. F equencies we e gi en sco es om 1 o 3. To al sco es below 18, we e ca e- go ized as low, 18 and 28 as mode a e and sco es o e 28 was ca ego ized as high in o ma ion seeking beha iou . Abou 85% o esponden s had a mode a e in o ma ion seeking beha iou . Majo i y o he a me s had no used ele ision, adio, newspape s, elephone, and NGO o ice s o ge in o ma ion equen ly. Mos o hem had used amily membe s, iends, ela i es, ag icul- u e ins uc o s (AI’s), ag icul u e esea ch and p oduc ion assis an s (ARPA’s) equen ly o ge in o ma ion. The e was no a single a me ha ing a low le el o in o ma ion seeking beha iou . i .) Inno a i eness o he esponden s: Inno a i eness o he esponden s was mea- su ed by using i e p ac ices which we e EM_04_14_zlom 1.12.2014 11:13 S ánka 51 Ekonomika a managemen 52 2014, XVII, 4 in oduced ecen ly o ege able cul i a ion and we e alloca ed sco es om 0 o 3, based on he numbe o yea s hey had used hem. To al sco es below 5 we e ca ego ized as low, sco es om 6 and 10 we e ca ego ized as mode a e, and sco es o e 10 we e ca ego ized as high. Se en y i e pe cen o he esponden s had a mode a e le el o inno a i eness. Mos o hem had ne e sea ched o new ma ke s. Howe e , hey used plas ic ays o anspo hei p oduc s. Mahasen a me g oup had 30% o ame s wi h a high le el o inno a i eness. Mos o hem used Neem based ex ac o s as pes icides, imp o ed seeds, and sp aye i iga ion me hods o cul i a ions. .) Risk o ien a ion o he esponden s: Risk o ien a ion o he esponden s was measu ed by using ou s a emen s, assigning sco es om 1 o 5. To al sco es o below 8 we e ca ego ized as low, sco es 8 and 12 we e ca ego ized as mode a e, and sco es o e 12 we e ca ego ized as high. The e was no much di e ence in he isk o ien a ion be ween he wo a me g oups. Six y h ee pe cen o espon- den s had a mode a e le el o isk o ien a ion. Majo i y (62%) conside ed ege able cul i a ion as isky and hey op ed o y new p ac ices only a e seeing success ul esul s o o he a me s. i.) Decision making abili y o he esponden s: Decision making abili y o he esponden s was measu ed using eigh p ac ices and alloca ing sco es (1 o 3) based on app oach o aking decisions. To al sco es below 13 we e ca ego ized as low, 13 o 19 as mode a e, and o e 19 we e ca ego ized as high. Nine y pe cen o he a me s had high le el o decision making abili y. Mos o he a me s decided on hei cul i a ions h ough hei own expe iences. Majo i y o a me s we e no hough ul o p ac icing sp inkle o d ip i iga ion, and c op insu ance. ii.) Oppo uni y seeking beha iou o he esponden s: Oppo uni y seeking beha- iou o he esponden s was measu ed by using i e si ua ions a me s could c ea e oppo u- ni ies and hei making use o hem. Sco es o 1 and 2 we e alloca ed acco dingly. To al sco es below 7 we e ca ego ized as low, sco es be - ween 7 and 9 we e ca ego ized as mode a e, and sco es o e 9 we e ca ego ized as high. Abou 52% o esponden s had a high le el o oppo uni y seeking beha iou . Access o subsidies and c edi acili ies h ough a me o ganiza ions, pa icipa ing o aining p og ammes, and use o in o ma ion sou ces o ob ain p ice de ails we e a a mode a e le el. Six y pe cen o he membe s o Mahasen a me g oup had a high oppo uni y seeking beha iou . They had many oppo uni ies han Sinha a me g oup iz; conduc ing aining p og ammes, c edi acili ies, and in o ma ion sys em o Dialog (mobile) Telecom Company. iii.) Achie emen mo i a ion o he esponden s: Achie emen mo i a ion o he esponden s was measu ed by using en s a emen s awa ding sco es o 1 o 2. To al sco es below 7 we e ca ego ized as low, sco es be ween 7 and 8 we e ca ego ized as mo- de a e, and