Entrepreneurial Creativity and Motivation: An Exception to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Entrepreneurial creativity and the motivation to become an entrepreneur are fundamental to the success of any entrepreneurial endeavour. This article provides a better understanding of entrepreneurial creativity through a qualitative comparative analysis of South African and Norwegian entrepreneurs. Based on the case study results, entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial creativity prevalence are intricately connected. The motivation and drive behind entrepreneurial creativity in these two countries were observed to be vastly different. It was found that Norwegian entrepreneurial creativity could be more associated with the concept of self-actualisation while South African entrepreneurial creativity with the drive to fulfil their basic needs. The findings of this study are then further analysed in relation to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and its interpretation of creative abilities. From this study further theory creation becomes possible regarding entrepreneurial creativity and motivation in both developing and developed countries.