No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Passion and Grit: An Exploration of the Pathways Leading to Venture Success
Abstract
Entrepreneurial passion has been proposed as a central characteristic of entrepreneurs, theorized to influence a host of entrepreneurial behaviors as well as firm performance. The current study explores one set of pathways leading from developer passion to performance, identifying self-regulatory mode (locomotion and assessment) and grit as significant conduits of this relationship. In this study, we use multi-source survey data, with 1 year lagged performance data, to empirically examine relationships between developer passion, self-regulatory mode, grit, and performance. Using path analysis modeling, we find that the relationship between developer passion and grit is mediated by both locomotion and assessment, with results indicating a positive relationship between locomotion and grit and a negative relationship between assessment and grit. Our results also reveal a positive relationship between grit and venture performance. Implications of these findings to research and practice are then discussed.
... Indeed, Duckworth et al. (2007) state "that one personal quality is shared by the most prominent leaders in every field: grit" (p. 1087).Recent insights from the entrepreneurship literature suggest that grit is a critical indicator of entrepreneurial activities and venture performance and survival (Mooradian et al., 2016;Mueller et al., 2017;Wolfe, 2021;Wolfe & Patel, 2016). Complementarily, researchers argue that certain behaviours enable individuals to accomplish more than others who have similar or more resources. ...
... First, we provide a nuanced understanding of the relationship between grit and venture performance through the mechanism of entrepreneurial bricolage. By illuminating this novel mechanism, we add to the growing body of literature on grit and venture outcomes (Mueller et al., 2017;Stenholm & Renko, 2016). Second, by using a sample of entrepreneurs with disability, we complement recent studies (Ng & Arndt, 2019) and shed light on the unique challenges such entrepreneurs experience. ...
... For instance, Mooradian et al. (2016) found that grit and innovativeness predict entrepreneurial success (that is, venture growth, profitability, and competitiveness). Similarly, Mueller et al. (2017) found that the lead entrepreneur's grit positively affects venture performance (that is, sales growth, profitability, debt, return on assets, gross profit margin, net profit margin, and ability to fund growth from profit). In sum, individuals with grit are more likely to start and grow successful businesses, and they are also more likely to be successful in the face of adversity. ...
This study investigates the relationship between grit, bricolage, and venture performance in a sample of 230 entrepreneurs with chronic diseases and physical disabilities. Building on the broaden-and-build theory, we posit that grit influences venture performance through bricolage and that the effect of grit on bricolage is contingent upon varying levels of illness uncertainty (IU). The results demonstrate broad support for our proposed hypotheses. This study contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by examining the relationship between grit and venture performance through bricolage. Furthermore, we examine the moderating effect of IU on this relationship, Our findings have implications for both practitioners and policymakers.
... It represents a combination of genetic, educational, behavioral, and psychological factors other than talent that help people achieve their goals (Duckworth, 2016). These two variables have been associated with previously established entrepreneurs (Arco-Tirado et al., 2019;Ayala & Manzano, 2014;Elhem et al., 2015;Mueller et al., 2017;Syed & Mueller, 2014). Within the theoretical framework of hope theory, they could be considered agentic thoughts (optimism) and pathway thoughts (grit) and explain an SECC. ...
... It is an important concept that explains why people establish themselves as entrepreneurs and how when they experience failure and become discouraged, it allows them to stay the course and remain in business (Wolfe & Patel, 2016). Grit leads also to superior entrepreneurial performance (Mueller et al., 2017) and entrepreneurial success (Salisu et al., 2020) through a higher capacity for innovation (Mooradian et al., 2016). Grit can influence students' entrepreneurial intentions by motivating them to persevere with imperceptible progress (Butz et al., 2018). ...
... Hope theory proves to be especially important in procuring confidence in achieving goals following an initial experience despite the absence of a favorable attitude. This result clarifies its role in the SECC process and nuances several studies that have emphasized optimism as a critical component of entrepreneurship (Arco-Tirado et al., 2019;Ayala & Manzano, 2014;Elhem et al., 2015;Mueller et al., 2017;Syed & Mueller, 2014). Besides, entrepreneurial failure can generate negative emotions that can influence the intention to return to entrepreneurship. ...
... Alan et al. (2019), for example, showed that grit can be fostered through interventions whose effects can still be measured 2.5 years after the interventions. Recently, entrepreneurship scholars have begun to study grit and have found that grit predicts entrepreneurial entry (Wolfe et al., 2016), venture-level innovativeness (Mooradian et al., 2016), and venture performance (Mooradian et al., 2016;Mueller et al., 2017). This paper addresses three research gaps in the nascent literature on grit. ...
... This paper addresses three research gaps in the nascent literature on grit. First, while prior work has examined the relationship between grit and the financial performance of entrepreneurs' ventures (Mooradian et al., 2016;Mueller et al., 2017), there has been a dearth of studies exploring the influence of grit on nonfinancial measures of entrepreneurial performance. However, since grit is associated with purposeful striving toward personally fulfilling goals (Duckworth et al., 2007), it appears plausible that grit may also be related to the achievement of entrepreneurs' nonfinancial goals. ...
... Second, prior work found that grit may result in higher venture performance (Mooradian et al., 2016;Mueller et al., 2017) but has not explored whether grit may enable entrepreneurs to achieve a greater societal impact. Societal impact refers to the positive effects that entrepreneurs have beyond the borders of their venture (Wach et al., 2017). ...
Entrepreneurial grit, defined as passion and perseverance for long-term goals, has repeatedly been linked to higher venture performance. In this paper, we theorize that higher levels of grit may also lead to more nonfinancial success and stronger societal impact for entrepreneurs and that anxiety is a negative moderator in these relationships. We test our model among 1,398 German entrepreneurs in a broad range of industries and find support for our hypotheses. We contribute by uncovering grit as a novel determinant for the nonfinancial success measures of personal fulfillment and workplace relationships, as well as for societal impact, and by shedding light on the role of negative emotions as attenuators in these relationships.
... s distinction has been explained by the dependency of developing and founding passion on the availability and flexibility of financial resources (Adomako et. al., 2018). This distinction is explained by the dependency of development and founding passion on the availability and flexibility of financial resources (Adomako et al., 2018). Furthermore, Mueller et. al. (2017) worked "self-regulated theory" of motivation to demonstrate that EP for developing indirectly enhances venture performance by boosting entrepreneurs' grit. Therefore, this study underscores a significant link between EP and venture performance, although it challenges Duckworth et. al. (2007)'s assertion that entrepreneurial passion and ...
... study underscores a significant link between EP and venture performance, although it challenges Duckworth et. al. (2007)'s assertion that entrepreneurial passion and grit should be considered separate constructs. Duckworth et. al. (2007) conceptualized passion and grit as distinct yet interrelated factors, examining them from various perspectives (Mueller et. al., 2017 Liu et. al. (2022) also found that significant impact of cultural differences on the expression and effectiveness of EP. Moreover, the interface between EP and team dynamics has been a central point of recent research. Scholarships have specified that teams with aligned passions are more consistent and perform better, as shared enthusia ...
This research explores comprehensive scholarship and reviews about the concept of Entrepreneurial Passion (EP). This critical exploration of literature highlights that passion underscores a pivotal assistance in entrepreneurship literature. The objective of scholarship is to comprehend the concept of EP, review the literature, and suggest avenues for future research in this specific field. This article defines EP by developing an understanding of its four dimensions: passion for developing, founding, and creating including passionate for work; ensemble and fanatical and observed. Inculcating theoretical and empirical frameworks on EP, this study also discusses several research methodologies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, experimental, and intervention) used by various researchers in EP research. This study also reviews the antecedents and outcomes of EP mentioned in prior research. Finally, this study identifies research gaps that can extend their research using the EP concept.
... Grit is the passion and persistence it takes to achieve long-term objectives, which has two components: constancy in interests and tenacity in effort [51]. The behaviors people engage in to overcome obstacles and persevere in their interest, enthusiasm, and effort despite setbacks and failures are characteristics of grit [52]. Grit and self-regulation are conceptually similar in terms of social cognitive theories. ...
... This persistence enhances their self-regulatory capabilities, enabling them to stay committed to their objectives and effectively manage their behaviors over time. Recent theories propose that individual variances in grit result from passion through a self-regulatory mechanism [52]. In the context of goal-directed behavior, both grit and self-regulation emphasize the significance of regulating behaviors in difficult situations to attain long-term goals [15]. ...
Self-regulated learning (SRL) has been regarded as one of the indispensable factors affecting students’ academic success in online learning environments. However, the current understanding of the mechanism/causes of SRL in online ill-structured problem-solving remains insufficient. This study, therefore, examines the configural causal effects of goal attributes, motivational beliefs, creativity, and grit on self-regulated learning. With the fuzzy sets approach (fsQCA), the proposed association was analyzed based on a sample of students (n = 88) participating in an educational design competition activity. The results uniquely revealed the predictive factors of SRL at both high and low levels. In addition, it was found that no single condition of factors leads to the prediction of high or low self-regulation. More specifically, different conditions of factors, in terms of gender, goal attributes (goal setting and achievement goals), grit, task value, creativity, and self-efficacy, can largely predict high and low self-regulated learning during ill-structured problem-solving in the context of online learning. Implications for theory and policy prescriptions were discussed to enhance self-regulated learning in online ill-structured problem-solving.
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40359-024-02317-0.
... Entrepreneurial passion (EP) was defined by Cardon and Kirk (2015) as the awareness, strong, and positive feelings that entrepreneurs experience while they embark on new ventures. According to Mueller et al. (2017), EP encourages entrepreneurs to meet obstacles head-on and grow their business by helping them stay resilient. Ediagbonya (2023a) asserts that EP promotes creativity, perseverance, and success by bringing entrepreneurs' thoughts and actions into alignment. ...
... It also fosters a strong sense of identity through entrepreneurial activities (Hu et al., 2022). Studies have demonstrated the strong correlation between EP and a range of entrepreneurial outcomes, including as the establishment and performance of businesses, funding accessibility, and entrepreneurial perseverance (e.g., Mueller et al., 2017;Liu et al., 2021;Schwarte et al., 2023;Ediagbonya, 2023a). It is this EP that stimulates the intention of business education students towards launching digital entrepreneurship. ...
