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TopIntroduction To The Study
Since 1939, the telecommunications industry has held a key role in the American business economy through its technological innovations. These businesses classify as Standard Industrial Class (SIC) code 48 or North American Industry Code (NAIC) codes beginning with 517 classified in Sector 23, Construction. They consist of radio communications, telephone communications, telegraph communications, cable and pay television providers, and all other communications services. The official definition for industries in the telecommunications subsector include establishments providing telecommunications and the services related to that activity (NAICS Search, nd).
Small to medium enterprises (SME) in the Telecommunications industry are of special interest to Venture Capitalists (VC) and Investors. Venture Capitalists are a major form of financing for SME’s in the telecommunications industry, accounting for 50% of the world’s funding activities for SME’s (Icon venture capitalists predictions for 2010, n.d.). Telecommunications companies make major contributions in technology that influence the receipt of information in the 21st century. Major technical contributions include wireless services, broadcast television, broadband internet, and landline telephone services.
In 2008, the telecommunications industry represented the top three industries that received over $256 million in venture funding (Icon venture capitalists predictions for 2010, n.d.). The total revenue (see Table 1) by venture-backed companies was over $500 million, with VCs owning over 51% of the revenues (Icon venture capitalists predictions for 2010, n.d.). This high volume of VC backing demonstrates the large contributing influence of VC financing. It also suggests a demand of identifying potentially profitable businesses in the telecommunications industry.
Table 1. Venture-backed company revenue as a percentage of industry revenue top five industry sectors-2008
Additionally, there is a resurgence of new entrepreneur projects and social media websites. For example, Google, the world’s leading search engine, is investing $170 billion dollars in this industry (Asay, 2010). Applications for wireless products and the convergence of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) have made it conducive for entrepreneurs entering into this market. Given the demand for the industry and its immediate link to technology, entrepreneurs have the ability to aid in opening new markets, categories, and solutions across the world using telecommunications venture capital firms.
Along with technology, telecommunications has been integral to business, culture, economic development, and worldwide communication. Not only is this industry vital to the United States, but it has also played a large role in globalization. Worldwide revenue of the telecommunications industry was more than $3 trillion in 2008 and is expected to grow over the next few years (FindVenture.com, 2011). Therefore, testing Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) analyzing the significance of innovation, pro-activeness, and risk-taking amongst executives in the telecommunications industry can potentially serve as an invaluable tool in this new global communications market for determining the success of new ventures.
TopHistory Of Entrepreneurial Research
Currently, entrepreneurial research is still developing as a management science. In the short history of managerial science, entrepreneurship research has spawned from the study of existing businesses research. Entrepreneurship research uses concepts garnered from diverse disciplines, which requires consideration of the central questions and the appropriate tools with which to study them. Originally the study developed from businesses seeking answers and venture initiation (Vesper, 1971). Economists studying social-economic aspects of business also played a huge role in entrepreneurship theory (Schumpeter, 1934).