Individual entrepreneurial orientation training: an experimental insight into small business owner career success

Abstract

Purpose

Based on action regulation theory (ART), this study aims to test the impact of individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) training on small business owner career success (financial attainment, satisfaction and achievement). Moreover, this relationship was unpacked through a dual mediation model of IEO behaviour and career resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

A four-wave, longitudinal randomized controlled field experiment was conducted in which 527 small business owners participated from Lahore, Pakistan (training group = 256, control group = 271). The data analysis was done via ANCOVAs (group comparison) and PROCESS Model 6 (for serial mediation).

Findings

The results demonstrated that after getting IEO training, the small business owners had increased IEO behaviour, career resilience and career success as compared to their counterparts in the control group. In addition, the effect of IEO training on career success was attributed to the underlying role of IEO behaviour and career resilience development.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies that have demonstrated the impact of IEO training on the career-related outcomes based on the action regulation perspective.

Citation

Fatima, T., Bilal, A.R., Imran, M.K. and Sarwar, A. (2024), "Individual entrepreneurial orientation training: an experimental insight into small business owner career success", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 31 No. 5, pp. 976-998. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-05-2023-0226