The increasing level of unemployment is very worrisome and most people have mobile devices that seem to be used for only pleasure when business opportunities abound on the internet. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the extent to which a person's intention to engage in digital entrepreneurship is influenced by their level of passion and education in the field. This study, which included 382 business education students from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and the University of Benin, used a correlational survey research approach. The "Digital Entrepreneurship Education, Passion, and Digital Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (DEEPDEIQ)" was the instrument used to collect data. The reliability of the instrument was evaluated using the Cronbach alpha, and the result obtained was 0.82. According to the results, entrepreneurial passion significantly predicted business education students' digital entrepreneurial intention in Edo State (R 2 = .620, F (1, 242) = 395.390, P <. 05, t = 19.884, β = .788, SE = .115). Digital entrepreneurship education significantly predicts Edo State business education students' propensity to engage in digital entrepreneurship (R 2 = .351, F (1, 242) = 130.979, P <. 05, t = 11.445, β = .593, SE = .073). Also, entrepreneurial passion and digital entrepreneurship education jointly predicted business education students' intention to launch digital businesses in Edo State. The study therefore recommends that the theoretical and practical elements of teaching digital entrepreneurship should be combined to promote improved student performance.
... Cardon and Kirk (2015) believed that EP is the conscious, strong, and positive emotions experienced by entrepreneurs when they participate in entrepreneurial activities. Mueller et al (2017) proposed that EP can enable entrepreneurs to persevere in the face of difficulties and challenges, and further achieve entrepreneurial success. According to Ediagbonya (2023a), EP helps to coordinate cognition and behavior of entrepreneurs, providing the catalyst that propels innovation, persistence, and ultimate success. ...
... Studies have revealed that entrepreneurial passion is closely linked to a whole host of entrepreneurial outcomes, including business formation and performance, access to funding, and entrepreneurial persistence (e.g. Mueller, et al, 2017;Liu, et al, 2021;Schwarte et al, 2023;Ediagbonya, 2023a). It is this EP that propels individuals to venture into social entrepreneurship. ...
With rising social problems and graduate unemployment causing unfathomable pain in the country, exploring alternative employment opportunities through business formation that may address societal concerns has become a must. The current study looked at the mediating role of entrepreneurial passion in the relationship between entrepreneurship education and business education students’ social entrepreneurial intention in Edo State. Four research questions were posed to lead the investigation. Four hypotheses were developed and tested at the 0.05 level of significance. The study used a correlational survey research approach. The study's population included 382 business education students from the University of Benin and Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma. A questionnaire termed 'Entrepreneurship Education, Passion and Social Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (EPSEIQ)' was used. Two professionals validated the instrument. After delivering the instrument to 15 business education students at Delta State University, Abraka, Cronbach alpha was used to determine the instrument's reliability, yielding a reliability coefficient of .84. The responses' data were examined using the simple linear regression and SPSS Process Macro analysis. The findings revealed that entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial passion were significant predictors of business education students’ social entrepreneurial intention in Edo State. The finding further revealed that entrepreneurial passion significantly mediates the relationship between entrepreneurship education and business education students’ social entrepreneurial intention in Edo State. Based on the findings, it was recommended that there should be an urgent need for curriculum revision in higher education institutions to emphasize social entrepreneurship.
... Anwar et al., 2023;Wang et al., 2017), often in comparison to competitors (e.g. Mueller et al., 2017;Stam & Elfring, 2008). Accordingly, based on Dess and Robinson (1984), NVP was assessed with a global perceptual item compared to competitors as 'firms of similar sales volume in your industry and region' (p. ...
... This might be particularly relevant regarding NVP, since entrepreneurs include various elements in their understanding of entrepreneurial success (Wach et al., 2016), and given the lack of consensus on NVP dimensions evident in the variety applied across studies (e.g. Anwar et al., 2023;Mueller et al., 2017;Stam & Elfring, 2008). Further, Dess and Robinson (1984) found significant correlations between their subjective overall performance item and objective economic measures, and subjective single-item NVP measures have been used in previous NV studies (Breugst et al., 2020;Gruber, 2007). ...
Despite the undisputed importance of feedback-seeking for new venture advancement, little is known about the circumstances that make it effective. In this study, it is proposed that the collective psychological ownership of new venture teams over the new venture (i.e. this is ‘OUR’ venture) can help leverage the value and bear the costs of self-improvement feedback-seeking behaviour (SI-FSB), amplifying the expected positive relationship between new venture teams’ SI-FSB and new venture performance. Insights from a survey-based study involving 166 new ventures support the hypotheses. Contributing to the nascent feedback-seeking research in the new venture context, this study shows that SI-FSB matters and suggests that new venture teams should keep their collective psychological ownership over their new venture strong.
... Additionally, deep care for venture creation and a solid entrepreneurial identity positively influences long-term career goals (Kyriakopoulos, Hebert & Piperopoulos, 2024;Mueller, Wolfe & Syed, 2017) and fosters efforts beyond formal requirements (Foo, Uy & Baron, 2009). ...
... EP has been identified as a critical element underlying the entrepreneurial process and recognised as a predictor of individual behaviour and performance when it comes to establishing and managing new ventures (Kyriakopoulos et al., 2024;Mueller et al., 2017;Newman et al., 2021;Schwarte, Song, Hunt & Lohrke, 2023;Türk et al., 2020). EP serves as a driving force for effort, persistence, and creativity (Cardon et al., 2009;Kiani, Ali, Biraglia & Wang, 2023) and is closely associated with entrepreneurial self-efficacy and venture growth (Baum & Locke, 2004;Murnieks, Mosakowski & Cardon, 2014). ...
This study adopts a configurational approach to discover conditions common to graduates from venture creation programs who take a particular learning pathway to high entrepreneurial passion. Our theoretical framework identifies two primary sources of experiential learning (direct and vicarious experience) and three temporal vantage points (pre-, peri-, and post-education) conducive to such conditions. Employing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) on a sample of graduates from a Swedish university yields four configurations of present or absent conditions that are sufficient for producing high entrepreneurial passion. A uniting feature across all four configurations is the interplay between direct and vicarious experiences with core conditions closer rather than farther away in time. The identified configurations resulting from fsQCA thus imply intricate interdependencies of time-specific direct and vicarious experiences attributed to high entrepreneurial passion.
... In the literature on entrepreneurship and persistence, contributing factors related to individual-level values, motives, personality, and identity have been used to explain why entrepreneurs restart new ventures after experiencing entrepreneurial failure and how they respond to entrepreneurial failure at the emotional, cognitive and behavioral levels (Smollan & Singh, 2024). Entrepreneurial passion represents a powerful motivating force that can help explain the formation of individuals' entrepreneurial intention (Karimi, 2020) and actual entrepreneurial behavior (Murnieks et al., 2014); such passion has also been reported to be associated with several decisions and endeavors associated with new business ventures, such as entrepreneurial persistence (Cardon & Kirk, 2015;Kiani et al., 2023), grit (Mueller et al., 2017) and resilience (Fisher et al., 2018), as well as with venture performance and success (Fisher et al., 2018;Mueller et al., 2017). More importantly, evidence has revealed that entrepreneurial passion has a regulatory function with regard to entrepreneurs' negative affective experiences due to, for instance, fear of failure (Stroe et al., 2020). ...
... In the literature on entrepreneurship and persistence, contributing factors related to individual-level values, motives, personality, and identity have been used to explain why entrepreneurs restart new ventures after experiencing entrepreneurial failure and how they respond to entrepreneurial failure at the emotional, cognitive and behavioral levels (Smollan & Singh, 2024). Entrepreneurial passion represents a powerful motivating force that can help explain the formation of individuals' entrepreneurial intention (Karimi, 2020) and actual entrepreneurial behavior (Murnieks et al., 2014); such passion has also been reported to be associated with several decisions and endeavors associated with new business ventures, such as entrepreneurial persistence (Cardon & Kirk, 2015;Kiani et al., 2023), grit (Mueller et al., 2017) and resilience (Fisher et al., 2018), as well as with venture performance and success (Fisher et al., 2018;Mueller et al., 2017). More importantly, evidence has revealed that entrepreneurial passion has a regulatory function with regard to entrepreneurs' negative affective experiences due to, for instance, fear of failure (Stroe et al., 2020). ...
Despite the powerful benefits of entrepreneurial failure experience with regard to experiential learning and future venture performance, our understanding of how failure experience impacts entrepreneurs’ decision to reenter entrepreneurship while taking advantage of the lessons that they have learned from their previous entrepreneurial endeavors remains limited. While some studies have highlighted the potential of entrepreneurial failure experience to stimulate reentry intention, other researchers have argued that failure experience can actually decrease subsequent entrepreneurial intention. This study draws on various streams of research on entrepreneurs’ responses to business failures at the cognitive, affective, and behavioral levels to propose the existence of a curvilinear relationship between entrepreneurial failure and reentry intention. We employ hierarchical regression to test a series of hypotheses by reference to a sample of 379 entrepreneurs who had experienced failure in their recent business ventures. The results reveal that the degree of failure exhibits an inverted U-shaped relationship with reentry intention. Furthermore, we find that the effect of entrepreneurial failure on reentry intention is mediated by entrepreneurs’ learning from failure and that entrepreneurial passion moderates the effects of entrepreneurial failure on both learning from failure and reentry intention. This article helps explain the distinctive effects of failure experience on reentry intention and provides empirical evidence that can facilitate the development of tailor-made support programs that can help previously failed entrepreneurs address the challenges that they encounter during the process of reentry into entrepreneurship.
... A prior study found that individual traits could affect SEI (Bai et al., 2022). As a vital trait, grit, that is, persistent attention to and focus on long-term goals (Butz et al., 2018), could exert a considerable impact on personal entrepreneurship, including entrepreneurial intention (e.g., Arco-Tirado et al., 2019;Barrientos Oradini et al., 2022;Butz et al., 2018;Mooradian et al., 2016;Mueller et al., 2017). Grit is becoming a more essential subject in entrepreneurial contexts, especially for Chinese college students. ...
... Previous studies on the relationship between grit and individual entrepreneurship have mostly examined its function in passion and persistence toward long-term objectives (e.g., Duckworth et al., 2007 as cited in Asante et al., 2023, Mueller et al., 2017, and Salisu et al., 2020 . It's worth noting that grit falls into two categories: POE and COI. ...
