Entrepreneurial social identities and nascent entrepreneurial behaviour: Mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy

Abstract

Objective: This study seeks to investigate the influence of social identity theory (Darwinian, missionary and communitarian) on nascent entrepreneurial behaviour with the indirect effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy.

Research Design & Method: The authors collected data using self-administered survey from business, engineering and IT department students in order to examine 455 effective responses and verify the research hypothesis.

Findings: The findings indicate that (Darwinian, missionary and communitarian) social identities are positively and significantly related to nascent entrepreneurial behaviour. The results also show that entrepreneurial self-efficacy is a key mediator that affects the relationship between social identities and nascent entrepreneurial behaviour.

Implication & Recommendation: The findings have important practical and academic implications for practitioners, educationalists to develop entrepreneurial spirit among students to become an entrepreneur.

Contribution & Value Added: This study is the first attempt which contributes to the field of social psychology and entrepreneurship by taking the entrepreneurial self-efficacy as a mediator and investigates the influence of social identity theory (Darwinian, missionary, communitarian) on nascent entrepreneurial behaviour among students in Pakistan.

Keywords

social identity, Darwinian, missionary, communitarian, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, nascent entrepreneurial behaviour

Author Biography

Majid Murad

Post-doctoral Researcher and Ph.D. management science and engineering from the School of Management at Jiangsu University, China. He published many research articles in renowned journals. His research interest mainly focuses entrepreneurship (entrepreneurial intention, behaviours, personality, SMEs innovation and self-organized entrepreneurship behaviour).

Sheikh Farhan Ashraf

Post-doctoral Researcher and Ph.D. management science and engineering from the School of Management at Jiangsu University, China. He published many research articles in renowned journals. His research interest mainly focuses entrepreneurship (family business, entrepreneurial performance, organizational performance, SMEs and self-organized entrepreneurship behaviour).

Nausheen Syed

Assistant Professor in the Department of Business Administration, Government College Women University, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Her research interest mainly focuses on organizational behaviour entrepreneurship and family business and SME development.

Muhammad Munir

Assistant Professor in the Department of Management & Administrative Sciences, University of Narowal, Norowal, Pakistan. His research interest mainly focuses on organizational behaviour, entrepreneurship and human resource development

Rehan Sohail Butt

Ph.D. management science and engineering from the School of Management at Jiangsu University, China. He published many research articles in renowned journals. His research interest mainly focuses employee job satisfaction, entrepreneurship, organizational performance and SMEs innovation.