Date of Award

8-2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Executive Leadership

First Supervisor

Jason Berman

Second Supervisor

Caroline Critchlow

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate level of entrepreneurial orientation (risk-taking, innovativeness, and proactiveness) in chief school business officials (CSBOs) and the relationship between individual entrepreneurial orientation and school business performance in K-12 rural public schools. The researcher collected data on selfreported entrepreneurial orientation of rural public K-12 CSBOs in New York State. Additionally, the researcher collected frequency data related to business activities in schools. This survey-based study (n = 83) was completed by CSBOs in rural and small sized K-12 public school districts across New York State. Findings for this study indicate that CSBOs view themselves as proactive, but not necessarily innovative or risk-taking. Additionally, findings indicate that there is a weak non-significant relationship between perceived risk-taking and frequency of pro-business activities. Similarly, findings indicate that there is weak non-significant relationship between innovativeness and frequency of pro-business activity. However, findings indicate that there is a positive significant relationship between proactiveness and pro-business activity. Although no causal link was established between proactiveness and frequency of pro-business activity in this setting, it is recommended that K-12 rural public school continue to seek out proactive CSBOs in order to increase the likelihood that frequency of pro-business activity occurs.

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