Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy in Business Ventures
Summary
Entrepreneurial Self‐Efficacy (ESE) refers to the conviction that one can successfully perform the diverse and challenging activities required to launch, manage and grow a business venture. Rooted in social cognitive theory, research on ESE has flourished over the past two decades, elucidating its theoretical foundations, measurement approaches and antecedents such as prior experience, training interventions and psychosocial factors. High ESE predicts key outcomes including venture performance, innovation, resilience under adversity and persistence in entrepreneurial action. Its global relevance is evident across diverse contexts, from necessity‐driven start‐ups in emerging economies to high‐growth technology firms. Practically, enhancing ESE through targeted training, mentoring and digital skill‐building has become central to policy and incubator programmes aiming to foster sustainable enterprise development and broaden inclusion in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
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Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy in Business Ventures publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in entrepreneurial self-efficacy in business ventures across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy: An individual’s belief in their ability to perform the tasks and roles necessary for successful venture creation and management.
Growth Mindset: A psychological orientation whereby individuals view their abilities and intelligence as qualities that can be developed through effort and learning.
Digital Adoption: The process by which entrepreneurs integrate and utilise digital technologies and platforms to enhance business operations and competitiveness.
References
- Entrepreneurial self-efficacy: A systematic review of the literature on its theoretical foundations, measurement, antecedents, and outcomes, and an agenda for future research. Journal of Vocational Behavior (2019).
- The impact of growth mindset training on entrepreneurial action among necessity entrepreneurs: Evidence from a randomized control trial. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal (2023).
- Digital adoption, self-efficacy, and business success – towards resilience and sustainability micro-entrepreneurs in the post-pandemic world. Cogent Business & Management (2023).
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