sco es o e 8 we e ca ego ized as high. Abou 52% o o al esponden s had a high achie emen mo i a ion. Mo i a ion le els o ea n highe p o i s, o be a well-known a me , and o accomplish asks be e han o he s we e a mode a e le els. Majo i y (60%) in Mahasen g oup had a high le el o achie e- men mo i a ion. They ocused highe p o i s, and we e ambi ious in a ming p o ession. ix.) Sel -con idence o he esponden s: Sel -con idence o he esponden s was mea- su ed by using i e s a emen s, alloca ing sco es o 1 o 2. To al sco es below 8 we e ca ego ized as low, sco es be ween 8 and 10 we e ca ego ized as mode a e, and sco es o e 10 we e ca ego ized as high. Abou 47% o he esponden s had a mode a e le el o sel - con idence. Majo i y lacked con idence in p o i making h ough ege able cul i a ion, and mos o hem elied on o he s in ca ying ou a ming ac i i ies. They did no ake he ini ia i e in c op selec ion, deciding ime o land p epa a ion, plan ing, ha es ing and selling e c. Fa me s pe cei ed hey we e mode a e in adap ing o new si ua ions, concen a ing on a ask, and saying he igh opinion a he igh ime. x.) Cosmopoli anisms o he esponden s: Cosmopoli anisms o he esponden s we e measu ed by using i e s a emen s o hei pe cep ion, alloca ing sco es om 1 o 3. To al sco es below 10 we e ca ego ized as low, EM_04_14_zlom 1.12.2014 11:13 S ánka 52 Business Adminis a ion and Managemen 534, XVII, 2014 sco es be ween 10 and 12 we e ca ego ized as mode a e, and sco es o e 12 we e ca ego- ized as high. Fo y i e pe cen o he a me s had a high le el o cosmopoli ans. Collec ion o in o ma ion o success ul a me s om ou side o illage, ge ing in o ma ion h ough mass media, isi ing AIs and o he go e nmen al o icials, ga he ing o ecen in o ma ion h ough ag icul u al li e a u e and ag icul u al exhibi ions was a a mode a e le el. 3.4 En ep eneu ial Beha iou o he Responden s Based on he alues ob ained om he en ep eneu ial beha iou (Index) h ee ca ego ies we e iden i ied. Index alue below 65 was ca ego ized as low, 65 and 75 as mode a e, and o e 75 was ca ego ized as high. The o e all en ep eneu ial beha iou o he esponden s was a a mode a e le el (mean alue o 71.186, s anda d de ia ion o 0.17). Among he en en ep eneu ial cha ac e is ics planning abili y and decision making abili y we e a a high le el (mean alues we e 2.7 and 2.9 espec i ely). O he cha ac e is ics we e a amode a e le el. As shown in Figu e 2, only 23% o he esponden s had a high le el o en ep eneu ial beha iou . Dis ibu ion (as a %) o Fig. 2: esponden s’ en ep eneu ial beha iou Sou ce: Su ey da a 3.4.1 Rela ionship be ween G oup In e ac ions and En ep eneu ial Beha iou Aposi i e signi ican ela ionship was epo ed be ween he g oup in e ac ions o a me s and hei en ep eneu ial beha iou ( =0.507, p=0.001, signi ican a 0.01 le el). Fig. 3 indica es esponden s’ wi h high g oup in e ac ions epo ing high en ep eneu ial beha iou . Among hose epo ing low g oup in e ac ions, 50% o hem had low en ep eneu ial beha iou . Fig. 3: Responden s’ g oup in e ac ions and en ep eneu ial beha iou Sou ce: Su ey da a EM_04_14_zlom 1.12.2014 11:13 S ánka 53 Ekonomika a managemen 54 2014, XVII, 4 3.4.2 Di e ence in G oup In e ac ions o he Two Fa me G oups The 2-independen sample - es (Mann Whi ney Tes ) eco ded a signi ican di e ence o g oup in e ac ions (p=0.007, signi ican a 0.01 le el) be ween Mahasen and Sinha a me g oups. All he esponden s who eco ded high g oup in e ac ions belonged o Mahasen a me g oup. The e we e no esponden s epo ing high g oup in e ac ions in Sinha a me g oup. Respon- den s o Mahasen a me g oup had high le el o g oup in e ac ions in seasonal