The effect of job dissatisfaction on the decision to start a business

A study was made to determine if dissatisfaction with a previous job was what pushed entrepreneurs into starting their own businesses. The Job Description Index (JDI) which tests employee satisfaction with his work, his perception of supervision, pay, and promotional opportunities, and attitudes toward co-workers, was administered to entrepreneurs, managers that had changed organizations, and managers that had recently been promoted within their organization.Entrepreneurs were most dissatisfied with promotional opportunities. They were also highly dissatisfied with the work itself at their former place of employment. When this combined with unsatisfactory supervision and co-workers, and unless a satisfactory promotion was imminent, it resulted in the push to start one's own business. In general, entrepreneurs were more dissatisfied than the other 2 groups with all aspects of their previous job, except for pay. Transferred managers' scores more closely resembled those of promoted managers, except where promotional opportunities were concerned. Recently promoted managers viewed promotional chances much higher than the other 2 groups.