ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT
FRIEDMAN SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE EVALUATION METHOD
Compare the answer you have circled on the questionnaire form with the answer sheet provided. Put a circle around all answers on the answer sheet that correspond with the answers you marked on the questionnaire. Make an “x” through all answers that do not correspond with one another. Do this task very carefully and thoroughly double-check your work. When your work is finished, the answer sheet should have circle around those answers that are the different from those on your questionnaire. The questions you did not answer will have neither a circle around them or an “x” through the answer on the answer sheet.
Now, do the following:
(a) Count the number of circled answers. Write this number here_______________.
(b) Count the number of answers with an “x” through them. Write this number here_______________.
(c) Add the numbers from lines (a) and (b). Write the sum here_______________.
(d) Divide the number in line (a) by the number in line (c). Multiply the number in line (d) by 100.
The number in line (e) is the percentage of answers that are correct. If this figure in 60 per cent or lower, you should probably think a lot about whether you are really suited for a business of your own. The higher the number, the better you appear to be suited for becoming an owner/operator of a business. For further clarifications of the specific characteristics and attitudes tested and how you rate in each category, compare your answers with the material that discusses the relationship between the question categories and the questions themselves.
Hopefully this must have been an enlightening and rewarding experience for you :
Relationship Between Question Categories and Questions :
Category A : Goal Setting and Perseverance – It is important for the owner/
operator to have the ability to set clear goals and objectives which are high and challenging, and at the same time realistic and attainable. Concurrently, there must be a commitment to long-term future projects and to working toward goals which might be quite distant in the future. Essential success as an owner/ operator is a strong determination to get the job done at almost any cost in terms of personal sacrifice.
Questions : 9, 26, 33, 35, 82, 83, 120, 129, 134, 135, 156, 157.
Category B : Human Relationship Ability – The successful owner/operator
needs to be able to sell. This means the ability to convince others to move in specific directions. This cannot generally be done if the person does not have good relations with others. Characteristics such as cheerfulness, cooperation and tact are all important.
Questions : 14,15,20,23, 28, 31,36,48,49,50,52,59,99,100,101,123,141,142.
Category C : Communications Ability – Verbal communications, verbal and
written comprehensions, and written communications ability are necessary for the owner/operator. The ability to communicate ideas to others in vital in very business but imperative in the small business.
Questions : 1,2,3,4, 12,21,51,67,90, 124, 136, 146
Category D : Competing Against Self-Imposed Standards – The desire and
tendency to set self-imposed standards which are high, yet realistic, and then to compete with oneself is important for the success of an owner/operator. Since the goals of the business are set by the owner and met by the operator, the small business must rely on the individual person who does both task if it is to become successful. There is no one to blame for failure in a small business other than the person who wears all the hats.
Questions : 40, 44, 45, 46, 63, 133.
Category E : Dealing with Failures – Since-things rarely go right the first
time in a small business, it is imperative that the owner/operator learns to use failure as a means of gaining a better understanding of how to prevent the same thing from happening again.
Questions: 17,37,38,47,57, 79,84.
Category F : Self-Confidence and Belief in Self-Determination – The owner/
operator must have a firm belie(in his or her ability to achieve goals that are self-determined. It is also vital that the person has the belief that success and failure are within one’s personal control rather than being determined by luck. Questions: 6, 65, 66, 86,91,115; 116, 117, 118, 128, 149, 158.
Category G : Moderate Risk-Taking – Since there is risk involved in every
business enterprise the owner/operator should ‘have predisposition to tak.e moderate, calculated risks which provide a reasonable chance for success. Questions: 10,29, 72, 80, 81, 87, 92, 137, 150, 161
Category H : Taking Initiative and Seeking Personal Responsibilities –
There is no one at the back of an owner/operator making important decisions or determining what comes next. An important ingredient of success is to file a leadership vacuum where one exists. In addition, the would-be owner/operator should like situations in which one’s impact on problems can be measured. Questions : 7,8,30,41,42,56,58,75,89,122,126, 130, 131, 144, 145
Category I : Drive and Energy Level – Running one’s own business in hard
work. The owner/operator should have the ability to work long hours with less than normal sleep. Vigor, good health and persistence are very important. Questions: 11, 19,27,34,60,61,88, 127, 132, 138, 139, 151.
Category J : Tolerance for Ambiguity – Every small business has many
ability to live with modest-to-high levels of uncertainty concerning job and career security and to be able to work on a number of different tasks simultaneously.
Questions: 32, 103, 105, 125
Category K : Thinking Ability –To Be a successful owner/operator and
independent business person, there is a need for original thinking, creativity and critical analysis of situations. Problem-solving ability is of prime importance, particularly if it can be done well under pressure.
Questions: 53, 64, 68, 69, 70, 71, 102, 104.
Category L : Use of Outside Resource Persons –The owner/operator, must
have the demonstrated capacity to seek and use the opinions of others in order to take corrective action and to improve the quality of business decisions. This is an orientation which seeks to obtain expertise and assistance in the accomplishment of goals.
Questions: 5, 18, 25, 39, 54, 74, 85, 112, 113
Category M : Technical Knowledge – It is dangerous for a person to go into
a business which is unknown territory. If the would-be owner/operator does not have the requisite knowledge then it should be obtained through a self-study program, working as an employee in a similar business, obtaining a franchise, taking a partner or hiring an experienced employee. Some of these latter options are obviously dangerous since they put the owner/operator at the mercy of others.
Questions : 24,43,76, 78, 107, 109, 147, 148, 154
Category N : Number Sense – Business success is evaluated through a series
of accounting reports. A person does not have to be an expert in understanding these reports, but “numbers” should not frighten the would-be business person. Sooner or later, important decisions will have to be made based on the “numbers”. The better the owner/operator is able to understand these figures, the better the decision will be.
Questions: 93, 94, 95, 121.
Category O : Money Sense – The owner/operator must recognize that money
is an important factor in running a business. Gaining an early respect for money and learning how to use it is important if an dependent business person is to succeed.
Questions : 22, 55, 106, 111, 119, 140, 152, 153, 160.
Category P : Age – There is no “magic age”. Generally, the successful owner/
operator has to be old enough to have had life experiences without having the stuffing completely knocked out. Ages 30-35 seem to be a time in life when people are willing to strike out on their own. Another significant age bracket is 50-55 when things are settled financially and a person can look around at new opportunities.
Questions: 77,98, 110, 162.
Category Q : Family Background – A Successful owner/operator seems to
have a family back ground that shows evidence of entrepreneurial endeavour on the part of the father, mother, close family relative.
Questions: 13, 96, 97.
Category R : Ethnic Background –Migrants have a higher incidence of going
into business for themselves than native-born- people do. Questions: 16,108, 114.
Category S : Employment History – People who really want to go business
for themselves have a hard time working for others. Most bosses aren’t as smart as they are, and the jobs seems to get dull very quickly.