Entrepreneurial Mindset in Department of Defense Organizations

Department of Defense (DoD) and Air Force senior leaders have called for transforming the way the military conducts business. One way to achieve this transformation is by promoting a more entrepreneurial approach. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent an entrepreneurial mindset exists in DoD organizations and to identify key antecedents and outcomes associated with this mindset. An electronic survey was used to gather data from members of innovative DoD organizations. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were then used to assess the extent of an entrepreneurial mindset in the sample organizations and to identify key antecedents and outcomes. The results of this study show a high degree of an entrepreneurial mindset exists in the sample organizations and that appropriate use of rewards, management support, a supportive organizational structure, and risk taking and failure tolerance are key antecedents that positively influence this mindset. In addition, results show that an entrepreneurial mindset in the sample organizations is positively related to increased levels of job satisfaction, perceived organizational contribution, organizational commitment, memory orientation, and overall organizational performance. The results of this study provide senior leaders with a distinct set of factors they can promote and support in order to influence entrepreneurial behavior in their organizations. Further, this study shows that these factors may lead to positive outcomes that maximize organization performance.