Social Entrepreneurial Self-efficacy Research Articles

Empathetic concern and social entrepreneurial intention: a moderated mediation model of social entrepreneurial self-efficacy and perceived cultural support

Purpose This study aims to explore whether social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SESE) mediates the empathetic concern (EC)–social entrepreneurial intentions (SEIs) relationship. In addition, drawing on institutional theory, the authors propose that the EC–SESE–SEI relationship is contingent upon perceptions of cultural support (PCS) towards social entrepreneurship in a society. Design/methodology/approach Data from 232 Taiwanese business and management undergraduates were used to test the proposed relationships. Findings SESE was found to mediate the relationship between EC and SEI. However, cultural support towards social entrepreneurship in society had a negative moderating effect on the EC–SESE–SEI relationship, suggesting that the EC–SESE–SEI relationship was stronger under conditions of low, rather than high PCS. Originality/value This paper provides further insights into not only the link between EC and SEI but also the conditions under which EC is translated into SEI. It also enhances the recent limited knowledge about how context and cultural attitudes and values towards social entrepreneurship shapes SEI.

Igniting Social Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Model Based on Social Awareness

This study assessed the influence of empathy, experience with social problems, perceived social awareness of peers, self-perceived social awareness, social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SESE), outcome expectations of social entrepreneurship and perceived social support on social entrepreneurial intentions. An online survey of 407 Taiwanese citizens was administered, revealing that empathy, experience with social problems and perceived social awareness of peers indirectly influence social entrepreneurial intentions and that self-perceived social awareness, SESE, outcome expectations of social entrepreneurship and perceived social support directly and positively influence social entrepreneurial intentions.

Which Individual Characteristics Mediate the Relationship Between Social Entrepreneurial Passion and Social Entrepreneurial Intention?

Social entrepreneurship, operationalized through social entrepreneurial behavior, focuses on social missions, primarily looking for new solutions to social problems. Social entrepreneurial intention, however, is the main foundation before the emergence of social entrepreneurial behavior. This research examines a model of social entrepreneurial intention empirically tested on undergraduate students involved in innovative business projects. Specifically, this study aims to test the positive relationship between social entrepreneurial passion and social entrepreneurial intention and verify which individual characteristics (i.e., social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, pro-social behavior, and social support) mediate the positive relationship between social entrepreneurial passion and social entrepreneurial intention. The data was collected from 416 undergraduate students and analyzed using the confirmatory factor analysis and Hayes’s PROCESS macro approach. The results showed that social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, pro-social behavior, and social support completely mediated the positive relationship between social entrepreneurial passion and social entrepreneurial intention. This study provides theoretical implications for extending the literature regarding the theory of planned behavior in the context of social entrepreneurship. This study also has practical consequences for entrepreneurship educators and policymakers in educational management.

The Effect of Empathy, Self-Efficacy, and Perceived Social Support on Social Entrepreneurial Intention among Youth in Malaysia

This study examined the effects of empathy (EM), social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SE) and perceived social support (PS) on social entrepreneurial intention (SEI). The study employed a quantitative research survey to achieve the research objectives and answer the research questions using an online self-administered questionnaire adopted and modified from previous research. Data was collected using convenience sampling techniques from Malaysian youth between the ages of 18 and 30; 250 responses were collected. The data was then analyzed using SEM-PLS (SmartPLS 4.0). Only two out of the three hypotheses formulated were found to have significant relationships. Contrary to expectation, empathy did not affect the inclination toward social entrepreneurial intention. Meanwhile, consistent with the theory of social-cognitive theory (SCT), social entrepreneurial self-efficacy and perceived social support have a positive effect on social entrepreneurial intention. This research fills the gaps in the limited research by using the three factors in the context of youth in developing countries such as Malaysia.

Integrating CSR and Business Strategy into Social Innovation: Insights from Taiwan’s Cultural and Creative Industries

ABSTRACT Design/methodology/approach This study’s contributions lie in the use of multiple methods and data collected from developing industries from cultural and creative industries in Taiwan. Purpose This study aims not only to emphasize the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for businesses but also to examine how CSR activities affect communities while ensuring that the firm meets its necessary social performance standards. Findings The results show the multiple mediation mechanism of business strategy, multiple moderation effects of marketing orientation in the initial stage, and the role of social entrepreneurial self-efficacy in the final stage of improving the social innovation. Practical implications This study considers how CSR could affect the results of business strategy, whereby cultural and creative firms should embrace social responsibility behavior altruistically rather than merely seeking economic benefits but focus on social innovation to improve their own competitive advantage. Originality/value This study argues that the relationship among CSR, business competitive strategy and firm innovation performance is more complex than previous business management studies have revealed.

