An Intentions-Based Model of Entrepreneurial Teams' Social Cognition

Despite the importance of teams to entrepreneurial activity, few studies have investigated the corporate environment factors that encourage teams to be entrepreneurial. The authors propose a theory-driven model that links the understanding of entrepreneurial thinking to social cognition and the corporate environment. Using lessons from social cognition, they also link corporate entrepreneurship to entrepreneurial thinking. First, the intersection of entrepreneurship and cognition is explored. Next, the intersection of teams and cognition is studied. The last part explores the three-way intersection of cognition, entrepreneurship, and teams using an intentions-based perspective. The proposed intentions-based model of the social cognition of entrepreneurial teams emphasizes the importance of perceptions of desirability and feasibility, perceptions derived both from the individual and the team perspective. The teams' perceptions of feasibility and entrepreneurial intentions are triggered by self-efficacy and collective efficacy, whereas the teams' perceptions of desirability and entrepreneurial intentions refer to a team’s attitude toward entrepreneurial behavior. A number of propositions about entrepreneurial teams are made that will provide a deeper understanding of why known antecedents impact the level of entrepreneurship. Among the recommendations and opportunities of this of this study for future research is the intersection of teams and entrepreneurship.(CBS)