The role of entrepreneurial skills as a vehicle for business growth: a study in Spanish start-ups

Purpose Business growth is one of the most studied areas over the years. However, with the current uncertainty and entrepreneurial dynamism it becomes relevant to consider new variables such as entrepreneurial skills and competencies that influence its development. Accordingly, this research refers to the impact that the individual's skills have on the entrepreneurial environment. For this purpose, a survey has been developed of employees of different organizations considering the variables of high degree of proactivity in the employees' attitude, entrepreneurial training, innovation, previous experience or risk aversion. Design/methodology/approach The research has been conducted through fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and the result shows the differences between the combination of variables for business growth through the consideration of sales growth and profit. Findings The results of this research provide new insights that allow the development and boosting of business growth. Originality/value The main contribution of this work is to pay attention to the human team of startups and show the role that this has in their growth.

Automated summary

This research focuses on the impact of individual skills on the entrepreneurial environment and how it affects business growth. Through a survey of employees from different organizations, considering variables such as attitude, training, innovation, experience, and risk aversion, the study utilizes fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to analyze the combination of variables for business growth. The findings reveal new insights that contribute to the development and enhancement of business growth.