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Self-regulation and moral awareness among entrepreneurs

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  • Bryant, Peter

Abstract

Moral awareness underpins moral reasoning and ethical decision making. This mixed methods study investigates a critical feature of these phenomena among entrepreneurs, namely the influence of social cognitive self-regulation on moral awareness. Results suggest that entrepreneurs with stronger self-regulatory characteristics are more morally aware and relate such awareness to maintaining personal integrity and building inter-personal trust. In contrast, entrepreneurs with weaker self-regulatory characteristics appear less morally aware overall, and focus primarily on moral issues relating to failure and loss. I conclude the paper by discussing the implications for future research and practice.

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  • Bryant, Peter, 2009. "Self-regulation and moral awareness among entrepreneurs," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 505-518, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbvent:v:24:y:2009:i:5:p:505-518
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    6. Rodgers, Waymond & Al Shammakhi, Badriya N. & Jeaneth, Johansson & Wincent, Joakim & Adams, Kweku, 2020. "DIY Entrepreneurship: a decision-pathway framework for ethical thought structures," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    7. Alenka Slavec Gomezel & Rok Stritar, 2023. "Does it pay to be an ethical leader in entrepreneurship? An investigation of the relationships between entrepreneurs’ regulatory focus, ethical leadership, and small firm growth," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 155-173, January.
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    12. Baron, Robert A. & Mueller, Brandon A. & Wolfe, Marcus T., 2016. "Self-efficacy and entrepreneurs' adoption of unattainable goals: The restraining effects of self-control," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 55-71.
    13. Harris, Jared D. & Sapienza, Harry J. & Bowie, Norman E., 2009. "Ethics and entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 407-418, September.
    14. Adomako, Samuel & Opoku, Robert A. & Frimpong, Kwabena, 2017. "The Moderating Influence of Competitive Intensity on the Relationship between CEOs' Regulatory Foci and SME Internationalization," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 268-278.
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    17. Rachel E. Sturm, 2017. "Decreasing Unethical Decisions: The Role of Morality-Based Individual Differences," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(1), pages 37-57, April.
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    19. Sean R. Valentine & Sheila K. Hanson & Gary M. Fleischman, 2019. "The Presence of Ethics Codes and Employees’ Internal Locus of Control, Social Aversion/Malevolence, and Ethical Judgment of Incivility: A Study of Smaller Organizations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 160(3), pages 657-674, December.
    20. Patricia Crifo & Vanina Forget & Sabrina Teyssier, 2012. "The price of unsustainability: An experiment with professional private equity investors," Working Papers hal-00757203, HAL.
    21. Gagnon, Mark A. & Heinrichs, Pamela A., 2016. "Food Entrepreneur Sustainable Orientation And Firm Practices," International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics (IJFAEC), Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Department of Economics and Finance, vol. 4(4), pages 1-18, October.
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