How initial and long-term commitment profiles shape entrepreneurial persistence over time

Abstract

Our research explores the role of both initial and long-term commitment in entrepreneurs’ persistence. Specifically, we test whether the affective and instrumental commitment developed during the motivational and subsequent volitional phases of the entrepreneurial process could lead entrepreneurs to persist in their projects. This longitudinal study was conducted over 18 months. We identify the following four main configurations driving long-term persistence: similar initial and long-term instrumental commitment, initial affective commitment, combined affective and instrumental long-term commitment and two profiles with long-term detachment (one with initial affective commitment and the other with initial instrumental commitment). This study highlights the complexity of commitment over time and the forms of escalation, diversion, and detachment that it may imply.