This study investigated the relationship between grit (perseverance of effort and consistency of interest) and serial entrepreneurial intention (SEI) among 705 Chinese college students. Moreover, it examined the mediating roles of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and locus of control. Results showed grit positively predicted SEI, and this relationship was mediated by entrepreneurial self-efficacy and locus of control individually as well as sequentially. The findings highlight the importance of grit in reinforcing college students' SEI by enhancing their entrepreneurial self-beliefs. Researchers should utilize experimental and longitudinal designs to establish causality. Practical implications point to incorporating grit interventions and training self-efficacy in entrepreneurial education programs.
... Recent research suggests that grittier people are more likely to adopt a strategic mindset toward problemsolving, considering alternative approaches that may be more efficient and effective than their first attempts (Chen, Powers, Katragadda, Cohen & Dweck, 2020). In this way, grit predicts the creation and business success of entrepreneurs (Arco-Tirado, Bojica, Fern andez-Mart ın & Hoyle, 2019; Mooradian, Matzler, Uzelac & Bauer, 2016;Mueller, Wolfe & Syed, 2017; and job performance in employed workers (Dugan, Hochstein, Rouziou & Britton, 2019). Furthermore, grit predicts job satisfaction and income, even after controlling for cognitive variables, education levels, and sociodemographic variables such as age and sex (Danner, Lechner & Rammstedt, 2020). ...
... Considering both personality and work engagement variables, the WEGO can increase the predictive capacity of task performance from 40.7% to 50.3%, as well as that of contextual performance from 42.9% to 55.4%. With all this in mind, the present results are in line with previous research that shows that grit helps predict organizational outcomes (Danner, Lechner & Rammstedt, 2020;Dugan, Hochstein, Rouziou & Britton, 2019;Mooradian, Matzler, Uzelac & Bauer, 2016;Mueller, Wolfe & Syed, 2017;, and also variables related to these outcomes, such as work engagement (Ceschi, Sartori, Dickert & Costantini, 2016), above variables such as productiveness (Meriac, Slifka & LaBat, 2015), general personality variables (Suzuki, Tamesue, Asahi & Ishikawa, 2015), and burnout (Brateanu, Switzer, Scott et al., 2020). Referring to counterproductive behavior, grit does not add incremental validity to the general variables of personality and work engagement. ...
Researchers have questioned whether grit should be conceptualized and measured as a global (i.e., domain‐general) or domain‐specific construct. Although evidence is beginning to appear that grit in educational and sport contexts may be measured as domain‐specific, it has not yet been explored in the organizational context. The objective of this research was to study the psychometric properties of grit as domain‐specific for subsequently analyzing if such domain‐specific grit (labor grit) improves the predictive validity of different organizational results. A sample of 326 active workers was used ( M years = 37.52; SD = 9.85). Their grit levels in the general domain and specific domain were evaluated, as well as their main personality traits and other organizational results such as work engagement and work performance. The grit instrument as domain‐specific showed excellent reliability (ω = 0.92), and the unidimensionality of the instrument was confirmed. The results point to the fact that giving an organizational connotation to the grit items does not improve the predictability of the results. However, labor grit adds incremental validity over personality traits and work engagement to predict task and contextual performance (Δ r ² = 0.13), but not to predict counterproductive behavior.
... Entrepreneurial success is also significantly influenced by psychosocial traits, such as grit. Grit refers to hardiness in pursuing long-term objectives by adding perseverance and passion, which has been found to correlate positively with business performance (Mueller et al., 2017). When starting and growing their new businesses, entrepreneurs frequently put in much work and endure great adversity (Seyfi et al., 2025). ...
As per the recent Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report 2023, women comprise one in three entrepreneurs operating a well-established venture. Women make up nearly half the population across the globe, yet the percentage share of women in venture creation is less than 50 per cent. This study intended to conduct a systematic literature review and applied filter criteria by utilizing the keywords “women entrepreneurs” and “performance.” Literature published in A*-, A-, and B-listed journals under the ABDC journal ranking and falling under Quartile 1 of Scopus were selected for further investigation. The findings of the study reveal that social forces, cultural forces, and psychological capital impact the performance of women entrepreneurs. Innovativeness, private investment, and leadership roles are gendered stereotypes that impact women-owned firms’ performance. Policymakers and industries must reconsider the varied facets that women may possess and need to support them to unveil the potential of women entrepreneurs. The research highlights the unexplored aspects of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to create a more dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable ecosystem that enables female entrepreneurs to succeed as business owners and improve performance in an ecosystem where male entrepreneurs prominently dominate. The authors also propose a conceptual framework that could enhance the performance of women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses and an up-to-date and thorough overview of the factors affecting their success.
... To assess venture performance, we adopted a multidimensional measure originally developed by Gupta and Govindarajan (1984), and it (or a similar subjective performance scale) has been used widely in the entrepreneurship literature (e.g., Burnell et al., 2024;H. Li & Atuahene-Gima, 2001;Ling & Kellermanns, 2010;McDougall et al., 1994;Mueller et al., 2017;Stam & Elfring, 2008;Su et al., 2011;Tang et al., 2008). Subjective measures of performance are often utilized within entrepreneurship research for several reasons, including ease of access, strong reliability and validity, and concerns with objective indicators (Stam & Elfring, 2008;Wall et al., 2004). ...
This study investigates whether male and female entrepreneurs exhibit systematic differences in the customer learning actions they pursue, and how those actions convert to venture performance. Drawing from a dyadic sample of founders and startup advisors in the high-technology context, we explore the effects of two alternative customer learning actions—customer involvement as an information source (CIS) and customer involvement as co-developers (CIC). We find that, compared to male entrepreneurs, female entrepreneurs engage in higher levels of both types of customer learning actions (CIS and CIC). Contrary to research from the large established firm context, we find CIS and CIC have conflicting startup performance implications—CIS is beneficial, but CIC is detrimental.
... Second component of GRIT is perseverance where there is sustained and enduring effort as a product of internal purpose-driven desires and not the external concerns like a fear of being reprimanded. So GRIT which is basically "perseverance and passion for long-term goals" (Duckworth et al., 2007) has a lot of relevance with the behavior and attitudes of employees in organizations (Mueller et al., 2017). ...
Many factors are thought to be a cause of organizational politics in any organization and in past research, it is empirically tested that leadership is one of those factors. Exploitative and despotic leadership causes politics in organizations but ethical leadership discourages it. However, the role of the laissez-faire leadership style in organizational politics is yet to be thoroughly investigated. This research aims to study the role of Laissez-Faire Leadership in Organizational Politics. Moreover, it also focuses on the mediating role played by Esprit De Corps and the moderating role of Employee GRIT upon the phenomenon of Organizational Politics resulting from Laissez-Faire Leadership on the top. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey from the employees of the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) a Law Enforcement Agency and a Public Sector Organization. Data analysis was done through SPSS and AMOS software. The study findings revealed that Laissez-Faire Leadership results in Organizational Politics and is positively related to it. These findings were found to be in conformity with the Conservation of Resources Theory. The results also confirmed the mediating role of Esprit De Corps in the above-said phenomenon, thus, supporting the Cognitive Evaluation Theory. It was indicated that Laissez-Faire Leadership has a negative relationship with Esprit De Corps and likewise, Esprit De Corps has a negative relationship with Organizational Politics. Moreover, it also confirmed that Employee GRIT does have a moderating effect, on the relationship between Laissez-Faire Leadership and Organizational Politics mediated by Esprit De Corps and is negatively related. This finding corroborated what GRIT theory advocates. In the end, the implications, limitations of this study, and future directions have also been discussed.
... The importance of perseverance and effort in achieving positive outcomes in terms of performance, psychological well-being, and overall success has been highlighted by Datu et al., (2018). More so, it is supported by numerous studies that consistency in one's task or work has a positive beneficial outcome (Mueller et al., 2017;Suzuki et al., 2015). The breadwinner senior citizens have demonstrated impressive job performance, including building strong relationships with loyal customers, mastering their jobs, and finding enjoyment in their work. ...
Approximately fifty percent of elderly individuals in the Philippines are currently employed. A significant number of them are exposed to health hazards and have a low socioeconomic level despite having worked for a considerable number of years. The current study aims to provide a detailed account and analysis of the core essence of the experience of breadwinner senior citizens as they strive to maintain their grit for numerous years. The findings revealed four themes, or 4K of grit, namely: keep on, keep at, keep up, and keep growing. Each theme generated subthemes that further elaborated on the experiences of breadwinner senior citizens. Keep on is divided into five subthemes: familial’s sake, financial autonomy, fortitude in the past, and founding leisure. Keep at is divided into two themes, namely the personification of aging and perceived hardships. Meanwhile, the keep-up had four subthemes: guarding the mind, being God-centered, getting support, and having greater focus in the body. Lastly, the keep growing is composed of two themes the steadfastness in work and senescence’s’ joy. While the participants have shown resilience in the face of several challenges, it is strongly recommended that local government agencies improve and closely supervise the current program and activities aimed at addressing the financial difficulties as well as the physical and mental difficulties of the breadwinner senior citizens. More so, the said research will add additional fund of knowledge in the field of gerontology and psychology in the Philippines.
... the conflict, through his determination, boosted his desire to work hard to recover and make the business succeed. literature also affirms that determination, or what may be called as 'grit' , is a significant component of good firm performance (Mooradian et al., 2016;Mueller et al., 2017). in some cases, the hardships entrepreneurs faced during the conflict has led to the positive belief that they can successfully overcome the difficulty of operating in post-conflict setting (arslan et al., 2024) Marketing strategies. ...
This study investigates the determinants of post-conflict firm growth in Marawi City, Philippines and the contributing effect of institutional factors, business experience and firm age. Using a qualitative research design, data was collected through personal interviews with 24 firm owners, resulting into 4 typologies that are applicable to similar post-conflict contexts globally and based on the entrepreneur’s business experience (novice or serial) and firm age (new or established). The analysis reveals distinct growth patterns: new novice entrepreneurs struggle with resource acquisition, whereas established serial entrepreneurs leverage their experience and networks for sustained growth. Conversely, new serial entrepreneurs demonstrate agility in adapting to changing markets, while established novice entrepreneurs often face stagnant growth due to limited strategic foresight. This study contributes to post-conflict literature by highlighting the compelling interaction between business experience and firm age, and providing an explanation on how these factors affect the growth of firms in a post-conflict setting. It also offers an explanation on how this interaction results into a bundle of determinants and institutions that are relevant to each typology, allowing a deeper insight on the needs of every group of entrepreneurs. The study also underscores the importance of understanding the local institutional environment to guide policymakers in developing cost-effective strategies that are tailor-fit to the entrepreneurs and can aid in economic recovery.