Social Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Social Innovation: Effects of Country Default and Market Orientation

This study, based on Events Systems Theory and Social Cognitive Theory, examined how social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, market orientation, and the psychological effects of country default interact to influence social innovation in a highly disrupted environment. Responses from 203 social purpose organisations (SPOs) indicated a strong positive link between self-efficacy and social innovation. However, market orientation dampens this relationship. Notably, at higher levels of psychological impact from country default, the link between self-efficacy and social innovation is stronger for social entrepreneurs with high market orientation. These findings contribute to the literature by highlighting the influence of psychological implications of country default.

From Agency To Social Impact: The Effect of Social Class and Dominance Orientation on Social Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy

From Agency To Social Impact: The Effect of Social Class and Dominance Orientation on Social Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy

Heartfelt ventures: The power of empathy in driving social entrepreneurial

Although the notion of social entrepreneurship is not new to us today, it has not yet gained widespread acceptance and development in Vietnam. Although there are numerous study publications on the relationship between empathy and social entrepreneurial intentions, this problem has yet to be studied much in the context of Vietnam's, particularly among youth. The goal of this study is to see if young empathy is linked to their desire to start a social enterprise. Reliability analysis using PLS-SEM software and a binary regression model will be used to examine data obtained from 339 university students in Vietnam. According to the findings, as well as the theory of planned behavior and the theory of action phases, (1) empathy does not directly affect social business intention, but rather indirectly through two mechanisms, social worth and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and (2) individuals who are confident in their own abilities have more social entrepreneurship intentions. We provide recommendations based on these findings to inspire young people to pursue social entrepreneurship, contribute to the development of a sustainable economy, and contribute positive values to society.

Social entrepreneurial role models’ influence on social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, social entrepreneurial intent, and social entrepreneurial action in South Africa: the moderating role of moral obligation

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how social entrepreneurial role models influence social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, social entrepreneurial intent and social entrepreneurial action, with moral obligation as a moderator.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey of 261 pupils in the South African province of the Eastern Cape was used in the research study. Structural equation modeling was used to test hypotheses.FindingsThe research revealed that having social entrepreneurial role models has a positive impact on both social entrepreneurial self-efficacy and social entrepreneurial intent. In addition, a connection was found between social entrepreneurial intent and entrepreneurial action. The influence of moral obligation was found to be a positive and a significant moderator. Moreover, the association between social entrepreneurial role models and social entrepreneurial intent was mediated by social entrepreneurial self-efficacy.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are not generalizable to nonstudent samples because students constituted the sample for gathering data. Future study therefore requires considering nonstudents to generalize the outcomes. This research should be replicated in other South African provinces and other developing countries for comparative outcomes.Practical implicationsSince social entrepreneurial role models have been practically linked to social entrepreneurship intent and entrepreneurial efficacy, understanding the factors that influence student’s decision to start a social enterprise is critical in South Africa to develop targeted interventions aimed at encouraging young people to start new businesses. Policymakers, society and entrepreneurial education will all benefit from the findings.Originality/valueThis study contributes to bridging the knowledge gap as it investigates how social entrepreneurial role models influence social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, social entrepreneurial intent and social entrepreneurial action, with moral obligation as a moderator. Encouraging social entrepreneurship among South African youth would also help address societal issues. This is a pioneering study in the context of an emerging economy such as South Africa, where social entrepreneurship is so integral.

