Entrepreneurial alertness, self-efficacy and social entrepreneurship intentions

Abstract

Purpose Considering that many unanswered questions remain regarding the antecedents to entrepreneurial intentions, the purpose of this study is to develop insights from existing theories in entrepreneurship frameworks and apply these in the social entrepreneurship context. Consequently the study examines to what extant beliefs and cognitions shape social entrepreneurial intentions. Design/methodology/approach Hypotheses were statistically tested using multiple regression analyses based on survey data ( n = 156) from individuals in South Africa. Findings Results support the hypotheses where entrepreneurial alertness significantly explained social entrepreneurial intentions, while self-efficacy showed a positive mediating effect in this relationship. Practical implications Policymakers encouraging social entrepreneurship should not only focus on external support factors such as financial support but also deliberately develop interventions by focusing on beliefs and cognitions, which the study has identified as important predictors of social entrepreneurship intentions. Originality/value By introducing previously unrelated individual-level factors to social entrepreneurship, closer empirical links are created between these factors in this study.