Entrepreneurial success and human resources

Purpose - This paper aims to determine factors that have an influence on human resource management and entrepreneurial success in the context of European innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).Design methodology approach - A primary test questionnaire was tested with 50 Spanish entrepreneurs. The feedback from this study was used to improve the survey for a final test. Multivariate regression analysis was used to differentiate the factors that allow the explanation of the variables to be studied and factors that, a priori, seem to be the most relevant in explaining entrepreneurial success.Findings - The study allows the determination of what factors make the European entrepreneur successful on his or her business.Research limitations implications - Limitations are the sample used in the study and the magnitude used to analyse entrepreneurial success. Future research on the topic of the paper can develop and qualify the variables used.Originality value - European innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are analysed from countries belonging to the European Union to determine the factors that have an influence on human resource management and entrepreneurial success. The results of the paper serve as a tool to develop a model to predict relevant factors of entrepreneurial activity and which have implications for development policy makers and for entrepreneurs.