Assessing Public Entrepreneurial Orientation: The Applicability of the Three-Factor Model

There has been no consistent conceptualization of the entrepreneurial characteristics that are applicable to the public sector, while extensive studies from other disciplines have reached a consensus on the operationalization of three aspects of entrepreneurship such as risk-taking, innovativeness, and proactiveness. These operational concepts have been characterized by either a unistructured or a multistructured framework. This study primarily examines whether the three dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation can also be applied to test a sustainable notion of public entrepreneurship and the independence of its dimensionalities using structural equation model. The results indicate that the three operational dimensions can indeed be implemented for better understanding in practices of public entrepreneurship. The findings suggest that institutionalization of the public entrepreneurial approach with three components should enhance its practical roles in different organizational structures and process cycles through incorporating the core values of public services.