Benedikt Jamitzky

• Entrepreneurship is vital in driving innovation, economic growth, and societal transformation. Due to its growing relevance, this dissertation examines the factors that motivate individuals to engage in entrepreneurial endeavors, grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and enriched by supplementary theoretical perspectives. The research combines qualitative and quantitative methods to explore how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control interact with these diverse aspects. The first study identifies key influences on entrepreneurial intention through qualitative interviews with entrepreneurs, thereby revealing ten critical determinants. The second study expands upon these findings by employing a quantitative approach to validate these parameters through a survey among entrepreneurs in Germany. It demonstrates the central importance of economics-oriented education, materialistic values, and resilience while refining the theoretical assumptions of the TPB in entrepreneurial contexts. Lastly, the third study extends the analysis by comparing the personality traits of entrepreneurs and employees utilizing the OCEAN model. This research delineates substantial differences across all five traits, underscoring the psychological dimensions of entrepreneurial behavior. By amalgamating the three studies and their respective findings, this dissertation contributes to the theoretical understanding of entrepreneurship by enhancing the predictive validity of the TPB for research on entrepreneurship and highlighting differences in personality traits among entrepreneurs and employees. Through the integration of qualitative insights and quantitative validation, this dissertation provides a comprehensive and nuanced perspective on the complex nature of entrepreneurship.