Identifying influential dimensions affecting level of decision maker entrepreneur's cognitive complexity

Present study aims to identify influential dimensions affecting level of entrepreneur's decision maker cognitive complexity with regard to the importance of cognition and its complex pattern on the process of entrepreneurial decision making. Qualitative stage of this mix method research was conducted at early stage by formation of a focus group consisted of superior entrepreneurs in 2009-2010 and later by experts in entrepreneurship and decision making fields. Data collected was analyzed using content analysis which resulted in designing research questionnaire. In second stage, a quantitative research conducted among a sample of superior entrepreneurs working in Tehran province. Results showed that cognitive complexity of decision maker entrepreneurs compose of three indicators including cognitive representations, knowledge structures and cognitive maps, which is affected by dimensions including personal characteristics and environment. Personal characteristics indicators are tolerance for ambiguity; risk-propensity, self-efficacy and need for cognition and environment indicators are uncertainty, complexity, information dispersal and ambiguity.