The influence of managerial optimism and self-regulation on learning and business growth expectations within an emerging economic context

Abstract

Abstract This paper examines psychological and behavioral mechanisms that underlie business growth expectations by examining how managerial optimism and selfregulatory focus influence learning behaviors. To empirically examine these relationships,thestudysituatesinaresource-constrainedbusinesscontextbystudyingmanagers in two Pacific Island economies. Results indicate that a positive view toward gains encourages exploratory learning in unknown situations; whereas, a less optimistic dispositionandavoidancearerelated toexploitative learning.Thisfindingisconsequential as managerial learning that leans toward development of new insights and possibilities is associated with greater business growth expectations versus learning that adhere