"A theory of entrepreneurial opportunity identification and development"
- Alexander Ardichvilia, Richard Cardozob, Sourav Ray
Journal of Business Venturing 18 (2003) 105-123
Summary
Studies of entrepreneurship often focus on opportunity recognition and exploitation. Ardichvili, Cardozo, and Ray propose a theory of the opportunity identification process. The authors examine entrepreneurs’ “personality traits, social networks, and prior knowledge as antecedents of entrepreneurial alertness to business opportunities.” A model for future empirical research, based on Dubin’s method of theory development, is proposed.

"The career reasons of nascent entrepreneurs"
- Nancy M. Cartera, William B. Gartnerb, Kelly G. Shaverc, Elizabeth J. Gatewood
Journal of Business Venturing 18 (2003) 13-39
Summary
In their paper, Carter, Gartner, Shaver, and Gatewood examined the career choices of entrepreneurs, comparing them to those choices made by nonentrepreneurs. Using a sample of 558 interviews with nascent entrepreneurs, the authors tested six hypotheses. They found that the reasons for starting a business given by nascent entrepreneurs were “very similar to the career reasons of other individuals.” They concluded that self-realization, financial success, innovation and independence were reasons for career choices or reasons for starting a business.