planning, selec ing o c ops, and i iga ion wa e dis ibu ion. Mahasen a me g oup was highly conce ned o g oup no ms and ules such as, 80% o membe s’ pa icipa ion o decision making, ocus on 80% o membe s’ ag eemen s o a decision, and ining o de ia ions om g oup’s ules and egula ions. Mahasen a me g oup had mon hly mee ings, whils Sinha a me g oup had only seasonal mee ings held in e e y 6 mon hs. Mahasen a me g oup had conduc ed many socie al bene icial campaigns in illage. This inc eased he cohesi eness among membe s. Main aining and ebuilding o i iga ion cannels, e o es a ion was p ac iced by Mahasen a me g oup. 3.4.3 Di e ence in En ep eneu ial Beha iou o he Two Fa me G oups Acco ding o he 2-independen sample - es (Mann Whi ney Tes ) he e was a signi ican di e ence in en ep eneu ial beha iou (p=0.007, signi ican a 0.01 le el) be ween he wo a me g oups. Eigh y six pe cen o he esponden s who had high en ep eneu ial beha iou belonged o Mahasen a me g oup, and he co esponding igu e was 14% in Sinha a me g oup. In Mahasen a me g oup planning abili y, coo dina ion abili y, and inno a i eness o a me s we e a a highe le el han Sinha a me g oup. Conclusions, Limi a ions and Fu he Resea ch Findings o he s udy indica ed he posi i e impac o g oup in e ac ions on en ep eneu ial beha iou o he a me s in a me g oups. G oup in e ac ions o a me s signi ican ly co ela ed wi h hei en ep eneu ial beha- iou al pa e ns. G oup in e ac ions o a me s we e mode a e and en ep eneu ial beha iou o he a me s was no p ominen in ege able cul i a ion. Decision making abili y and planning abili y o a me s we e a a high le el. Risk o ien a ion o a me s’ was ai ly low. Fa me s’ en ep eneu ial beha iou enhanced wi h socio-economic s a us and social pa icipa ion. G oup in e ac ions o he a me s we e high in seasonal planning, and selec ing o c ops. In selling, g oup in e ac ions we e e y low. Rela i ely small p opo iona e o membe s in he mo e en ep eneu ial Sinha a me g oup (in compa ison o he Mahasen g oup) indica es he e ec i eness o ela i ely smalle g oups. A i udes o he a me s on g oup in e ac ions can be imp o ed h ough awa eness p og am- mes on mu ual bene i s, eam building ac i i ies, and wo kshops. G oup leade s could encou age he membe s o alue heal hy in e pe sonal ela ionships wi h he help o ad ise s o choice. Mechanisms o imp o e small g oup o ma ion ac i i ies h ough Fa me O gani- za ions could be ocused. S udy was limi ed only o wo g oups o a me s o alling o 60 membe s. Fa me s’ beha iou s we e also assessed only based on hei pe cep ions. The s a ic na u e o da a is ase ious weakness o con empo a y manage- men esea ch. This s udy also alls in o his ca ego y as he da a collec ion (in e iewing and su eying) was ca ied ou a a pa icula poin in ime du ing he yea 2012. A longi u- dinal esea ch wi h highe numbe s o a me g oups ep esen a ion, inco po a ing mo e objec i e da a (i.e. p o i s, and p o i abili y o a me s, imes spen o a ming, along wi h he eedback o key s akeholde s) is bound o p o ide mo e insigh ul ac s. Au ho s a e hank ul o Assoc P o esso Ales G ega o Tomas Ba a Uni e si y in Zlin, and he In e nal G an Agency o FaME TBU No. IGA/FaME/2014 Enhancing Employabili y and ca ee Success o P o essionals, o p o iding inancial suppo o his publica ion. Re e ences [1] AUTIO, E. WENNBERG, K. Social A i udes and he T ansi ion o En ep eneu ship. Summe Con e ence 2010, Impe ial College, London Business School, 2010. 35 p. ISBN 9812708553. [2] BALES, R.F. In e ac ion p ocess analysis: Ame hod o he s udy o small g oups. Camb idge: Addison – Wesley, 1950. 228 p. EM_04_14_zlom 1.12.2014 11:13 S ánka 54