Share:


When grit leads to success: the role of individual entrepreneurial orientation

Abstract

Successful enterprise has been related to numerous characteristics including entrepreneurial orientation. The current study aims to examine the influence of individual entrepreneurial orientation and grit dimensions on entrepreneurial success. The potential mediating role of consistency of interest and perseverance of effort, on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and success, was also explored. Survey data were collected in Tripoli, Libya from entrepreneurs during the current economic downturn and crisis. The data from the usable 147 responses was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The statistical results revealed a significant relationship between the individual entrepreneurial orientation, consistency of interest, and perseverance of effort, with the dependent variable, entrepreneurial success. The dimensions of grit were also found to mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and success. The cross-sectional nature of the study and the smaller sample size make the findings difficult to generalize. Verification of the significance of success predictors can unravel concerns about the low rate of established and nascent businesses despite the presence of opportunities and positive perception of entrepreneurship. The study of grit dimensions as a mediator between the individual entrepreneurial orientation and success is unprecedented.

Keyword : individual entrepreneurial orientation, entrepreneurial success, grit, consistency of interest, perseverance of effort, crisis

How to Cite
Al Issa, H.-E. (2020). When grit leads to success: the role of individual entrepreneurial orientation. Business: Theory and Practice, 21(2), 643-653. https://doi.org/10.3846/btp.2020.12346
Published in Issue
Oct 5, 2020
Abstract Views
1843
PDF Downloads
1091
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Abd Aziz, S., & Mahmood, R. (2010). The relationship between business model and performance of manufacturing small and medium enterprises in Malaysia. African Journal of Business and Management, 5(22), 8919–8938. http://www.academicjournal.org/AJBM

Al Issa, H., Abdelsalam, M. K., & Omar. M. M. S. (2019). The effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy on persistence: Do financial literacy and entrepreneurial passion matter? Polish Journal of Management Studies, 20(2), 60–72.

Arshad, A. S., Rasli, A., Arshad, A. A., & Zain, Z. M. (2014). The impact of entrepreneurial orientation on business performance: A study of technology-based SMEs in Malaysia. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 130(2014), 46–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.04.006

Bakar, H. A., Mahmood, R., & Ismail, N. N. H. N. (2015). Fostering small and medium enterprises through entrepreneurial orientation and strategic improvisation. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 6(4), 481.

Bandura, A. (1997). The anatomy of stages of change. American Journal of Health Promotion: AJHP, 12(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.4278/0890-1171-12.1.8

Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108

Barney, J. B., & Hesterly, W. S. (2010). Strategic management and competitive advantage: Concepts and cases (pp. 4–25). Prentice Hall. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199578030.003.0002

Baron, R. A., & Henry, R. A. (2010). How entrepreneurs acquire the capacity to excel: Insights from research on expert performance. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 4(1), 49–65. https://doi.org/10.1002/sej.82

Baum, J. R., & Locke, E. A. (2004). The relationship of entrepreneurial traits, skill, and motivation to subsequent venture growth. Journal of Applied Psychology, 89(4), 587. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.89.4.587

Bolton, D. L., & Lane, M. D. (2012). Individual entrepreneurial orientation: Development of a measurement instrument. Education + Training, 54(2/3), 219–233. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400911211210314

Bruin, J. (2006). Newtest: command to compute new test. Academic Technology Services, Statistical Consulting Group.

Cardon, M. S., & Kirk, C. P. (2015). Entrepreneurial passion as mediator of the self–efficacy to persistence relationship. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 39(5), 1027–1050. https://doi.org/10.1111/etap.12089

Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. S. (2014). Business research methods (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Covin, J. G., & Slevin, D. P. (1989). Strategic management of small firms in hostile and benign environment. Strategic Management Journal, 10(1), 75–87. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250100107

Craig, C. S., & Douglas, S. P. (2005). International marketing research (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

Davidsson, P. (2008). The entrepreneurship research challenge. Edward Elgar. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781848442764

Drnovsek, M., Cardon, M. S., & Patel, P. C. (2016). Direct and indirect effects of passion on growing technology ventures. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 10(2), 194–213. https://doi.org/10.1002/sej.1213

Duckworth, A., & Gross, J. J. (2014). Self-control and grit: Related but separable determinants of success. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(5), 319–325. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721414541462

Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087

Duckworth, A. L., Kirby, T. A., Tsukayama, E., Berstein, H., & Ericsson, K. A. (2011). Deliberate practice spells success: Why grittier competitors triumph at the National Spelling Bee. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2(2), 174–181. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550610385872

Duckworth, A. L., & Quinn, P. D. (2009). Development and validation of the Short Grit Scale (GRIT–S). Journal of Personality Assessment, 91(2), 166–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223890802634290

Ellis, R. M. (2020). Individual and social integration. http://www.middlewaysociety.org/middle-way-philosophy/individual-and-social-integration/

Eskreis-Winkler, L., Duckworth, A. L., Shulman, E. P., & Beal, S. (2014). The grit effect: Predicting retention in the military, the workplace, school and marriage. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 36. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00036

Fatima, T., & Bilal, A. R. (2019). Achieving SME performance through individual entrepreneurial orientation. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 12(3), 399–411. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-03-2019-0037

Frese, M., & Gielnik, M. M. (2014). The psychology of entrepreneurship. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 1(1), 413–438. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-031413-091326

Gartner, W. B. (1985). A conceptual framework for describing the phenomenon of new venture creation. Academy of Management Review, 10(4), 696–706. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1985.4279094

Gagné, M., & Deci, E. L. (2005). Self‐determination theory and work motivation. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26(4), 331–362. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.322

GEM. (2013). GEM 2013 Global report. https://www.gemconsortium.org/file/open?fileId=48772

GEM. (2018). GEM 2018 Global report. https://www.gemconsortium.org/report/gem-2017-2018-global-report

GEM. (2019). GEM 2019 Global report. https://www.gemconsortium.org/file/open?fileId=50443

Gendolla, G. H., & Richter, M. (2010). Effort mobilization when the self is involved: Some lessons from the cardiovascular system. Review of General Psychology, 14(3), 212–226. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019742

Gimeno, J., Folta, T. B., Cooper, A. C., & Woo, C. Y. (1997). Survival of the fittest? Entrepreneurial human capital and the persistence of underperforming firms. Administrative Science Quarterly, 42(4), 750–783. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393656

Gold, A. H., Malhotra, & A. H. Segars. (2001). Knowledge management: An organizational capabilities perspective. Journal of Management Information Systems, 18(1), 185–214. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.2001.11045669

Hair Jr, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage Publications. https://doi.org/10.15358/9783800653614

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sinkovics, R. R. (2009). The use of partial least squares path modeling in international marketing. Advances in International Marketing, 20, 277–320. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1474-7979(2009)0000020014

Hill, P. L., Burrow, A. L., & Bronk, K. C. (2016). Persevering with positivity and purpose: An examination of purpose commitment and positive affect as predictors of grit. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(1), 257–269. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9593-5

Hughes, M., & Morgan, R. E. (2007). Deconstructing the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and business performance at the embryonic stage of firm growth. Industrial Marketing Management, 36(5), 651–661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2006.04.003

Hughes, M., Rigtering, J. C. P., Covin, J. G., Bouncken, R., & Kraus, S. (2018). Innovative behaviour, trust and perceived workplace performance. British Journal of Management, 29(4), 750–768. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.12305

Jalali, A., Jaafar, M., Talebi, K., & Ab Halim, S. (2014). The moderating role of bridging ties between risk-taking, proctiveness and performance: The evidence from Iranian SMEs. International Journal of Business and Management, 9(5), 74–87. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v9n5p74

Jones, G. R. (2013). Organizational theory, design, and change. Pearson.

Kiggundu, M. N. (2002). Entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in Africa: What is known and what needs to be done. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 7(3), 239.

Kraus, S., Rigtering, J. P. C., Hughes, M., & Hosman, V. (2012). Enterpreneurial orientation and the business performance of SMEs: A quantitative study from Netherlands. Review of Managerial Science, 6(2), 161–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-011-0062-9

Lee, T. K., & Chu, W. (2011). Entrepreneurial orientation and competitive advantage: The mediation of resource value and rareness. African Journal of Business Management, 5(33), 12797.

