How does a subsequent entrepreneurship career choice develop? A set-theoretic analysis testing hope theory

ABSTRACT

This research explores the complex mechanism leading to a subsequent entrepreneurship career choice (SECC), whether perceived as a failure or not. It mobilizes the theory of hope (via the role of optimism and grit) and the components of the theory of planned behavior (attitude, subjective norms, and self-efficacy). The study involved 48 previous entrepreneurs not currently in the reentry process. A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis was used. Results reveal that the entrepreneurial attitude forged through first-hand experience is the most critical element in understanding an SECC. Optimism can substitute for this attitude, and grit plays a lesser role, as do the other variables. This study underscores the central role of attitude and optimism in explaining entrepreneurial career persistence, transitioning from a novice to a serial entrepreneur, with grit playing a somewhat secondary role. Configurational approaches prove essential to understanding entrepreneurial intention, notably for an SECC.

KEYWORDS:

• Second entrepreneurship career choice
• entrepreneurial attitude
• hope theory

Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to Robert J. Pidduck and Moren Lévesque for their generous advice and suggestions to improve the manuscript, as well as those received by the two anonymous reviewers. We are grateful to them.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

¹ We used the entire initial sample to perform the psychometric analyses of the measurement tools used in this study.