TY - JOUR

T1 - A dynamic account of self-efficacy in entrepreneurship

AU - Gielnik, Michael Marcus

AU - Bledow, Ronald

AU - Stark, Miriam

PY - 2020/5

Y1 - 2020/5

N2 - We present a dynamic account of self-efficacy in entrepreneurship that integrates social-cognitive and control theory. According to our dynamic account, variability in self-efficacy energizes action because it involves self-motivation and discrepancy perception as competing motivational processes. We argue that variability and the average level in self-efficacy nascent entrepreneurs display over time support the enactment of entrepreneurial intentions and predict business ownership. The proposed positive effect of variability further implies an inverted u-shaped relationship between self-efficacy at a single point in time and business ownership. To test these hypotheses, we repeatedly assessed entrepreneurial self-efficacy of nascent African entrepreneurs during a 12-week entrepreneurship training program (total N = 241). Twelve months later, we assessed business ownership (total N = 190). We found that variability and the average level in entrepreneurial self-efficacy participants displayed during the training program were positively related to business ownership. Furthermore, for participants with strong entrepreneurial intentions, we found an inverted u-shaped relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy after the training program and business ownership. The study suggests that social-cognitive and control theory highlight different facets of self-regulation that both need to be accounted for to explain goal achievement in entrepreneurship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

AB - We present a dynamic account of self-efficacy in entrepreneurship that integrates social-cognitive and control theory. According to our dynamic account, variability in self-efficacy energizes action because it involves self-motivation and discrepancy perception as competing motivational processes. We argue that variability and the average level in self-efficacy nascent entrepreneurs display over time support the enactment of entrepreneurial intentions and predict business ownership. The proposed positive effect of variability further implies an inverted u-shaped relationship between self-efficacy at a single point in time and business ownership. To test these hypotheses, we repeatedly assessed entrepreneurial self-efficacy of nascent African entrepreneurs during a 12-week entrepreneurship training program (total N = 241). Twelve months later, we assessed business ownership (total N = 190). We found that variability and the average level in entrepreneurial self-efficacy participants displayed during the training program were positively related to business ownership. Furthermore, for participants with strong entrepreneurial intentions, we found an inverted u-shaped relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy after the training program and business ownership. The study suggests that social-cognitive and control theory highlight different facets of self-regulation that both need to be accounted for to explain goal achievement in entrepreneurship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

KW - Business psychology

KW - Entrepreneurship

KW - Management studies

KW - entrepreneurship

KW - motivation

KW - self-regulation

KW - venture creation

KW - whole trait theory

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85072620407&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1037/apl0000451

DO - 10.1037/apl0000451

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 31535872

VL - 105

SP - 487

EP - 505

JO - Journal of Applied Psychology

JF - Journal of Applied Psychology

SN - 0021-9010

IS - 5

ER -