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Implementation intentions in the entrepreneurial process: concept, empirical findings, and research agenda

Author

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  • Marco Gelderen

    (VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam Centre for Entrepreneurship)

  • Teemu Kautonen

    (Aalto University & Universidad del Desarrollo)

  • Joakim Wincent

    (Hanken School of Economics)

  • Marina Biniari

    (Aalto University)

Abstract

Prior studies find sizable gaps between entrepreneurial intentions and subsequent actions. We extend models of entrepreneurial intentions by drawing on action phase theory to better understand how entrepreneurial intentions translate into actions. Our study focuses on the effects of implementation intentions on taking entrepreneurial action. The analysis uses two waves of survey data on 422 individuals, from the Swedish general population, who had an explicit interest in starting a business and who reported on their actions 6 months later. We test and find support for a moderated mediation model in which implementation intentions mediate the effects of goal intentions on taking entrepreneurial action. We further find the mediated effect to be even stronger for those confirming a strong intention to start a new business. We provide an in-depth discussion of the concept of implementation intention and an extensive research agenda.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Gelderen & Teemu Kautonen & Joakim Wincent & Marina Biniari, 2018. "Implementation intentions in the entrepreneurial process: concept, empirical findings, and research agenda," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 923-941, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:51:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-017-9971-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-017-9971-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Jelle Schepers & Wim Voordeckers & Tensie Steijvers & Eddy Laveren, 2021. "Entrepreneurial intention-action gap in family firms: bifurcation bias and the board of directors as an economizing mechanism," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 11(3), pages 451-475, September.
    8. Donald F. Kuratko & Greg Fisher & David B. Audretsch, 2021. "Unraveling the entrepreneurial mindset," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1681-1691, December.
    9. María José González-López & María Carmen Pérez-López & Lázaro Rodríguez-Ariza, 2021. "From potential to early nascent entrepreneurship: the role of entrepreneurial competencies," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 1387-1417, September.
    10. J. M. Núñez-Pomar & P. Escamilla-Fajardo & V. Prado-Gascó, 0. "Relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and social performance in Spanish sports clubs. The effect of the type of funding and the level of competition," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-19.
    11. Takawira Munyaradzi Ndofirepi, 2022. "Entrepreneurship goal and implementation intentions formation: the role of higher education institutions and contexts," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-22, December.
    12. J. M. Núñez-Pomar & P. Escamilla-Fajardo & V. Prado-Gascó, 2020. "Relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and social performance in Spanish sports clubs. The effect of the type of funding and the level of competition," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 981-999, September.
    13. Evelien Croonen & Hans van Der Bij & Rozenn Perrigot & Assaad El Akremi & Olivier Herrbach, 2022. "Who wants to be a franchisee? Explaining individual intentions to become franchisees," Post-Print hal-03281669, HAL.
    14. James A. Cunningham & Nadja Damij & Dolores Modic & Femi Olan, 2023. "MSME technology adoption, entrepreneurial mindset and value creation: a configurational approach," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(5), pages 1574-1598, October.
    15. Pham, Dung & Jones, Paul & Dobson, Stephen & Liñán, Francisco & Viala, Céline, 2021. "Entrepreneurial implementation intention as a tool to moderate the stability of entrepreneurial goal intention: A sensemaking approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 97-105.
    16. Michał Mackiewicz, 2023. "Why do wantrepreneurs fail to take actions? Moderators of the link between intentions and entrepreneurial actions at the early stage of venturing," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 323-344, February.
    17. Wijetunge Arachchige Deepani Sajeewa Wijetunge & Siti Khalidah Binti Md Yusoff & S.M. Ferdous Azam & Jacquline Tham, 2023. "Bridging Intention-Behavior Gap through Implementation Intention: Conceptual Insight," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(11), pages 1627-1635, November.
    18. Jia Bao & Junsheng Dou, 2021. "The Formation of Subsequent Entrepreneurial Intention: Happiness Matters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, November.
    19. Charles Karani & Patience Mshenga, 2021. "Steering the sustainability of entrepreneurial start-ups," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 11(1), pages 223-239, December.
    20. Carsten Bergenholtz & Kim Klyver & Oana Vuculescu, 2023. "Self-Efficacy in Disrupted Environments: COVID-19 as a Natural Experiment," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(3), pages 724-750, May.

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