Research on Improvement-ways of Self-efficacy of Middle-level Managers in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Abstract

As an important part of China's real economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a pivotal role in promoting China's economic and social development. Under the influence of COVID-19, SMEs are affecting more negatively. Facing the sudden impact from the outside, their survival and development are also facing with great pressure and new challenges. Middle-level managers are the backbone of enterprise management, and the effectiveness of enterprise internal operation and management is closely related to the management of enterprises. Self-efficacy, hope and well-being motivated individuals to complete a task efficiently and thus improved job performance. This study put forward two hypotheses: (1) There was a positive correlation between hope, well-being and self-efficacy of middle managers in small and medium-sized enterprises; (2) The hope and well-being of middle managers in small and medium-sized enterprises can predict the change of their self-efficacy. Based on the questionnaires among 397 middle-level managers in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Guangdong Province, the results of research prominently showed that the hope, well-being and self-efficacy of middle managers of small and medium-sized enterprises were not high in pandemic epidemic of COVID-19 in generally. The hope and well-being of middle-level managers were positively associated with self-efficacy. Regression analysis was conducted with hope and well-being as independent variables and self-efficacy as dependent variables. Both hope and well-being entered the regression equation, and the explanation rate of the two factors for self-efficacy was 49%. According to the results of research, on the one hand, middle-level managers should be given cognitive motivation with goal-direction and further hope in terms of promotion mechanism, skills training, position training, reward mechanism, evaluation mechanism and so on. On the other hand, the self-efficacy of middle-level managers should be inspired or promoted by salary, welfare, work-environment and safety, team-support and communication, logistics and living security and other aspects. The hope and well-being of middle-level managers were improved and probably self-efficacy was also improved, which was beneficial to business management and got the win-win between enterprises and these managers.