The hare and the tortoise: The impact of action- versus state-orientation on entrepreneurial progress and persistence. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lomberg, Carina; Thiel, Jana; Steffens, Paul
• Is Part Of: International small business journal. Volume 37:Number 6(2019)
• Page Start: 604
• Page End: 625
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: entrepreneurial process -- persistence -- progress -- personality-systems-interaction theory -- affective self-regulation; Small business -- Periodicals; 338.64205
• DOI: 10.1177/0266242619836615
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-2426

Abstract

Action-orientation is portrayed as key for entrepreneurship. To understand the conditions under which action-orientation is indeed favourable for entrepreneurs, we introduce the personality-systems-interaction (PSI) theory to entrepreneurship research. PSI theory distinguishes action- versus state-orientation and explains how both dispositions influence an entrepreneur's cognition (including goals), emotional reactions and the resulting behaviour. It provides a novel basis for understanding individual differences in persistence and progression through the venture creation process. Based on the tenets of PSI theory, we develop propositions to explain how action-oriented versus state-oriented individuals respond differently to the demands of the entrepreneurial process.