• Abstract

    COGNITIVE FLEXIBILITY AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SELF-EFFICACY: A STUDY ON ITS INFLUENCE ON THE ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOR OF INTERNATIONAL LEADERS

    DOI 10.14210/alcance.v29n1(Jan/Abr).p20-34
    Published date: 24/02/2022
    Purpose: Analyze the influence of Cognitive Flexibility and Entrepreneurial Self-efficacy on the entrepreneurial behavior of international leaders representing young entrepreneurs of the Young Entrepreneurs Alliance (G20 YEA - Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance) and the Ibero-American Federation of Young Entrepreneurs (FIJE). Design/methodology/approach: The study has a mixed approach, using qualitative techniques, with the application of Comparative Qualitative Analysis of Fuzzy Sets (fsQCA) and quantitative, with comparison of parameters in different samples. Twenty-two world leaders representing young entrepreneurs from G20 YEA and FIJE were studied. Results: The results of the comparative analysis showed that the presence of Cognitive Flexibility (FC) and initiative to create their own businesses is a necessary configuration for Entrepreneurial Self-Efficiency (AE). Leaders who started their own businesses had higher CF and EA scores when compared to leaders who took on family businesses. Originality and theoretical implications of the study: Although entrepreneurship is studied in several areas of knowledge from economics to psychology (Baron, & Shane, 2005), there are gaps in terms of understanding the cognitive processes underlying entrepreneurial behavior. This study seeks to contribute to the construction of a new understanding for the development of an integrative theoretical model that recognizes the impact of executive functions, namely cognitive flexibility, as essential in entrepreneurial behavior.
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Revista Alcance is a Brazilian free access journal, published every four months, linked to the Graduate Program in Administration and the Professional Master’s degree in Administration, Internationalization and Logistics Program of the University of Vale do Itajaí – Univali. We seek to publish theoretical-empirical and technological articles in the areas of Business Administration. Different theoretical and methodological perspectives are welcome, as long as they are consistent with and relevant to the development of the area.

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