Li, Y., Liu, Y., & Zhao, Y. (2006). The role of market and entrepreneurship orientation and internal control in the new product development activities of Chinese firm. Industrial Marketing Management, 35(3), 336–347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2005.05.016

Li, Y., Zhao, Y., Tan, J., & Liu, Y. (2008). Moderating effects of entrepreneurial orientation on market-orientation-performance linkage: Evidence from Chinese Small Firms. Journal of Small Business Management, 46(1), 113–133. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-627X.2007.00235.x

Lumpkin, G. T., & Dess, G. G. (1996). Clarifying the entrepreneurial orientation construct and linking it to performance. Academy of Management Review, 21(1), 135–172. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1996.9602161568

Lumpkin, G. T., & Dess, G. G. (2001). Linking two dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation to firm performance: The moderating role of environment and industry life cycle. Journal of Business Venturing, 16(5), 429–451. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9026(00)00048-3

MacKenzie, S. B., & Podsakoff, P. M. (2012). Common method bias in marketing: Causes, mechanisms, and procedural remedies. Journal of Retailing, 88(4), 542–555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretai.2012.08.001

March, J. G. (1991). Exploration and exploitation in organizational learning. Organization Science, 2(1), 71–87. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2.1.71

McCrum-Gardner, E. (2010). Sample size and power calculations made simple. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 17(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2010.17.1.45988

McGee, J. E., Peterson, M., Mueller, S. L., & Sequeira, J. M. (2009). Entrepreneurial self‐efficacy: refining the measure. Entrepreneurship theory and Practice, 33(4), 965–988. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6520.2009.00304.x

Miao, C., Qian, S., & Ma, D. (2017). The relationship between entrepreneurial self‐efficacy and firm performance: a meta‐analysis of main and moderator effects. Journal of Small Business Management, 55(1), 87–107. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12240

Miller, D. (1983). The correlates of entrepreneurship in three types of firms. Management Science, 29(7), 770–791. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.29.7.770

Mooradian, T., Matzler, K., Uzelac, B., & Bauer, F. (2016). Perspiration and inspiration: Grit and innovativeness as antecedents of entrepreneurial success. Journal of Economic Psychology, 56, 232–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2016.08.001

Mueller, B. A., Wolfe, M. T., & Syed, I. (2017). Passion and grit: An exploration of the pathways leading to venture success. Journal of Business Venturing, 32(3), 260–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2017.02.001

Nambisan, S., Baron, R. A. (2013). Entrepreneurship in innovation ecosystems: entrepreneurs’ self-regulatory processes and their implications for new venture success. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 37, 1071–1097. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6520.2012.00519.x

OECD. (2019). The geography of conflict in North and West Africa. https://www.oecd.org/countries/libya/

Otache, I., & Mahmood, R. (2015). Entrepreneurial orientation and performance of Nigerian banks: The mediating effect of teamwork. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 6(3), 406–414. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3p406

Pallant, J. (2013). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using SPSS for windows (4th ed.). McGraw Hill Open University Press.

Pett, T., & Wolff, J. A. (2016). Entrepreneurial orientation and learning in high and low performing SMEs. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 26(2), 71–86.

Rauch, A., Wiklund, J., Lumpkin, G. T., & Frese, M. (2009). Entrepreneurial orientation and business performance: an assessment of past research and suggestions for the future. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 33(3), 761–787. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6520.2009.00308.x

Rennemo, Ø. (2015). Entrepreneurial trainers-the competence mix in action-oriented entrepreneurship development programs. Journal of Entrepreneurship Education, 18(2), 135.

Reliefweb. (2018, August). Supporting young entrepreneurs to inject positive change in Libya. https://reliefweb.int/report/libya/supporting-young-entrepreneurs-inject-positive-change-libya

Reynolds, P. D., & Curtin, R. T. (2008). Business creation in the United States: Panel study of entrepreneurial dynamics II initial assessment. Foundations and Trends® in Entrepreneurship, 4(3), 155–307. https://doi.org/10.1561/0300000022

Roberts, L. P., & Robinson, P. B. (2010). Home-based entrepreneurs, commercial entrepreneurs and white-collar workers: A comparative study of attitudes toward self-esteem, personal control and business growth. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 23(3), 333–353. https://doi.org/10.1080/08276331.2010.10593489

Rtanam, E. (2015). Entrepreneurial orientation and organizational performance (with special reference to tourist hotel and hospitality industry in Jaffna District). Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 6(1), 126–130.

