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How Can Problems Be Turned Into Something Good? The Role of Entrepreneurial Learning and Error Mastery Orientation

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  • Rebecca Funken
  • Michael M. Gielnik
  • Maw-Der Foo

Abstract

How can problems be turned into something good? We develop and test a theoretical model suggesting that error mastery orientation influences whether problems have positive or negative outcomes. We argue that problems increase or decrease entrepreneurial learning and venture progress depending on error mastery orientation. We tested our theoretical model using a longitudinal design with one baseline measurement and 11 weekly measurements. Analyses were based on 1,016 lagged observations from 168 individuals, who engaged in venture creation as part of entrepreneurship training courses. The results suggest that error mastery orientation functions like a switch, turning problems into something good.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca Funken & Michael M. Gielnik & Maw-Der Foo, 2020. "How Can Problems Be Turned Into Something Good? The Role of Entrepreneurial Learning and Error Mastery Orientation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 44(2), pages 315-338, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:44:y:2020:i:2:p:315-338
    DOI: 10.1177/1042258718801600
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Pérez-Campdesuñer Reyner & Sánchez-Rodríguez Alexander & García-Vidal Gelmar & Martínez-Vivar Rodobaldo & Ruiz-de la Peña Jenny & de Miguel-Guzmán Margarita, 2023. "The Premature Mortality of Micro and Small Enterprises," Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 26(2), pages 49-76.
    3. Stela Ivanova & Theresa Treffers & Fred Langerak & Markus Groth, 2023. "Holding Back or Letting Go? The Effect of Emotion Suppression on Relationship Viability in New Venture Teams," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1460-1495, July.
    4. Chen Zhou & Huatao Peng & Bingbing Li, 2022. "How Risk Prevention Mechanisms Regulate Serial Entrepreneurs to Achieve Sustainable Entrepreneurship—A Policy Text Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-23, October.
    5. Nguyen, Minh-Hoang & Quang-Loc, Nguyen & Nguyen, Loan & Le, Tam-Tri & Phi, Xuan-Tuan & Vuong, Quan-Hoang, 2023. "How does the knowledge accumulation process affect Vietnamese entrepreneurs’ success likelihood?," OSF Preprints tgfr5, Center for Open Science.
    6. Bohlayer, Carina & Gielnik, Michael M., 2023. "(S)training experiences: Toward understanding decreases in entrepreneurial self-efficacy during action-oriented entrepreneurship training," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 38(1).
    7. Holger Patzelt & Dean A. Shepherd, 2024. "A fatigue model of social venturing," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 1065-1088, October.

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