“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). ... mehrThe 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.