“How can Entrepreneurs lead Themselves?” Empirically-Based Development and Testing of Interventions for Healthy and Effective Self-Regulation in the Context of Entrepreneurship to Trigger Positive Individual and Collective Effects

Various studies identify self-regulation as being particularly challenging for entrepreneurs, who often have to lead themselves independently. If they use dysfunctional self-regulatory processes, they are exposed and rather unprotected to the high working demands of new venture creation. Not only does it imply negative consequences on the individual level, but also on the collective level, as entrepreneurs are recognized as engines for economic growth and ecologically sustainable development. Despite their need for guidance on healthy and effective self-regulation, relevant research is sparse and fragmented. This dissertation is intended to address the need for guidance on healthy and effective self-regulation for entrepreneurs. In the first two studies, a causal model of healthy and effective self-regulation that can be applied in the context of entrepreneurship has been empirically developed and tested. The work is based on a meta-theory of human motivation, called self-determination theory (SDT), which focuses on selfregulation. Structural equation modeling has been applied based on cross-sectional quantitative data (N=1,024). The results indicate that mindfulness, clarity about personal values, intrinsic values orientation, and autonomy of goals are potential psychological constructs to foster, in case healthy and effective self-regulation of individuals is intended. In the second study, a causal model as a knowledge base has been applied to empirically develop and test two interventions that foster the four psychological constructs in aspiring and practicing entrepreneurs. Both interventions are conducted as non-controlled field experiments with post-measurement in the form of two iterations (N1 = 55; N2 = 13) of the design science research approach. The first intervention is a self-assessment and action plan, called the Values Finder. The second intervention is a four-hour workshop block on personality development called Core Values Workshop. It is empirically validated that both interventions can be described as functional, efficient, and usable in the scope of the ISO evaluation standard 9126. Thus, they can be used as cutting-edge interventions to leverage entrepreneurs’ self-regulation, triggering positive individual and collective effects

Enabling Entrepreneurs to Build on their Means: The Effectual Decision-Making Canvas

Using the design science research approach and a framework for artifact development, this paper presents the design of an artifact in the field of entrepreneurship. More specifically, in the context of decision-making for early-stage entrepreneurs. In light of existing research indicating that the decision-making process significantly impacts an entrepreneur\u27s effectiveness and that experienced entrepreneurs use Effectuation more often than Causation when reaching decisions, this paper presents a visual tool for assisting entrepreneurs in making decisions based on the principles of Effectuation. We finally test and evaluate the resulting "Effectual Decision-Making Canvas" with aspiring and practicing entrepreneurs