... The other is consistency of interest, which is the tendency to continually persist in a specific set of interests to achieve long-term goals (Datu et al., 2017a). Grit is cultivated through mindset, skills and passion (Duckworth, 2016), often leading to a better understanding of future career goals and directions, as well as dedicating more time to persistently seeking employment (Kaufman and Duckworth, 2017), which is a key determinant of achieving career success, including employability (Lee and Duckworth, 2018;Mueller et al., 2017). Additionally, grit has shown a significant positive impact across various environments, particularly in maintaining employment amidst challenges and setbacks (Robertson-Kraft and Duckworth, 2014). ...
Purpose-Responding to the call for more research on the consequences of grit, this study aims to examine the relationship between grit and employees' perceived employability. Drawing on the self-determination theory, the authors hypothesize that job involvement and team member proactivity sequentially mediate the relationship between grit and employability. Design/methodology/approach-A time-lagged research design with a one-month interval was conducted to collect data from three public sector organizations in China (N = 484). The model was tested using confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis and the PROCESS bootstrapping program in SPSS25.0 and AMOS21.0 software. Findings-The findings reveal that the positive effect of grit on employability is mediated by job involvement and team member proactivity sequentially. Originality/value-The authors contribute to the literature on the employability outcomes of grit. It is also one of a few studies that use a job perspective on the grit−employability relationship.
... They may take away customers with better prices or better products. Some researchers conceptualized persistence as part of the concept of grit (Mueller et al., 2017); at first sight, this looks to be the same; however, I prefer the construct "action characteristic" of overcoming barriers; the action-oriented concept includes the changeability of skills and does not share the problems of the grit concept, as grit is highly related to the personality trait conscientiousness and traits are usually assumed to be less easy to change (Crede et al., 2017). 8 PI is not just related to general performance but also to creative performance and employee productivity (Tornau & Frese, 2013). ...
Psychological preparedness for entrepreneurial actions helps to connect macro-institutional support for entrepreneurs to actions of entrepreneurs. Action knowledge and personal initiative are part of entrepreneurial preparedness, and there are two training concepts that have been developed to increase the number of entrepreneurs among BA and high school students in low- and middle-income countries and to improve the skills and mindset of entrepreneurs. I discuss large-scale randomized controlled interventions in both of these areas with the STEP and personal initiative training. Showing that psychological preparedness for entrepreneurial actions can be enhanced, the question is whether methods shown to work in low-income countries can inform entrepreneurship research in general. Issues that seem to speak against generalizing are often seen in necessity, survivalist, and informal entrepreneurship. These issues are discussed and are deemed of lower importance for generalization of findings. There are also methodological advantages when doing research in low- and middle income countries. Practical and policy implications are also provided.
Plain English Summary
Entrepreneurship is about taking action and seizing opportunities. People often think of African entrepreneurs as just trying to survive, but there is more to it. In fact, Africa has likely many more entrepreneurs than the West, and these young business people are keen to learn and grow. We have created training programs for university and high school students to boost the number of entrepreneurs and improve their skills. We have tested these programs with over 6000 students across 11 developing countries, and they have been successful: Training participants started 30% more businesses than the control group. We have also developed a training called personal initiative to help entrepreneurs increase their profits by up to 30%. This has been tested with thousands of participants in ten countries. What makes these training programs special is that they are scientifically tested and proven to be highly effective (the tests were similar to examining the effectiveness of a new medicine). They focus on immediate skill and mindset learning. Psychological training helps entrepreneurs be ready to make the most of government and macro-economic support for businesses. So, there is a lot we can learn from entrepreneurship in Africa.
... In their recent study, Abbas and Raja (2015) reported a significant correlation between PsyCap and innovative work behaviour, suggesting that individuals with certain non-cognitive abilities were more likely to engage in innovative performance activities. Previous research of grit in entrepreneurs revealed similar findings and found a statistically significant impact of grit on venture performance and entrepreneurial success (Mooradian, Matzler, Uzelac, & Bauer, 2016;Mueller, Wolfe, & Syed, 2017). Cantamessa and Montagna (2016) suggested that entrepreneurs are required to show high levels of innovative performance during the creation, communication and execution of their vision in order to develop a successful business model. ...
In recent years, non-cognitive personality factors have received increasing attention due to previous studies that suggested that they could be highly important in employee selection and development processes. One of these factors, termed grit, is a psychological personality trait defined as “perseverance and passion for long term goals” (Duckworth, Peterson, Matthews, & Kelly, 2007: 1087). Grit has been shown to predict performance, future success, and retention of individuals in a range of domains. Recently, it has been argued that grit might be a better predictor of success than intelligence.
Despite the amount of research conducted on the impact of grit on performance, success, and retention in different samples, there is only limited evidence for the impact of grit on individual outcomes, such as job performance or the experience of work-related stress in the business context. In light of critiques about current HRM practices, organisations are required to implement processes aiming to enhance organisational performance by developing HR practices towards talent and employee development in order to enhance individual performance and employee health and well-being. Considering preliminary results that indicated that grit might be a crucial factor for employee performance and the experience of work-related stress, the aim of this research is to explore the applicability of the grit construct in the organisational working context. Moreover, the predictive validity of grit for individual outcomes in the workplace is explored.
The research uses a cross-sectional research design and tests empirically the predictive validity of grit on individual performance in business and its relationship to work-related stress. To provide a holistic insight into the impact of grit on job performance, three dimensions of individual performance in the workplace are assessed, namely, task performance, organisational citizenship behaviour and innovative performance. A cross sectional sample of 2089 employees is used that provides generalisable results across the UK working population. The results of this research indicate that despite issues in its current conceptualisation, grit has a statistically significant impact on individual outcomes in the organisational context. The findings suggest that grit is a significant predictor of job performance and work-related stress across the research sample. The findings are discussed and their importance and implications for theory and practice are presented along with suggestions for future research avenues.
... Netac demonstrated its entrepreneurial persistence in strategically tackling the uncertainty, despite the difficulties of the process. This observation aligns with the argument that entrepreneurial orientation and perseverance are especially critical to the growth of new ventures (Mueller et al., 2017). Netac also balanced costs and opportunities and, more specifically, prioritized affordable costs and being flexible to opportunities and contingencies as logical behaviors to defend its patent position (Sarasvathy, 2001). ...
Purpose
Unlike well-documented market or behavioral uncertainty, patent uncertainty has been significantly under-explored in the field of international entrepreneurship. Drawing on an institution-based view of strategy, this study investigated Netac, a Chinese knowledge-based international new venture (KINV), which was facing uncertainty over patents in China and the US. The aim was to address two questions: (1) how does patent uncertainty emerge in the context of KINVs? And (2) how can KINVs navigate patent hazards by interacting with national patent institutions?
Design/methodology/approach
A longitudinal single-case study approach was adopted as the most appropriate method for exploring novel business phenomena and dynamic processes.
Findings
Results suggested that a KINV can adopt strategies to build a unique identity and so better conform to the expectations of institutions that ultimately decide on patent validity. Strategies may involve building institutional awareness, amplifying mass media effects, and strategically managing the intellectual property and socio-emotional tensions between China and the US.
Originality/value
This study introduced the notion of patent uncertainty into research around international new ventures, highlighting how this type of uncertainty in the advanced technology sector can affect the end-product and patent licensing opportunities of KINVs. It also explored the institution-based view of company strategy in the internationalization process by emphasizing interactive institutional mechanisms, and the role of an organization’s identity when interacting with institutions. The study enriches the literature on institutional theory and organizational identity, and also suggests solutions for firms dealing with efforts by competitors to invalidate patents.
... Qazi et al., 2022;Wu et al., 2019). the effect of proactive personality among the other personality traits should also be noted (chen, 2024). in the field of entrepreneurship and business, numerous studies explored the positive impact of proactive personality on performance, firm-based innovativeness, and self-employment (Mueller et al., 2017;paul & shrivatava, 2016;Wolfe & patel, 2016). recently, some researchers contended significant positive relationship of proactive personality and entrepreneurial intention among university students in the educational context research (Butz et al., 2018;hossain & asheq, 2020;Kumar & shukla, 2019). ...
Amidst the shifting landscapes of education and economic development, the burgeoning significance of entrepreneurial intention within educational institutions has captured the attention of researchers and policymakers alike. As the nexus between academia and society continues to evolve, understanding the profound impact of entrepreneurial aspirations on graduates’ lives and the broader socioeconomic landscape has become a focal point for scholarly research and policy formulation. The present endeavor is an attempt to check the direct as well as indirect contributing role of proactive personality by taking self-regulation as mediator toward shaping entrepreneurial intention among university graduates. The purpose of this study is to examine the significance of entrepreneurial intention through institutions toward socio-economic development, with its immense influence on graduates’ lives and society in general. Finally, it is contended that proactive personality and self-regulation are both significant personality traits of graduates that infuse feelings of entrepreneurship in their minds. A total of 315 business administration graduates from different public-sector universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (a province of Pakistan) were surveyed. Questionnaires, containing scales adopted from the existing literature, were employed as data collection instruments to measure the current study constructs after obtaining Research Ethics Clearance from the Multimedia University. Scale reliability, correlation, mediation, and statistical tools were employed to test the present study’s hypotheses. The results revealed a significant positive association between proactive personality, entrepreneurial intention, and self-regulation. Self-regulation was also found to play a catalytic role in mediating the association between proactive personality and entrepreneurial intention in the current study context. A significant positive link between entrepreneurial intention and proactive personality. validated the common concept that individuals with proactive personality attributes have the capability to alter their environment by initiative and working diligently unless the desired target is achieved.
... Some research alludes to "grit" or passion and perseverance as a key indicator of entrepreneurial intention (e.g. Mueller, Wolfe, and Syed 2017). Women embarking on entrepreneurial activities are likely to find that some grit will be necessary to face the challenges they are bound to encounter. ...
Social media is ubiquitous and continuously evolving. This study investigates the impact of social media on the intention toward entrepreneurship/self-employment. Further, we explore the moderating effect of social media on the relationships between women, self-efficacy and leisure activities on intention toward entrepreneurship/self-employment using a survey-based dataset. We find that the ability to take advantage of social media within an entrepreneurial context does not necessarily mean that an individual is propelled towards entrepreneurship, however proactive individuals are able to exhibit this characteristic, as are creative women. A counter-intuitive finding is that entrepreneurship and conventional organizational employment choices are not mutually exclusive. While risk aversion inhibits entrepreneurship as expected, contextual conditions such as being married or being employed affects men and women differently.
