دانلود رایگان مقاله انگیزه انتخاب کارآفرینان اصلی مقیاس چند کشور

abstract

This study examines the motives that affect students' choice of business majors. Based on a literature review, five motives affecting students' choice of business majors were identi- fied. These motives were measured using data collected from undergraduate business students in China, UAE, UK, and USA. Factor analyses of the four datasets revealed a remarkably similar factor structure indicating that the motives underlying the choices of different major in these four countries are similar. Across the four countries, the importance of these motives is the same for two motives and only partially different for the remaining three motives. Overall, the results suggest that there is considerable global convergence in consumer behavior in the business education context.

5. Conclusions and discussion

Five composite motives were identified that underlie the choice of a business major. These motives were compared for undergraduate business students from China, UAE, UK, and USA. The results indicate similar relative levels of importance for lifestyle aspirations and developmental skills in determining the choice of business major in all four countries. These are replicable between gender and nationality where comparisons were conducted. The only gender differences, reported by exception, show females scoring higher on career outputs and reputational effects but, perhaps revealingly, not for the Chinese sample. These results contrast with classical cultural studies of gender that would expect females to show more feminine traits. For example, Malgwi et al., (2005) found males to have greater needs for career advancement in their studies, equivalent to career outputs. It is possible that, with the glass ceiling more fragile than it once was, that female aspirations are beginning to filter through in the workplace (Wirth, 2000). Perhaps there is more scope for autonomy in countries that are transitioning towards the capitalism of the West.