How empathy and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy interact to affect social entrepreneurial intention: A polynomial regression with response surface analysis

Research background: Previous studies have argued that empathy (EMP) is an important factor that enhances individuals’ intention to engage in social business. However, the effect of this factor on social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) is unclear (Ukil et al., 2023). Also, although numerous studies have explored the individual impacts of EMP and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SES) on SEI, there is a notable scarcity of research that delves into the combined influence of these two predictor variables on the intention to engage in social business. Purpose of the article: This study proposes that EMP does not only individually affect, but also interacts with other factors to influence the intention to start a social business. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how EMP and SES interact to promote SEI. Methods: Based on a survey dataset of 409 respondents in Vietnam, this study employed polynomial regression with response surface analysis to examine the complementary, balance, and imbalance effects of EMP and SES on SEI. Findings & value added: This study's results suggest complementary effects between EMP and SES on SEI. Specifically, this study finds that when EMP and SES are balanced at higher levels, SEI is higher, and when their imbalance increases in either direction, SEI is lower. In addition, this study finds that the degree of SEI is higher when individuals have high SES with low EMP compared to the other way round. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of the complexity of motivation and how it affects SEIs, revealing the complex interaction between EMP and SES in shaping these intentions within a multidimensional motivational framework.

BUILDING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURIAL SELF-EFFICACY IN AN EMERGING ECONOMY: THE ROLE OF EDUCATION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE

With the increasing number of social problems for which governments do not have solutions, especially in emerging economies, there have been ever louder calls for establishing social enterprises that will help address these problems. Social entrepreneurial intention increases when individuals have a high level of social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SESE). The literature suggests that SESE is domain-specific and can be enhanced only through education and experience related to social entrepreneurship. Building upon the social cognitive theory, this study argues that SESE can be improved through general factors such as education level and entrepreneurial experience. Through an online survey involving 241 general individuals, this study finds support for the social cognitive theory, which states that educational level increases SESE and subsequently increases social entrepreneurial intention. This relationship is substantiated for individuals who have prior entrepreneurial experience but not for individuals with no entrepreneurial experience. The results of this study highlight the importance of education in promoting social entrepreneurial intention. In addition, the curricula at all educational levels should encourage students to gain entrepreneurial experience such as by developing business projects or initiating a business.

Impact of institutional environment on social entrepreneurial intentions

Scholars have recognized the need for further research to explore the role of institutional factors in social entrepreneurship (SE) within emerging markets (Urban and Kujinga, 2017). In response, this study investigates how the institutional environment influences the antecedents of social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) in Vietnam by expanding the SEI model of Mair and Noboa (2006). Drawing data from 401 university students in Vietnam, this study employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the research hypotheses and model. The results reveal that social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SES) and perceived social support (PSS) significantly and positively influence the intention to become a social entrepreneur, while empathy (EMP) and moral obligation (MO) show no effect. Furthermore, the institutional environment, comprising the regulatory dimension (RD), normative dimension (ND), and cognitive dimension (CD), plays a crucial role in boosting EMP, MO, SES, and PSS. This study contributes to SE literature by extending established intention models with the inclusion of institutional dimensions. Additionally, the findings of this study imply that policymakers should design SE-supportive policies and regulations, and create a culture that values and promotes SE in order to encourage social innovation and reduce barriers to entry for social ventures. Educators should also increase opportunities for students to experience SE and develop entrepreneurial skills in order to enhance their perception of cognitive and normative environments, making SE a more attractive career option.

“If you sow goodness, you will reap goodness”: activating social entrepreneurial intentions with karmic beliefs

PurposeAlthough karmic beliefs have been found to be positively correlated with pro-social behaviors, the role of karmic beliefs in social entrepreneurship remains relatively unknown. Drawing on the morally extended theory of planned behavior, this paper aims to explore the karmic aspect of social venturing, wherein individuals’ social entrepreneurial intentions and their moral antecedents are activated by karmic beliefs.Design/methodology/approachThe study was performed on a sample of 401 university students in Vietnam. Cronbach’s alpha, confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical regression analyses were then used to test the reliability, validity of scales and developed hypotheses.FindingsThe findings illustrate that karmic beliefs are strongly and positively correlated with empathy, moral obligation, social entrepreneurial self-efficacy and perceived social support. Moreover, individuals’ social entrepreneurial intentions are not only significantly and directly stimulated by karmic beliefs but also receive the indirect effects of karmic beliefs through three mediators: empathy, moral obligation and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy.Originality/valueThe study added fresh perspectives on the role of karmic beliefs in social entrepreneurship literature. Additionally, this study shed a new light on entrepreneurial literature by morally extending theory of planned behavior to explore underlying mechanisms of moral and empathetic components on transferring the effects of karmic beliefs on social entrepreneurial intentions.