... In addition to parental behavior characterized by accepting and supporting autonomy, we can also develop grit in the school environment. Several studies show that grit predicts better educational outcomes [4], [11], lifelong learning [4] or job performance [28]. ...
The paper presents an analysis of the relation between the perceived parental style and the grit of adolescents. The theoretical background includes the ideas about the interconnection between the parenting and the grit. Research data were collected from 738 adolescents aged 15-20 in the Slovak Republic attending general secondary schools and specialized secondary schools (ISCED 3). Their average age was 17.19 year (SD = 1.36). We used two assessment methods: The Grit Scale and Parenting Style Inventory II. The linear regression modelling showed that the most significant predictors of the grit, passion and perseverance are male sex responsiveness and autonomy granting of the parents. The results are important in the psychological and educational praxis in the relation to the future carrier selections and personal beliefs about ability to reach the self-defined goals.
... Grit has been reported to increase work engagement and decrease work burnout in adults [29,30]. Increased work productivity due to a level of high grit has been shown to lead to higher work performance [31,32]. In students, higher levels of grit have been reported to be associated with higher levels of motivation and academic engagement, and thus, higher levels of academic achievement [33]. ...
Background
Life satisfaction among Korean students is declining substantially, and multifaceted improvement efforts are required.
Methods
We analyzed longitudinal change trajectories for exercise, grit, and life satisfaction levels among Korean adolescents using latent growth modeling with longitudinal data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Surveys of 2,142 students (male: 1,070, female: 1,072) from sixth grade (2020) through eighth grade (2022).
Results
The model, which tracked linear changes in the students’ exercise, grit, and life satisfaction, showed consistent declines over three school years for all variables. We also identified a longitudinal causal relationship among exercise, grit, and life satisfaction. A higher grit intercept was associated with higher intercept for—and a partial mediating effect between—exercise and life satisfaction. The grit slope was positively related to the life satisfaction slope, and both the intercept and exercise slope had positive effects on life satisfaction. Moreover, grit had a longitudinal mediating effect between exercise and life satisfaction.
Conclusions
We discuss the longitudinal change trajectories of exercise, grit, and life satisfaction, the causal and mediating effects among them, and the implications of the findings. These findings bolster our understanding of Korean adolescents’ life satisfaction and have practical significance for designing programs to improve their quality of life.
What does ‘success’ mean for entrepreneurs in different institutional environments? Drawing on institutional theory, we explore how the success perceptions of entrepreneurs are shaped by their interpretations of the institutional environment across countries. Based on 87 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with digital start-ups in China, Germany, and the United Kingdom (UK), we find that success perceptions differ substantially across institutional contexts. Our findings suggest that success perceptions balance the individual preferences of entrepreneurs and the need to adapt to the institutional environment. We contribute to understanding on differences in entrepreneurship across countries by examining how institutions can influence entrepreneurial response strategies and outcomes. In addition, we provide a novel perspective on the role of entrepreneurial agency in the context of strong institutional influences.
The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the influence of niche market leadership (NML) on market globalization orientation (MGO) by means of an intelligent cloud-based accounting information system (ICAIS). The study also examined the moderating function of industry dynamism (IND) in the relationship between NML and ICAIS as well as the relationship between ICAIS and MGO. The data obtained from a convenience and snowball sample of respondents employed in small and medium companies (SMEs) in Vietnam was analyzed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with the assistance of SmartPLS 4.1.0.6. The results clearly showed that NML had a significant and beneficial effect on MGO. The findings eventually demonstrated that the association between NML and MGO was partially mediated by ICAIS. The statistical outcomes also highlighted the moderating role of IND in the relationship between NML and ICAIS as well as the relationship between ICAIS and MGO. Broadly speaking, this study offers valuable insights for managers, stakeholders, and policymakers to comprehend on how to foster MGO through leveraging the potential of NML and ICAIS.
This study explores the factors determining entrepreneurial passion among Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in the service and industrial sectors of Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. The research investigates the extent of entrepreneurial passion among MSE operators, identifies key personal, environmental, and institutional factors, and analyzes their impact on the success, growth, and sustainability of MSEs. The purpose of the study is to understand how these factors shape entrepreneurial passion, identify key drivers and barriers and offer practical recommendations for enhancing MSE performance. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 248 MSE operators selected via stratified sampling across five sectors. The findings reveal a strong sense of passion, motivation, and emotional commitment, primarily driven by financial independence, growth opportunities, creativity, and resilience in overcoming challenges. Regression analysis highlights the significant role of personal characteristics such as age, education, prior experience, and risk-taking propensity in fostering entrepreneurial passion. Additionally, external factors, including market competition, technological advancements, government policies, and supportive networks, are shown to be critical in encouraging innovation and creating a conducive environment for entrepreneurship. The research concludes that en-trepreneurial passion is influenced by a dynamic interaction of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The study's theoretical contribution lies in advancing understanding of the drivers of entrepreneurial passion, while the practical significance includes recommendations for policymakers, educators, and practitioners to address challenges such as financial constraints , regulatory barriers, networking difficulties, and work-life balance issues. These insights can help enhance MSE success, sustainability, and long-term entrepreneurial passion.
Only a small portion of entrepreneurs who would like to be their own bosses eventually succeed and maintain their own businesses after the initial startup phase. Building upon self-determination theory, we develop a conceptual model that examines the relationships among harmonious passion, entrepreneurial persistence, time-based resources and career achievement of entrepreneurs. In Study 1, we collected longitudinal survey data using two measurement waves and found that harmonious passion affects career achievement directly and indirectly via entrepreneurial persistence. Time-based resources were found to moderate the impact of entrepreneurial persistence on career achievement. The fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis results confirmed that personal resources (harmonious passion, persistence and time-based resources) are needed as prerequisites for career achievement. In Study 2, we conducted an experiment and confirmed the findings in Study 1. Our research extends the existing theory and suggests implications for entrepreneurs.
Research suggests that noncognitive factors are valuable constructs to further understand student performance in higher education. Grit is one such noncognitive factor to garner significant attention, but questions remain regarding its practical utilization. This study furthers the understanding of how grit can be leveraged in such environments in two key ways. First, it compares the model fit of global and school-specific grit assessments. Grit is typically evaluated as a global, rather than domain-specific, construct; this is based on an unexplored assumption that grit does not vary as a function of context. Second, it explores the extent to which student self-conceptualizations within and outside of the classroom facilitate the relationship between grit and academic performance. Implications of this research provide insight regarding the validity of measuring grit in higher education, as well as explore a novel framework to underpin the development of future institutional-level interventions.
New entrepreneurs often face failures that can erode confidence and self-efficacy, thereby obstructing progress. This study considers the effects of failure on entrepreneurial self-efficacy and proposes a model based on entrepreneurial learning of how passion and resilience may mitigate these effects. Using data from 423 entrepreneurs (both successful and unsuccessful) in North America, it tests a model via structural equation modeling, in which entrepreneurial self-efficacy is directly affected by failure, and indirectly affected by passion and resilience. The results indicate the negative direct effects of failure on entrepreneurial self-efficacy may be offset by strongly positive effects of entrepreneurial passion and by resilience. This appears to be the first empirical study to test directly the moderating effects of entrepreneurial passion and resilience on the relationship between failure and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. In the presence of sufficient passion and resilience, failure may be viewed as a positive influence on self-efficacy. The results suggest that entrepreneurial failure may act as a precursor to entrepreneurial passion. They also suggest that the practical, negative effects of setbacks can be mitigated, or even reversed, by focusing on developing entrepreneurial passion and resilience in new entrepreneurs.
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of entrepreneurial individual vision and entrepreneurial role models on perceived entrepreneurial opportunities resulting from the COVID-19 crisis while assessing the moderating role of entrepreneurial grit (passion and perseverance).
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopts an applied path analysis method using Hayes' PROCESS MACRO with SPSS. The statistical population consists of early-stage entrepreneurs participating in Iran’s 2020 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor international research program.
Findings
The results indicate that regardless of gender, age and education of participants, the “entrepreneurial individual vision” of early-stage entrepreneurs has a direct positive impact on their perception of entrepreneurial opportunities arising from COVID-19. Moreover, due to the challenging circumstances during the crisis, the role model of successful entrepreneurs who began their ventures during the pandemic influences early-stage entrepreneurs. That is to say, the role model has an impact on the perceived entrepreneurial opportunities resulting from COVID-19.
Research limitations/implications
The study has focused exclusively on early-stage entrepreneurs. Hence, it is suggested that further research explores the influence of entrepreneurial vision characteristics among both early-stage and established entrepreneurs. Additionally, examining the interactions between their entrepreneurial role models, perseverance and types of entrepreneurial passion in relation to the perceived opportunities arising from the COVID-19 crisis would be valuable.
Practical implications
In critical situations, early-stage entrepreneurs persevere by maintaining a resilience spirit and stress management. As a result, they could identify new entrepreneurial opportunities in line with their entrepreneurial vision. Nevertheless, early-stage entrepreneurs should postpone exploiting those opportunities until a time close to the final stages of the crisis. Early-stage entrepreneurs should redefine a clear and effective entrepreneurial individual vision. Furthermore, they should firstly reinforce their growth mindset; secondly, apply a servant leadership style to their startups in order to enhance grit; and finally translate their vision into a shared vision in line with the expansion of their role models.
Social implications
During times of crisis, societies require early-stage entrepreneurs, who possess an individual entrepreneurial vision, have access to entrepreneurial role models and exhibit perseverance to identify and capitalize on entrepreneurial opportunities generated by the COVID-19 crisis.
Originality/value
Unlike normal situations, during the COVID-19 pandemic, entrepreneurial grit (passion and perseverance) exhibits a mixed and paradoxical moderating effect; the entrepreneurial grit-passion dimension weakens the positive effect of “entrepreneurial vision” on “perceived entrepreneurial opportunities caused by COVID-19.” This is while the entrepreneurial grit-perseverance dimension normally strengthens this positive effect. Therefore, the Entrepreneurial Grit Paradox is the most important contribution of the study. In contrast with prevalent theoretical perspectives such as the views of Blank (2020) and Rise (2011), early-stage businesses begin with the entrepreneurial individual vision, grit-perseverance and their entrepreneurs' role models in crisis times.
