What lies behind entrepreneurial intentions? Exploring nascent entrepreneurs’ early belief systems

Abstract

PurposeStudies of entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) have become increasingly common, informed usually by Ajzen’s (1991) theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Although the TPB postulates that beliefs determine EIs, the contents of the beliefs have not been properly studied, leaving EIs’ cognitive underpinnings and cognitive approaches to influencing EIs unclear. To clarify the TPB/EI-belief nexus, the study examines the conceptual background of entrepreneurial cognitions and elicits the beliefs of a group of nascent micro entrepreneurs (NMEs) to compare them with their TPB attitudes and EIs, facilitating assessing their mutual consistency as implied by the TBP.Design/methodology/approachThe respondents are entrepreneurial novice clients of a micro business advisory organisation. Their TPB attitudes and EIs were measured using standard TPB/EI methods. Comparative causal mapping (CCM) combined with semi-structured interviewing was used to reveal the NMEs’ typical belief systems, presented as aggregated cause maps.FindingsThe NMEs have uniform, relatively detailed belief systems about entrepreneurship and micro business. The belief systems are consistent with theory- and context-based expectations and logically aligned with the NMEs’ expressed TPB attitudes and EIs. CCM provides an accessible method for studying contents of entrepreneurial cognitions.Research limitations/implicationsIt was not possible to study “entrepreneurship-negative” respondents or the intensity or origins of some specific beliefs.Practical implicationsDiagnosing and better understanding beliefs can benefit entrepreneurship education and development, in general or connected with TPB/EI studies.Originality/valueThe study reveals entrepreneurial belief systems systematically, evidently not done before generally or in terms of “everyday” micro entrepreneurship or TPB. It clarifies and supports the TPB notion that beliefs underpin actors’ attitudes and intentions.

Validating Factors Affecting People’s Intention to Use Finance Companies’ Services in Indonesia

“…Meanwhile, various studies had also found the significant impact that perceived financial risk had toward determining consumers or people's intention to perform an actual behaviour [35] [36]. In regard to such finding, normally, people will try their best to avoid performing a behaviour which they think or perceive could yield quite a lot of risks which might some negative consequences toward those who conduct such behaviour [37].…”

Researching Entrepreneurial Beliefs in Career Decision-making

“…Several studies show that beliefs regarding entrepreneurial success may be crucial to the formation of entrepreneurial behaviors (e.g. Belchior & Lyons, 2021;Laukkanen, 2022;Liguori et al, 2020) and may affect the formation of intention for one to be entrepreneur. For instance, in Ajzen's model of planned behavior (1991) it is assumed that various types of beliefs (normative, behavioral and control beliefs) would predict intention and in turn, intention would predict behavior.…”

Development of a Conceptual Framework Integrating Entrepreneurial Intention, Start-Up Preparation, and Start-Up Decision

“…extensive research on entrepreneurial intention and its determinants (Nungsari et al, 2022;Palmer et al, 2021), very few studies have been conducted that take both entrepreneurial intention and start-up preparation into account (Mamun et al, 2017;Thevanes & Puspanathan, 2021). As a result, there has yet to be a systematic and empirical investigation of nascent entrepreneurs who have developed entrepreneurial behavior during the early stages of new venture creation and factors that directly affect their entrepreneurial intention, start-up preparation, and start-up decision (Laukkanen, 2022;Maheshwari et al, 2022).…”

“…Moreover, the entrepreneur has been considered a change agent who provides the primary source of hope for many (Alessa et al, 2021). Successful entrepreneurs must have an entrepreneurial attitude and actively demonstrate start-up preparation and decision (Laukkanen, 2022). Most developing countries have recognized that a lack of entrepreneurial intention and a failure to engage with startup preparation for new venture development can be used to explain the lack of business success (González-López et al, 2021;Lyu et al, 2023).…”