Characteristics of small medium contractor entrepreneurs: a study of Indonesia

Atma Jaya Yogyakarta University, Civil Engineering Department, 55281 Yogyakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: haris@mail.uajy.ac.id

Abstract

The success of entrepreneurship as an important driving force for business success cannot be separated from the role of entrepreneurs. Therefore study about entrepreneurs in contractor business in Indonesia is considered important to be carried out. This study is aimed at identifying the characteristics of contractor entrepreneurs who owned small medium contractors in Indonesia. The study is conducted based on eight characteristics of entrepreneurs that have been identified from the literatures: risk taking, innovativeness, need for achievement, internal locus of control, self-confident, tolerance of ambiguity, need for autonomy and proactiveness. The study adopts qualitative research approach in which the data are collected from interviews with the owner of small medium contractors in Indonesia. Then the data are categorized by a coding process using NVivo 10 software and analysed using thematic analysis with inductive approach. The study found several specific characteristics of Indonesian small medium contractor entrepreneurs that are related to the eight characteristics of entrepreneurs but under the circumtances of contractor business. After all characteristics were examined further, they are mainly linked to projects, clients and business. This finding is in accordance with the nature of contractors as project based companies.