Purpose
This research aims to investigate the nature of the team grit construct as distinct from individual grit and determines its relevance within a net of team constructs.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a new, validated and invariant team grit scale, the study confirmed the factor structure of a scale in a United Kingdom sample ( n = 228), tested the discriminant nature of individual and team grit and examined relationships between proposed antecedents and outcomes of team grit in a United States sample ( n = 269). This paper applied structural equation modeling to analyze the data.
Findings
Results of this paper revealed the relevance of this goal-focused team construct. It showed that team grit is distinct from individual grit and preceded by team psychological safety and team goal commitment, and predicts team innovation, and team work engagement.
Research limitations/implications
The team grit scale used in this study provides new opportunities to understand team grit in organizational settings.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research offers the first empirical investigation of the relationships of team grit in organizations with other team constructs.
Entrepreneurship encompasses various definitions and sub-domains, reflecting its multifaceted nature. Yet, at its essence, entrepreneurship remains a deeply personal journey. This chapter explores the emotional landscape of entrepreneurship, investigating how psychological characteristics influence entrepreneurial emergence, decision-making, and performance. Passion, cognition, and motivational drives shape the entrepreneurial venture, marked by uncertainty and diverse roles. Understanding how entrepreneurs perceive and seize opportunities is crucial for unraveling the complexity of entrepreneurship. Passion, in its various forms, acts as a catalyst for entrepreneurial success, influencing venture growth through goal-setting and commitment. Conversely, the interplay between risk-taking propensity, need for achievement, and affect impacts both decision-making and performance dynamics. Ultimately, entrepreneurial success transcends mere destination, embodying the culmination of an emotional odyssey that empowers individuals to overcome challenges and realize their aspirations.
Purpose
Entrepreneurial passion is constantly considered a core driver of the entrepreneurial process. In reality, however, many passionate entrepreneurs still fail to persist in their ventures. Whether entrepreneurial passion negatively affects entrepreneurial persistence is not well known. The current study explores how entrepreneurial passion inhibits entrepreneurial persistence based on self-regulation theory. The moderating role of the perceived entrepreneurial institutional environment on the relationship is further investigated.
Design/methodology/approach
The study collected data from 200 entrepreneurs using a two-stage questionnaire. In the first stage, demographic information was obtained from the respondents, and their entrepreneurial passion, self-regulatory assessment mode and perceived entrepreneurial institutional environment were measured. Three months later, in the second stage, entrepreneurial persistence was evaluated.
Findings
The results show that entrepreneurial passion has a positive effect on self-regulatory assessment mode. Further, self-regulatory assessment mode negatively impacts entrepreneurial persistence and mediates the negative relationship between entrepreneurial passion and persistence. In addition, the greater the perceived level of the entrepreneurial institutional environment is, the weaker the positive association between entrepreneurial passion and self-regulatory assessment mode and the weaker the mediating effect of self-regulatory assessment mode on the relationship between entrepreneurial passion and entrepreneurial persistence and vice versa.
Originality/value
This paper clarifies the unknown negative effects of entrepreneurial passion, contributes to the theoretical relationship between the constructs of entrepreneurial passion and persistence and provides insights for decision-making by entrepreneurs, government and venture capital institutions.
This chapter examines how entrepreneurial passion (EP) and Machiavellianism affect entrepreneurial intention (EI). Moreover, it investigates the moderating effects of entrepreneurial creativity (EC) on the link between EP and EI, and of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ES) on the relationship between Machiavellianism and EI. The participants were MBA (n = 304) students from several universities in Metro Manila, Philippines and they were identified using purposive sampling. The hypothesized relationships were evaluated through a causal-predictive research design and via path modeling using partial least squares. The results show that EP has a significant and positive influence on EC and EI. On the other hand, Machiavellianism has a significant but small direct effect on ES. It was likewise found that both EC and ES contribute to the formation of EI. After moderation analysis, the finding reveals that EC indirectly affects the link between EP and EI.
Policies, programmes and other measures have been in place to foster an enabling environment for women’s entrepreneurship to flourish further in the Philippines. However, despite this seemingly successful growth of women’s entrepreneurship in the country, women still face difficulties in prospering in entrepreneurship. Guided by the 5M gender-aware framework, this study mapped the pain points affecting women in entrepreneurship in the Philippines by conducting a focus group discussion composed of 40 entrepreneurs. Individual and institutional/structural factors and actors that play pivotal roles in enabling a more conducive entrepreneurial environment for women (i.e., government, education, NGOs, men, house helpers) were identified. More significantly, this article emphasized the need for men’s involvement in empowering women entrepreneurs in various capacities and aspects of their lives, especially in the motherhood sphere. Acknowledging men and involving them in women’s economic activities can potentially address the gap in entrepreneurship.
This research examines the entrepreneurial motivation driving small-scale entrepreneurs in Tanzania, taking into account contextual enablers and hindrances. With a focus on indigenous communities, the study aims to uncover the factors shaping individuals’ abilities to pursue opportunities throughout their entrepreneurial journey—from ideation to business succession. The study involved purposively selected 30 small-scale entrepreneurs in Tanzania to address the research objectives considering the significance of local perspectives in understanding entrepreneurial complexities. Utilizing effectuation principles and motivation theories, it illustrates how these entrepreneurs iteratively create opportunities in the non-linear landscape of indigenous entrepreneurship, shaped by cultural, historical, and social influences. Findings highlight the pivotal role of childhood-developed individual passion, commitment to addressing social needs, and pursuit of entrepreneurship due to limited formal employment opportunities or challenges like low pay salaries. Indigenous entrepreneurs navigate obstacles such as government tax formalities, security issues, and competition in their pursuit of sustainable ventures. This research enriches the indigenous entrepreneurship scholarship by providing insights into motivations, strategies, and challenges faced by Tanzanian entrepreneurs, addressing a critical literature gap. The study concludes with recommendations for further research, policy considerations, and practical interventions, acknowledging potential impacts on indigenous communities and their entrepreneurial ecosystems.
In this manuscript, we introduce the creation of content-specific fictional characters as a role-playing activity where students build and creatively write about their own character—their ‘Ideal Entrepreneur’. The exercise allows students to meaningfully engage with course material and consider their preconceived notions of what an entrepreneur needs to “be” to be successful. Using the character creation outline from the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons, students role-play their created entrepreneur as a character with chosen attributes through storytelling. This encourages outside-the-box thinking and the allowance for creativity in a novel and interesting way, all while engaging with the course content. We highlight not only the activity but also how this is a useful exercise for students in practicing entrepreneurial scenarios and considering the relationship between entrepreneurial attributes and outcomes. We additionally provide student feedback regarding the benefits they received by participating.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of entrepreneurial passion, specifically venture obsession, in agentic relationships within entrepreneurial contexts. It aims to develop a new conceptualization of the role of the venture in these relationships and explore the negative impacts that can arise from the obsessive passion for the venture. The paper contributes to the literature by shedding light on the complexities of agency outside of large for-profit firms, unpacking components of self-interest in the agentic relationship and challenging the assumption that entrepreneurial passion is always beneficial for both the entrepreneur and the venture.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper employs theoretical framework development and conceptual mapping to explore the role of entrepreneurial passion, specifically venture obsession, in agentic relationships within entrepreneurial contexts. We conducted a comprehensive literature review and synthesis of existing research on agency theory, entrepreneurial passion and venture obsession. By integrating these insights, we developed a new conceptual framework that theorizes the negative impacts of venture obsession on agentic relationships and venture performance. This approach allows us to propose a nuanced model that highlights the complexities and potential maladaptive behaviors associated with obsessive passion in entrepreneurship.
Findings
Venture obsession can have detrimental outcomes, such as escalation of commitment and ignoring external feedback, due to the intense focus on protecting the venture at all costs.
Originality/value
The study highlights the impact of venture obsession on agentic relationships, emphasizing the balance between autonomy, competence and relatedness that entrepreneurs strive to maintain for their well-being. While previous research has explored the role of entrepreneurial passion and its effects on venture performance, this study extends the understanding by delving into the darker side of passion when it transforms into obsessive agency. By emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy balance in agentic relationships and considering the psychological well-being of entrepreneurs, this study adds nuance and depth to the existing knowledge on the subject.
The word “passion” can be challenging to understand and define. The concept has received differing meanings and definitions in its historical and philosophical background. Today, most people associate passion with something that makes life worth living. Similarly, we often hear that following your passion will make you happy.
“Passion” is an uncontrollable or intense feeling resulting in a strong drive or motivation toward something or someone. However, “passion” initially meant suffering (Latin: passio). Contemporary synonyms include affection, anger, ardor, dedication, intensity, joy, and agony, among many others (Passion. [Thesaurus]. Available from: https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/passion. Accessed 25 May 2024).
In the current chapter, we unravel passion’s diverse historical, philosophical, and psychological facets, exploring its nuanced meanings that transcend mere emotion and delve into the essence of what truly makes life worth living.
Due to urgent societal challenges, organisations increasingly prioritise principles of hybrid value creation over capitalist efficiency rationales. Bureaucratic governance arrangements are widely regarded as detrimental to these organisations and their capacity to drive social change and innovation. Yet, bureaucratic governance continues to dominate the organisational landscape, while alternative approaches remain largely absent or underdeveloped. In this article, we address this puzzle and explore the re-enchantment of collegiality as a polycratic intra-organisational governance concept. Our research is based on empirical evidence from two social enterprises, of which one failed and one succeeded, with a collegiality governance approach. We find that certain elements of traditional collegiality can be particularly problematic in practice and propose a neo-collegial framework that we regard as particularly suitable for the governance of hybrid organisations.
Entrepreneurial passion plays a critical role in entrepreneurial intention and behavior, which in turn promote innovation, new jobs, and economic development. However, research on the an
tecedents of entrepreneurial passion remains scarce. This study aimed to investigate the effects of environmental factors, including subjective norms and entrepreneurial education, on entrepreneurial passion; the roles of risk propensity and entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) were examined as well. Data were gathered from 919 business and technical students in Vietnam. Analysis was performed using partial least-squares structural equation modeling. The results showed that subjective norms had positive effects on entrepreneurial passion, and subjective norms and ESE mediated the effect of entrepreneurial education on entrepreneurial passion. Moreover, risk propensity moderated the effect of ESE on entrepreneurial passion. This study is among the first studies to uncover the direct effect of subjective norms on entrepreneurial passion, as well as the moderating effects of risk propensity on the relationship between ESE and entrepreneurial passion. We also revealed the mediating roles of subjective norms and ESE in the relationship between entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurial passion.
