What Factors Influence Entrepreneurial Decision-Making?: Insights from Technology-intensive Firms in Taiwan

Researchers in entrepreneurship have extensively discussed the factors that influence entrepreneurial decision-making. However, it remains unclear whether the interactions among these factors may influence an entrepreneur's decision to pursue a venture. To bridge this gap, this research specifically examines how external and internal factors interact and collectively shape an entrepreneur's decisions about exploiting opportunities. Using research methods from inductive to deductive, the research first applies the Delphi method to identify ten factors perceived by entrepreneurs that influence their decision-making. Next, by utilizing the DEMATEL (DEcision-MAking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) and ISM (Interpretive Structural Modeling) methods, the research determines the causal relationships and hierarchical significance of these factors. The results identify a significant causal path: (external-internal-external), suggesting that an entrepreneur undergoes an internal perceptual process to sense the impact of external information, which further influences how entrepreneurs perceive resources and ultimately shapes their entrepreneurial decisions. Moreover, external factors are identified as the main influencing factors, while the perception of resources, though valued by entrepreneurs, is susceptible to influence. Innovative firms and entrepreneurs must assess whether environmental contexts represent a “window of opportunity” and subsequently consider their needs, abilities, and motivations to effectively leverage resources when starting a new venture.