Entrepreneurial tenacity and self-efficacy effects on persisting across industry contexts

Context Matters: Institutions and Entrepreneurship

Abstract: This survey explores the important connection between institutions and entrepreneurship. Institutions consist of the formal and informal “rules of the game.” Entrepreneurs act within a context determined by these rules. The rules of the game create payoffs that make certain entrepreneurial opportunities more attractive than others. We explore the relevant literature from institutional economics and entrepreneurial studies, focusing on the important link between the two. Particular emphasis is placed on entrepreneurship within several different institutional settings — private for-profit, private nonprofit, and political — as well as the impact of entrepreneurship on institutions. We conclude by discussing the implications for future research on the topic. * We would like to thank the editors and an anonymous referee for detailed comments and suggestions. We would also like to thank Zac Rolnik for his patience and assistance throughout the process of preparing and revising this survey. Earlier versions of this survey were presented at the Mason Entrepreneurship Research Conference (MERC) Annual Conference, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, March 28, 2008 and at the IHS Social Change Workshop, Brown University, Providence, RI, June 23, 2008. We would like to thank the participants for their comments and suggestions. Full text available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/0300000018

Comprehensive social competence and social entrepreneurial action: the mediating role of entrepreneurial tenacity

Abstract: The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to examine the relationship between comprehensive social competence, entrepreneurial tenacity and social entrepreneurial action and (2) to test the mediating role of entrepreneurial tenacity in the relationship between comprehensive social competence and social entrepreneurial action among social ventures in Uganda,The study is cross-sectional and quantitative Data were analyzed with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences and analysis of moment structures,Results show that both comprehensive social competence and entrepreneurial tenacity are significantly associated with social entrepreneurial action Results further indicate that entrepreneurial tenacity partially mediates the relationship between comprehensive social competence and social entrepreneurial action,To the authors' knowledge, this study provides initial empirical evidence on the relationship between comprehensive social competence, entrepreneurial tenacity and social entrepreneurial action using evidence from a developing African country – Uganda Mostly, this provides an initial evidence of the mediating role of entrepreneurial tenacity on the relationship between comprehensive social competence and social entrepreneurial action

Entrepreneurial competencies of undergraduate students: The case of universities in Nigeria

Abstract: The present study builds on Morris et al.‘s entrepreneurial competencies (ECs) identified from their 2013 Delphi study, to examine whether students' compulsory participation in entrepreneurship education (EE) in Nigerian higher education institutions (HEIs) influences their development of the identified 13 ECs for business start-up after graduation. Data were collected from 1191 final year undergraduates in 12 public universities within the six geo-political zones of Nigeria using questionnaire derived from the constructs of the 13 identified ECs. Findings show that students' participation in EE associated positively with five of the thirteen ECs including opportunity recognition, opportunity assessment, creative problem-solving, self-efficacy and building and using networks. However, we found no evidence of a positive association between students' participation in EE and the development of the remaining eight ECs including risk management/mitigation, conveying a compelling vision, tenacity/perseverance, resource leveraging, guerrilla skills, value creation through innovation, ability to maintain focus yet adapt, and resilience. This study contributes to the body of knowledge and covers a gap in the literature about the paucity of research on whether students' compulsory participation in EE in Nigerian HEIs help to improve students' development of the identified 13 ECs for business start-up after graduation. Also, while the study focused on Nigeria, the findings apply to other countries that have similar issues addressed in this study.

Entrepreneurship: Tenacity, Future Self-Continuity, and Inter-Temporal Risky Choice.

Abstract: This study examines entrepreneurship. It focuses on the effect of tenacity and future self-continuity on inter-temporal risky choice in entrepreneurial context. A total of 129 Chinese undergraduates participated in this survey. The results formulate that tenacity positively correlates with the risky choices and inter-temporal risky choices, in which endurance, commitment and challenge play a major role in the impact of tenacity on entrepreneurial choice. Meanwhile, future self-continuity predicts the risk-return of the subjects. Higher future self-continuity corresponds to higher expected inter-temporal risk-return. Furthermore, the multivariable regression analysis shows that there is a reciprocal effect when tenacity and future self-continuity work together on subjects’ inter-temporal risky decision-making. Future self-continuity slightly mitigates both the pursuit of risky-return and the tolerance of time delay for the subjects with high tenacity. That implies their worthwhile goal is to seek a smooth income rather than to pursue an extreme high risk-return. These findings extend the research on personality, choice and entrepreneurship as well as providing a guiding significance to the start-up.

The Promise of Entrepreneurship as a Field of Research

Abstract: To date, the phenomenon of entrepreneurship has lacked a conceptual framework. In this note we draw upon previous research conducted in the different social science disciplines and applied fields of business to create a conceptual framework for the field. With this framework we explain a set of empirical phenomena and predict a set of outcomes not explained or predicted by conceptual frameworks already in existence in other fields.

Social cognitive theory: An agentic perspective

Abstract: The capacity to exercise control over the nature and quality of one's life is the essence of humanness. Human agency is characterized by a number of core features that operate through phenomenal and functional consciousness. These include the temporal extension of agency through intentionality and forethought, self-regulation by self-reactive influence, and self-reflectiveness about one's capabilities, quality of functioning, and the meaning and purpose of one's life pursuits. Personal agency operates within a broad network of sociostructural influences. In these agentic transactions, people are producers as well as products of social systems. Social cognitive theory distinguishes among three modes of agency: direct personal agency, proxy agency that relies on others to act on one's behest to secure desired outcomes, and collective agency exercised through socially coordinative and interdependent effort. Growing transnational embeddedness and interdependence are placing a premium on collective efficacy to exercise control over personal destinies and national life.

The big five personality dimensions and job performance: a meta-analysis

Abstract: This study investigated the relation of the “Big Five” personality dimensions (Extraversion, Emotional Stability, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience) to three job performance criteria (job proficiency, training proficiency, and personnel data) for five occupational groups (professionals, police, managers, sales, and skilled/semi-skilled). Results indicated that one dimension of personality, Conscientiousness, showed consistent relations with all job performance criteria for all occupational groups. For the remaining personality dimensions, the estimated true score correlations varied by occupational group and criterion type. Extraversion was a valid predictor for two occupations involving social interaction, managers and sales (across criterion types). Also, both Openness to Experience and Extraversion were valid predictors of the training proficiency criterion (across occupations). Other personality dimensions were also found to be valid predictors for some occupations and some criterion types, but the magnitude of the estimated true score correlations was small (ρ < .10). Overall, the results illustrate the benefits of using the 5-factor model of personality to accumulate and communicate empirical findings. The findings have numerous implications for research and practice in personnel psychology, especially in the subfields of personnel selection, training and development, and performance appraisal.

Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals

Abstract: The importance of intellectual talent to achievement in all professional domains is well established, but less is known about other individual differences that predict success. The authors tested the importance of 1 noncognitive trait: grit. Defined as perseverance and passion for long-term goals, grit accounted for an average of 4% of the variance in success outcomes, including educational attainment among 2 samples of adults (N=1,545 and N=690), grade point average among Ivy League undergraduates (N=138), retention in 2 classes of United States Military Academy, West Point, cadets (N=1,218 and N=1,308), and ranking in the National Spelling Bee (N=175). Grit did not relate positively to IQ but was highly correlated with Big Five Conscientiousness. Grit nonetheless demonstrated incremental predictive validity of success measures over and beyond IQ and conscientiousness. Collectively, these findings suggest that the achievement of difficult goals entails not only talent but also the sustained and focused application of talent over time.