Innovation is considered an important ingredient for new venture survival. However, our understanding of the role of individual entrepreneurs in facilitating its occurrence is relatively limited. While it is often claimed that curiosity is important in entrepreneurship, there is 2 limited empirical evidence to support this assertion. This study aims to address this gap by examining the relationship between founders' entrepreneurial curiosity and firm innovation. Further, we examine the mediating effect of information search and the moderating effect of environmental dynamism on this relationship. By analyzing three waves of data collected from 249 entrepreneurs, we find that entrepreneurs' curiosity has a positive association with (1) process innovation and (2) product innovation. Additionally, our findings show that the effect of curiosity on process innovation is mediated by information search effort, and that information search persistence mediates the effect of curiosity on product innovation. We also find that these mediating relationships are moderated by environmental dynamism.
This study examines how and why entrepreneurial passion for founding changes over time. In particular, we propose that in the founding phase of a venture's lifecycle entrepreneurs' founding identity centrality will remain stable over time. We also propose, however, that in our sample and time period studied, entrepreneurs' intense positive feelings for founding will decrease over time. On the basis of theories of positive illusion, self-regulation and role theory, we further hypothesize that venture idea change, change in role ambiguity and entrepreneurs' feedback-seeking behavior are factors that help explain the rate of change in entrepreneurs' intense positive feelings for founding. Using a three-wave longitudinal research design, we find that among a sample of 112 entrepreneurs identity centrality does not change over time, whereas intense positive feelings for founding decrease over time. Moreover, the more entrepreneurs change their venture ideas, the weaker their decrease in intense positive feelings. Further, we show that entrepreneurs who frequently seek feedback suffer less from reduced positive feelings in response to higher increases in role ambiguity as compared to entrepreneurs who seek less feedback. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Positive psychology is a useful framework to understand Latina/o students’ experiences. In the current study, we examined how presence of meaning in life, search for meaning in life, hope, and family importance influenced 128 Latina/o college students’ psychological grit. We used the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), Subjective Happiness Scale, Hope Scale, Pan-Hispanic Familism Scale, and Short Grit Scale to measure the aforementioned factors. Using multiple regression analysis, findings indicated that hope and search for meaning in life were significant predictors of psychological grit. Higher levels of hope positively predicted psychological grit, while higher levels of search for meaning in life negatively predicted psychological grit. We provide a discussion regarding the importance of these findings as well as recommendations for future research.
Other than talent and opportunity, what makes some people more successful than others? One important determinant of success is self-control—the capacity to regulate attention, emotion, and behavior in the presence of temptation. A second important determinant of success is grit—the tenacious pursuit of a dominant superordinate goal despite setbacks. Self-control and grit are strongly correlated, but not perfectly so. This means that some people with high levels of self-control capably handle temptations but do not consistently pursue a dominant goal. Likewise, some exceptional achievers are prodigiously gritty but succumb to temptations in domains other than their chosen life passion. Understanding how goals are hierarchically organized clarifies how self-control and grit are related but distinct: Self-control entails aligning actions with any valued goal despite momentarily more-alluring alternatives; grit, in contrast, entails having and working assiduously toward a single challenging superordinate goal through thick and thin, on a timescale of years or even decades. Although both self-control and grit entail aligning actions with intentions, they operate in different ways and over different timescales. This hierarchical goal framework suggests novel directions for basic and applied research on success.
Grit, defined as a passion and perseverance for one's goals, has been consistently demonstrated as an adaptive resource across multiple domains. Less explored, however, are the correlates of and sources from which grit is derived. The current studies examined two plausible candidates for promoting grit, positive affect and commitment to a purpose, using college student samples from Canada and the United States. Study 1 confirmed our predictions that grittier students tended to report greater positive affect and purpose commitment , and demonstrated that these variables appear to be unique and independent predictors of grit. Study 2 examined these claims using two-wave data collected across a semester, and found that while both purpose and positive affect were initially correlated with grit, only initial levels of purpose predicted grit at wave two. In other words, having a life direction may help more than positive affect when predicting who is likely to become grittier over a college semester. Implications of these findings are discussed. Keywords Grit Á Purpose Á Positive affect Á Emerging adulthood
Goals are central to current treatments of work motivation, and goal commitment is a critical construct in understanding the relationship between goals and task performance. Despite this importance, there is confusion about the role of goal commitment and only recently has this key construct received the empirical attention it warrants. This meta-analysis, based on 83 independent samples, updates the goal commitment literature by summarizing the accumulated evidence on the antecedents and consequences of goal commitment. Using this aggregate empirical evidence, the role of goal commitment in the goal-setting process is clarified and key areas for future research are identified.
In two cross-sectional studies, we explored the motivational orientations correlates of the character strength of grit and its two component facets: perseverance of effort and consistency of interests over time. Specifically, we examined how individual differences in grit are explained by distinct approaches to pursuing happiness in life: pleasure in immediately hedonically positive activities, meaning in activities that serve a higher, altruistic purpose, and engagement in attention-absorbing activities. In both samples, grit demonstrated medium-sized associations with an orientation toward engagement, small-to-medium associations with an orientation toward meaning, and small-to-medium (inverse) associations with an orientation toward pleasure. These motivational orientations differentially related to the two facets of grit: pursuing engagement was more strongly associated with perseverance of effort, whereas pursuing pleasure was more strongly (inversely) associated with consistency of interests over time. Collectively, findings suggest that individual differences in grit may derive in part from differences in what makes people happy.
Most theoretical frameworks in entrepreneurship emphasize that entrepreneurial passion drives entrepreneurial effort. We hypothesize that the reverse effect is also true, and investigate changes in passion as an outcome of effort. Based on theories of self-regulation and self-perception, we hypothesize that making new venture progress and free choice are two factors that help to explain why and under which conditions entrepreneurial effort affects entrepreneurial passion. We undertook two studies to investigate our hypotheses. First, we conducted a weekly field study with 54 entrepreneurs who reported entrepreneurial effort and passion over 8 weeks (341 observations). The results showed that entrepreneurial effort predicted changes in entrepreneurial passion. Second, we conducted an experiment (n 5 136) to investigate the effect of effort on passion and the underlying psychological processes in a laboratory setting. The results revealed that new venture progress mediated the effect of entrepreneurial effort on passion, and that free choice moderated the mediated effect. Overall, our findings provide a new theoretical perspective on the relationship between entrepreneurial effort and passion.
New Venture Creation: Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century, Canadian Edition, addresses the needs of upper-level entrepreneurship and new venture courses. Timmons provides strong, comprehensive theoretical coverage balanced with practical examples and cases, all designed to instruct students on how to formulate, plan for, finance, launch, manage, and eventually harvest a new venture. Timmons, Canadian Edition, is a rigorous, practical, and experiential text. The hands-on approach gets students thinking, planning, and ready to execute their own businesses. The text is practitioner-focused, features an especially rigorous section on financials, and focuses on high-growth, innovative ventures. Timmons covers the process of getting a new venture started, growing the venture, and successfully harvesting it. Through text, case studies, and hands-on exercises, this "how-to" text guides students in discovering the concepts of entrepreneurship and the competencies, skills, tools, and experience that will equip them to recognize entrepreneurial opportunities. Acknowledging that there is no substitute for actually starting a company, the Timmons authors believe it is possible to expose students to many of the vital issues and immerse them in key learning experiences that result in successful new venture creation.
In this article, the author describes a new theoretical perspective on positive emotions and situates this new perspective within the emerging field of positive psychology. The broaden-and-build theory posits that experiences of positive emotions broaden people's momentary thought-action repertoires, which in turn serves to build their enduring personal resources, ranging from physical and intellectual resources to social and psychological resources. Preliminary empirical evidence supporting the broaden-and-build theory is reviewed, and open empirical questions that remain to be tested are identified. The theory and findings suggest that the capacity to experience positive emotions may be a fundamental human strength central to the study of human flourishing.
Drawing on the literature involving the venture start-up process, integrated with motivational theory from the field of organizational behavior, a model describing the factors that affect firm start-up, strategic implementation, and the entrepreneur's decision to sustain entrepreneurship is proposed. Several hypotheses for future research are suggested.
Presents a framework that highlights the differences among entrepreneurs and among their ventures. Building on the work of others, four dimensions are identified for this framework describing new venture creation. These are: individuals, environment, organization, and process. This is the first framework to combine all four of these dimensions. The individual dimension should consider not only the psychological characteristics of the entrepreneur such as need for achievement and locus of control, but must also consider the entrepreneur's background, experience, and attitudes. The process dimension should be viewed in light of six different behaviors including the location of a business opportunity and the accumulation of resources. Twelve factors are identified for the environmental dimension. These twelve factors were chosen based on the review of 17 research papers focused on environmental variables which affect new venture creation. The organization dimension is composed of three generic competitive advantage strategies and 14 competitive entry wedges. This framework allows for the examination and comparison of very different new ventures. Conflicting results in prior research studies may be explained by considering the dimensions used in that work. (SRD)
Where there is uncertainty, there is bound to be failure. It is not surprising therefore, that many new ventures fail. What happens to entrepreneurs when their business fails? We hear of highly successful entrepreneurs extolling the virtues of failure as a valuable teacher. Yet, the aftermath of failure is often fraught with psychological, social and financial turmoil. The purpose of this article is to review research on life after business failure for entrepreneurs, from the immediate aftermath through to recovery and re-emergence. First, we examine the financial, social and psychological costs of failure, highlighting factors that may influence the magnitude of these costs (including individual responses to managing these costs). Second, we review research that explains how entrepreneurs make sense of and learn from failure. Finally, we present research on the outcomes of business failure, including recovery as well as cognitive and behavioral outcomes. We develop a schema to organize extant work and use this as a platform for developing an agenda for future research.
Where there is uncertainty, there is bound to be failure. It is not surprising therefore, that many new ventures fail. What happens to entrepreneurs when their business fails? We hear of highly successful entrepreneurs extolling the virtues of failure as a valuable teacher. Yet, the aftermath of failure is often fraught with psychological, social and financial turmoil. The purpose of this article is to review research on life after business failure for entrepreneurs, from the immediate aftermath through to recovery and re-emergence. First, we examine the financial, social and psychological costs of failure, highlighting factors that may influence the magnitude of these costs (including individual responses to managing these costs). Second, we review research that explains how entrepreneurs make sense of and learn from failure. Finally, we present research on the outcomes of business failure, including recovery as well as cognitive and behavioral outcomes. We develop a schema to organize extant work and use this as a platform for developing an agenda for future research.
