Socio-psychological portrait of Russian IT entrepreneur

Abstract

Objectives: to reveal the socio-psychological, personal, and cultural characteristics of Russian IT entrepreneurs. Background. The digital transformation of the economy focuses on new technologies and involves more people. IT entrepreneurship is becoming a desired career of the younger generation in Russia. The country’s technological leadership depends on psychosocial and personality characteristics and attitudes of successful IT entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, research of Russian entrepreneurs in the IT sector is rare. Study design. Using qualitative research method the socio-psychological portrait of an IT entrepreneur is formed on the basis of socio-psychological and personal characteristics (internal locus of control, risk tolerance, achievement orientation), including value orientations: family, creativity, money, self-realization and cultural preferences. One research question and three hypotheses are considered. Participants. After a preliminary selection of respondents, the most characteristic representatives of the IT entrepreneurial social group were selected: 14 male entrepreneurs, 27—35 year old — IT businesses’ owners. Measurement. Thematic analysis of the theoretical type was used to classify the data collected from in-depth semi-structured interviews using a six stage algorithm of V. Braun and V. Clarke. Results. A portrait of the technological company’s founder is presented: nonconformity, independence from family values, high involvement in the work, strong desire to achieve business goals, low interest in cultural symbols and events are revealed. Differences of a Russian technological entrepreneur from an entrepreneur in Russia as a whole (family and material values), as well as differences from a new wave of Western entrepreneurs (nonconformity) are noted. All hypotheses were confirmed. Conclusions. Russian IT entrepreneur in our sample shares similar features with modern entrepreneurs in other countries. The distinguishing characteristics of Russian IT entrepreneur from Russian non-IT entrepreneurs include: low importance of money and material status, neutral attitude to family values.