Who wants to be a social entrepreneur? Exploring the antecedents interrelationship via modified Mair Noboa model

PurposeThis paper aims to contribute to the field of social entrepreneurship by exploring the interrelationships among the antecedents of social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) through the lens of Mair Noboa model (MNM). In recent years, many researchers have applied the antecedents of MNM to determine SEI. However, interrelationship among these antecedents has not been a focus of enquiry despite the repeated scholarly calls.Design/methodology/approachApplying quantitative methodology, the data was collected from a Web-based survey distributed across Bangladesh (N = 412). Data analysis was carried out based on the covariance-based structural equation modelling technique to confirm the hypotheses. The final measurement and structural models met all the requirements for reliability, model fit, convergent validity and discriminant validity. The proposed hypotheses were tested based on direct relationships and mediating effects.FindingsThe findings suggested that interrelationships among these antecedents do increase individuals’ intentions to become social entrepreneurs.Originality/valueThis paper fills an important knowledge gap by exploring the interrelationships among moral obligation, empathy, perceived social support and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy. This paper stressed identifying whether the SEI enhances through the interrelationships among these antecedents or not. The study findings bring new theoretical and practical implications on the role of empathy, moral obligation, perceived social support and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy.

Feeling compassion and responsible but not starting a social venture: role of empathy and moral obligation in social entrepreneurial intention

PurposeWhile compassionate and morally motivated people are theorised to be more likely to engage in activities that contribute to the social good, the literature provides contradictory evidence regarding the role of empathy and moral obligation in building social entrepreneurial intention (SEI). This study aims to clarify how empathy and moral obligation influence SEI.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used survey data (n = 307) from Bangladesh, a frontier economy, to test the hypothesised relationships between empathy, moral obligation and SEI by applying partial least square–structural equation modelling in Smart PLS 3. They then conducted a second study with a larger sample (n = 339) from Saudi Arabia, an emerging economy, to further investigate how the findings withstand in a different socio-economic context.FindingsThe findings contradicted extant conceptualisations and revealed that empathy and moral obligation influence SEI indirectly through other individual and contextual factors, such as social entrepreneurial self-efficacy and perceived social support. The findings indicate that a person with a feeling of compassion and moral responsibility to help others will not start a social venture unless they feel capable and supported to start and run the venture.Originality/valueThe study contributes to a contentious area of research in SEI by demonstrating the links between various individual-level (empathy, moral obligation and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy) and contextual-level (perceived social support) variables and their relationship with SEI.

Enhancing social entrepreneurial intentions through outcome expectations, perceived social support and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy: the moderating effects of sustainability orientation (Mejora de las intenciones empresariales sociales a través de las expectativas de resultados, el apoyo social percibido, y la auto-eficacia empresarial social: los efectos moderadores de la orientación a la sostenibilidad)

ABSTRACT With reference to expectancy theory, this study examines the effects of empathy, outcome expectations, perceived social support and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy on social entrepreneurial intentions (SEI). Furthermore, it elucidates the moderating effects of sustainability orientation on these relationships. A quantitative survey method was adopted, and 502 valid responses were included in the analysis. The results of multiple regression revealed that perceived social support and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy positively influence SEI. Results of moderation analysis by using the PROCESS macro for SPSS have revealed that sustainability orientation positively moderates the associations between outcome expectations and SEI, perceived social support and SEI, and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy and SEI. This study offers an explanation for the inconsistencies in reports on the direct effects of outcome expectations and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy on SEI in different samples and provides suggestions that can be used by educators and governments to foster social entrepreneurship.