Grit (i.e., passion and perseverance for long-term goals) has been associated with positive educational, work, and well-being outcomes. However, limited research has been done to examine social and contextual antecedents of grit especially in non-Western settings. The aim of the current study was to assess the associations of relatedness with parents, teachers, and friends with grit dimensions (perseverance of effort and consistency of interests) and overall grit in 606 Filipino high school students. The results showed that sense of relatedness with teachers was linked to higher perseverance and overall grit while consistency and relatedness with parents was associated with greater consistency even after controlling for demographic variables. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
The impression of entrepreneurship as an intentionally orchestrated activity has been challenged by more creative approaches. In this study we investigate the previously unexplored relationships between entrepreneurial passion, bricolage, and entrepreneurial survival. In a sample of 2489 Finnish entrepreneurs who started new businesses between 2005–2010, we find higher levels of bricolage among those, whose businesses were still surviving in the end of 2011. Further, our analyses reveal that entrepreneurs who are passionate about inventing and developing their ventures are more likely to engage in bricolage and, combined, the affective state of passion and the “make-do” behaviors of bricolage help entrepreneurs keep their businesses going.
Previous studies suggest that entrepreneurs play a key role in the success of their ventures. But
relatively little is currently known about how they produce such effects. The present research provides
data suggesting that two modes of entrepeneurs’ self-regulation—locomotion and assessment—
enhance a firm’s success through their effects on the components of alertness. This
mediational model was tested and supported with data from 120 entrepreneurs. Locomotion was
positively related to the scanning and search component, while assessment was positively related to
the association and evaluation components. These findings are discussed in terms of the role of
founders’ self-regulation in the performance of their companies.
Research summary
Entrepreneurial passion has gained credence in recent years in explaining entrepreneurial efforts, yet examination of the dynamics of this emotion and its effects on venture growth is still in its infancy. Building on the literature on entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial passion, we develop and test a model of entrepreneurial passion, goals, and venture growth. We utilize path analysis on a two‐wave sample of founders from 122 high technology firms. We find direct positive effects of passion for developing on venture growth and an indirect positive effect mediated by goal commitment, but not goal challenge. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Managerial summary
In this study, we show that entrepreneurs' positive feelings of entrepreneurial passion are positively associated with venture growth. We focus on a specific type of entrepreneurial passion—passion for developing a venture. Based on the findings from our study, we suggest that it is important for entrepreneurs to channel their passion for developing toward identifying challenging business goals and increasing commitment to business goals. We show that entrepreneurs who increase commitment toward business goals based on passion for developing realize higher venture growth. However, developing challenging goals based on passion does not lead to higher venture growth. Copyright © 2016 Strategic Management Society.
In 2 studies, college students evidenced differing levels of the "Big-Five" traits in different roles, supporting social-contextualist assumptions regarding trait expression. Supporting organismic theories of personality, within-subject variations in the Big Five were predictable from variations in the degree of psychological authenticity felt in different roles. In addition, two concepts of self-integrat ion or true selfhood were examined: 1 based on high consistency of trait profiles across roles (i.e., lowself-concept differentiation; E. M. Donahue, R. W. Robins, B. W. Roberts, & O. P. John, 1993) and 1 based on high mean levels of authenticity felt across roles. The 2 self-integration measures were found to be independent predictors of psychological and physical well-being indicating that both self-consistency and psychological authenticity are vital for organized functioning and health.
Publisher Summary This chapter introduces regulatory mode theory and reviews evidence for distinguishing between an assessment mode concerned with making comparisons and a locomotion mode concerned with movement from state to state. It considers locomotion and assessment individually and assumes that the nature and the consequences of locomotion versus assessment are to some extent independent of each other. Evidence is presented to show that high achievement performance depends on individuals emphasizing both locomotion and assessment in their goal pursuits. Higher locomotion and higher assessment are shown to have distinct effects on judgment and decision making—including different preferences regarding decision strategies and leadership styles, different emphases in the decision process, and different self-evaluative judgment styles. The chapter highlights the fact that there are trade-offs to each regulatory mode. It describes studies on chronic individual differences and momentary situational differences in regulatory mode, as well as organizational differences that vary in their fit with regulatory mode.
Much of the previous research attempting to relate traits of the entrepreneur to new venture creation has failed to demonstrate a definitive linkage. This failure should not impugn the importance of the individual as the most cogent unit of analysis In entrepreneurship research and theory. On the contrary, since most new organizations are Initiated and created by individuals operating alone or in small teams, it should motivate new ways of modeling and testing the human phenomena involved In venture creation. Accordingly, this paper presents a structural model of the initiation of new venture creation which links psychological and behavioral concepts with those of organization theory to explain the initiation of launch activities for new business enterprises.
The affect system has been shaped by the hammer and chisel of adaptation and natural selection such that form follows function. The characteristics of the system thus differ across the nervous system as a function of the unique constraints existent at each level. For instance, although physical limitations constrain behavioral expressions and incline behavioral predispositions toward a bipolar (good-bad, approach-withdraw) organization, these limiting conditions lose their power at the level of underlying mechanisms. According to the authors' model of evaluative space (J. T. Cacioppo & G. G. Berntson, 1994; J. T. Cacioppo, W. L. Gardner, & G. G. Berntson, 1997), the common metric governing approach-withdrawal is generally a single dimension at response stages that itself is the consequence of multiple operations, such as the activation function for positivity (appetition) and the activation function for negativity (aversion), at earlier affective processing stages.
The question of how affect arises and what affect indicates is examined from a feedback-based viewpoint on self-regulation. Using the analogy of action control as the attempt to diminish distance to a goal, a second feedback system is postulated that senses and regulates the rate at which the action-guiding system is functioning. This second system is seen as responsible for affect. Implications of these assertions and issues that arise from them are addressed in the remainder of the article. Several issues relate to the emotion model itself; others concern the relation between negative emotion and disengagement from goals. Relations to 3 other emotion theories are also addressed. The authors conclude that this view on affect is a useful supplement to other theories and that the concept of emotion is easily assimilated to feedback models of self-regulation.
An important goal of stress research is to clarify the processes by which external conditions result in psychological distress (e.g., Burke, 1991b
1996; Holmes and Rahe, 1967; Mirowsky and Ross, 1989; Thoits, 1991). In addition to specifying the relationship between stress and distress, mental health scholars have become increasingly interested in predicting specific forms of distress (Aneshensel, 1992; Mirowsky and Ross, 1989). Sociological social psychologists in general, and identity theorists in particular, have focused on the relationship between selfand social structure to explain how external conditions impact emotional states. Although some theorists have linked identities with psychological distress (Burke, 1991b; 1996; Simon, 1992; Thoits, 1986; 1991), the impact of identity meanings on stress processes, as well as the ability to predict specific distress outcomes, deserves further attention.
Citizens complete a survey the day before a major election; a change in the survey items' grammatical structure increases turnout by 11 percentage points. People answer a single question; their romantic relationships improve over several weeks. At-risk students complete a 1-hour reading-and-writing exercise; their grades rise and their health improves for the next 3 years. Each statement may sound outlandishmore science fiction than science. Yet each represents the results of a recent study in psychological science (respectively, Bryan, Walton, Rogers, & Dweck, 2011; Marigold, Holmes, & Ross, 2007, 2010; Walton & Cohen, 2011). These studies have shown, more than one might have thought, that specific psychological processes contribute to major social problems. These processes act as levers in complex systems that give rise to social problems. Precise interventions that alter themwhat I call wise interventionscan produce significant benefits and do so over time. What are wise interventions? How do they work? And how can they help solve social problems?
Commitment highlights one of the ways in which individuals infuse roles and social structure with self-motivated behaviors, thereby linking the self to social structure. Past theoretical formulations of commitment, including work by Becker, Stryker, and Kanter, tended to focus on commitment as a tie between an individual and either 1) a line of activity, 2) particular role partners, or 3) an organization. An approach based on identity theory or affect control theory (each of which uses a cybernetic model of identity processes) suggests that commitment connects an individual to an identity. In this view, commitment does not link a person to consistent lines of activity, other role partners, or organizations, but to a stable set of self-meanings. These stable self-meanings, in turn, produce consistent lines of activities. This idea is borne out in an analysis of data from the college student role, in which there exist multiple, independent bases of commitment containing cognitive and socioemotional components. Commitment moderates the relationship between student identity and role performance such that the relationship is stronger for persons with higher commitment.
In this article, the author describes a new theoretical perspective on positive emotions and situates this new perspective within the emerging field of positive psychology. The broaden-and-build theory posits that experiences of positive emotions broaden people's momentary thought-action repertoires, which in turn serves to build their enduring personal resources, ranging from physical and intellectual resources to social and psychological resources. Preliminary empirical evidence supporting the broaden-and-build theory is reviewed, and open empirical questions that remain to be tested are identified. The theory and findings suggest that the capacity to experience positive emotions may be a fundamental human strength central to the study of human flourishing.
Regulatory fit is experienced when people pursue a goal in a manner that sustains their regulatory orientation. Previous research on promotion and prevention orientations has found that regulatory fit increases people’s perception that a decision they made was “right,” which in turn transfers value to the decision outcome, including being willing to pay more for a product than those who chose the same product without regulatory fit (Higgins, 2000; Higgins et al., in press). We predicted that the effect of regulatory fit on monetary value could be generalized to locomotion and assessment orientations. Participants were willing to pay over 40% more for the same book-light when it was chosen with a strategy that fit their regulatory orientation (assessment/“full evaluation”; locomotion/“progressive elimination”) than when it was chosen with a non-fit strategy.
Despite interest in the influence of self-concept on behavior, research has been limited by (1) the need to better understand the mechanism by which self influences role behaviors, (2) a reliance on self-esteem as the only measure of self-concept, and (3) the absence of quantitative measures of self-concept. The research reported here is designed to test one formulation of the link between identity and behavior. It is based on recent theoretical conceptions of identity, advances in its measurement, and the assumption that identities motivate behaviors that have meanings consistent (isomorphic) with the identity. Data obtained from 640 college students are used to discover and measure four dimensions of meaning pertaining to the college student identity, and to assess the impact of student identities on the two "perfoance" variables of educational plans and participation in social activities. The findings strongly support the hypothesized link of identity and performance through common meanings.