Saunders, M. N., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students, 5/e. Pearson Education.

Schulte-Holthaus, S. (2019). Passion and performance in entrepreneurial contexts: an interest-based approach. The Journal of Entrepreneurship, 0971355719851895. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971355719851895

Shafi, K., Mohammadi, A., & Johan, S. A. (2020). Investment ties gone awry. Academy of Management Journal, 63(1), 295–327. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2017.0103

Silvia, P. J., Eddington, K. M., Beaty, R. E., Nusbaum, E. C., & Kwapil, T. R. (2013). Gritty people try harder: Grit and effort-related cardiac autonomic activity during an active coping challenge. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 88(2), 200–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2013.04.007

Stewart, W. H., & Roth, P. L. (2007). A meta‐analysis of achievement motivation differences between entrepreneurs and managers. Journal of Small Business Management, 45(4), 401–421. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-627X.2007.00220.x

Su, Z., Xie, E., & Wang, D. (2015). Entrepreneurial orientation, managerial networking, and new venture performance in China. Journal of Small Business Management, 53(1), 228–248. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12069

Suliyanto, S., & Rahab, R. (2012). The role of market orientation and learning orientation in improving innovativeness and performance of small and medium enterprises. Asian Social Science, 8(1), 134. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v8n1p134

Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics (5th ed.). Pearson Education.

Tang, G., Chen, Y., & Jin, J. (2015). Entrepreneurial orientation and innovation performance: Roles of strategic HRM and technical turbulence. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 53(2), 163–184. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7941.12053

Teo, T. S., Srivastava, S. C., & Jiang, L. (2008). Trust and electronic government success: An empirical study. Journal of Management information Systems, 25(3), 99–132. https://doi.org/10.2753/MIS0742-1222250303

The World Bank. (2019). Libya’s economic update. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/libya/publication/economic-up-date-april-2019

Tsai, K. H., & Yang, S. Y. (2014). The contingent value of firm innovativeness for business performance under environmental turbulence. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 10(2), 343–366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-012-0225-4

Uy, M. A., Foo, M. D., & Ilies, R. (2015). Perceived progress variability and entrepreneurial effort intensity: The moderating role of venture goal commitment. Journal of Business Venturing, 30(3), 375–389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2014.02.001

Vallerand, R. J., Salvy, S. J., Mageau, G. A., Elliot, A. J., Denis, P. L., Grouzet, F. M., & Blanchard, C. (2007). On the role of passion in performance. Journal of Personality, 75(3), 505–534. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2007.00447.x

Von Culin, K. R., Tsukayama, E., & Duckworth, A. L. (2014). Unpacking grit: Motivational correlates of perseverance and passion for long-term goals. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(4), 306–312. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2014.898320

Wales, W. J. (2016). Entrepreneurial orientation: a review and synthesis of promising research directions. International Small Business Journal: Researching Entrepreneurship, 34(1), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242615613840

Wales, W. J., Gupta, V. K., & Mousa, F. T. (2013). Empirical research on entrepreneurial orientation: An assessment and suggestions for future research. International Small Business Journal, 31(4), 357–383. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242611418261

Westphal, M., Bonanno, G. A., & Bartone, P. (2008). Resilience and personality. In B. J. Lukey & V. Tepe (Eds.), Biobehavioral resilience to stress (pp. 219–258). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420071788.ch9

Wiklund, J., & Shepherd, D. (2005). Entrepreneurial orientation and small business performance: a configurational approach. Journal of Business Venturing, 20, 71–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2004.01.001

Zahra, S. A., & Covin, J. G. (1995). Contextual influences on the corporate entrepreneurship-performance relationship: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Busness Venturing, 10(1), 43–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/0883-9026(94)00004-E

Zahra, S., & Dess, G. G. (2001). Entrepreneurship as a field of research: Encouraging dialogue and debate. Academy of Management Review, 26(1), 8–10. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2001.4011916

Zhao, H., Seibert, S. E., & Lumpkin, G. T. (2010). The relationship of personality to entrepreneurial intentions and performance: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Management, 36(2), 381–404. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206309335187