Advancing the model of social entrepreneurial intention: the role of perceived financial security

PurposeAlthough few studies indicate that financial concerns matter to social entrepreneurs, the literature is unclear about the extent to which a financial motive affects the intention to start a new social enterprise. Moreover, prior research suggests that the intention to start a new enterprise heavily depends on the societal context in which the enterprise operates. Therefore, this study aims to examine the seminal model of social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) developed by Hockerts (2017) in a different social context; additionally, it proposes a new antecedent of SEI – perceived financial security.Design/methodology/approachThis study used two different measurement scales and samples (n = 436 and 241) in a developing country to validate the model and propose a new antecedent, i.e. the perceived financial security, of SEI. Furthermore, the authors employed the partial least square-structural equation model to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results demonstrate that social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, perceived social support and perceived financial security directly predict SEI; they further mediate the relationship between prior experience and SEI. Consequently, the model by Hockerts is extended.Originality/valueThis study established perceived financial security as a strong antecedent of SEI, thereby offering a novel insight that a social entrepreneur can be motivated by potential financial concerns.

Applying the stimulus-organism-response theory to investigate determinants of students’ social entrepreneurship: moderation role of perceived university support

PurposeThis study aims to integrate the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) theory with Mair and Noboa’s (2006) model to evaluate the stimulating role of education-related stimuli (i.e. entrepreneurial education, curriculum and lecturer competency) and the moderation impact of perceived university support on students’ emotional and cognitive processes of social entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 401 university students in Vietnam and a three-step analysis approach via SPSS 28.0 and AMOS 25.0 were used to test the hypothesized model.FindingsThis study revealed that while entrepreneurship education and lecturer competency are positively associated with psychological organisms, then in turn affect social entrepreneurial intention and behaviors, the curriculum seems to be less significant. Social entrepreneurial intention was positively affected by social entrepreneurial self-efficacy and perceived social support, but not significantly influenced by empathy or moral obligation. As expected, the higher the perceived university support, the stronger the relationship between social entrepreneurial intention and social start-up behavior.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can be valuable for educators, policymakers and practitioners to inspire students’ entrepreneurial activities.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by adopting SOR theory to investigate the importance of education-related stimuli, exploring the underlying mediation mechanism of emotional and cognitive organism and explaining the moderation role of perceived university support in the fostering of students’ social entrepreneurship.

Do Proactive Personality and Self-Efficacy Really Matter in Shaping Social Entrepreneurial Intention?

The primary aim of this paper is to provide insights into the determinants of social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) among students in Malaysia. For data collection, a self administered questionnaire was distributed among students in public and private universities. The structural equation modelling-partial least square (SEM-PLS) technique was employed to test the research hypotheses. The data was analysed using the SmartPLS software. Research findings indicated that attitude toward social entrepreneurship (ATSE) is the most significant factor in shaping the intention to become a social entrepreneur, followed by social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SE-SE) and proactive personality (PP). Additionally, proactive personality contributes to shaping favourable ATSE. Understanding the factors that impact SEI could help us to identify the people who are more likely to establish a social venture in order to equip them with the necessary resources. Nevertheless, lack of awareness and “social entrepreneurial mindset” among students was found an obvious obstacle to SEI, which requires further attention of policymakers and the ministry of higher education. To date, an abundant body of literature confirms that attitude is one of the most significant determinants of intention and consequent behaviour; however, the antecedents of attitude are yet to be discovered. The original contribution of this study is extending the theory of planned behaviour by examining the factors that affect SEI.

Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Comparing the Determinants of Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Social Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy

Sustainable entrepreneurship creates value beyond profit. Its role is increasingly important in addressing issues related to environmental challenges. Sustainable entrepreneurs represent a tool to attain the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations that address climate change, social inequality, human rights, and economic development. To solve these challenges, there is a need for high-performing sustainable entrepreneurs. The roles of innovativeness, organizational capabilities, and philanthropic corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the performance of sustainable entrepreneurs are still underexplored. Hence, this study proposes an analysis of the indirect and direct effects of innovativeness on entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SESE) and of the mediating role of organizational capabilities and philanthropic CSR. Based on structural equation modeling and importance-performance matrix analysis, the findings from a survey of 116 sustainable entrepreneurs identified a positive relationship between innovativeness and ESE, organizational capabilities, and philanthropic CSR. The indirect relationship mediated by organizational capabilities was found to be positive, while for philanthropic CSR, it was positive for SESE but negative for ESE. Interestingly, it was found that SESE is only positively influenced in indirect relations. This study contributes to the literature on how innovativeness can promote ESE and SESE and the role of organizational capabilities and philanthropic CSR in enhancing performance among sustainable entrepreneurs.