Jeffrey M. Pollack

Mind-Sets Matter: A Meta-Analytic Review of Implicit Theories and Self-Regulation

This review builds on self-control theory (Carver & Scheier, 1998) to develop a theoretical framework for investigating associations of implicit theories with self-regulation. This framework conceptualizes self-regulation in terms of 3 crucial processes: goal setting, goal operating, and goal monitoring. In this meta-analysis, we included articles that reported a quantifiable assessment of implicit theories and at least 1 self-regulatory process or outcome. With a random effects approach used, meta-analytic results (total unique N = 28,217; k = 113) across diverse achievement domains (68% academic) and populations (age range = 5-42; 10 different nationalities; 58% from United States; 44% female) demonstrated that implicit theories predict distinct self-regulatory processes, which, in turn, predict goal achievement. Incremental theories, which, in contrast to entity theories, are characterized by the belief that human attributes are malleable rather than fixed, significantly predicted goal setting (performance goals, r = -.151; learning goals, r = .187), goal operating (helpless-oriented strategies, r = -.238; mastery-oriented strategies, r = .227), and goal monitoring (negative emotions, r = -.233; expectations, r = .157). The effects for goal setting and goal operating were stronger in the presence (vs. absence) of ego threats such as failure feedback. Discussion emphasizes how the present theoretical analysis merges an implicit theory perspective with self-control theory to advance scholarship and unlock major new directions for basic and applied research.

Preparedness and Cognitive Legitimacy as Antecedents of New Venture Funding in Televised Business Pitches

This research addresses the question of what specific entrepreneurs’ behavior increases the propensity for resource acquisition. Within the context of business “pitches,” we explore subtleties in the process via a theoretically derived model linking entrepreneurs’ preparedness behavior, perceived cognitive legitimacy, and amount of funding received. We test this model using data coded from two sources: 14 episodes of the television show “Shark Tank” that aired in 2009, as well as 84 episodes of “Dragons Den” that aired from 2005 to 2010. Within these episodes, we specifically examine the 113 individual business pitches that received funding. Overall, results suggest the relationship between entrepreneurs’ preparedness behavior and the amount of funding received is mediated by cognitive legitimacy. Specifically, entrepreneurs’ increased preparedness behavior was positively related to increased cognitive legitimacy. Cognitive legitimacy, in turn, was positively related to amount of funding received. We offer thoughts regarding implications from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

Examining the Relation Between Ethical Focus and Financial Performance in Family Firms: An Exploratory Study

Empirically, the confluence of family involvement, ethics, and performance is a sparse research area. The authors explore a rich theoretical framework relating family involvement, ethical focus, and firm performance and empirically test a mediated model using a sample of 526 family businesses. The results illustrated that a firm’s ethical focus mediated the relation between family involvement and financial performance. Specifically, data supported the relation between family involvement and a firm’s ethical focus. And increased ethical focus predicted increased financial performance. The authors discuss the implications of these findings and offer potential areas for future research in family business studies.

The Influence of Entrepreneurs' Credentials and Impression Management Behaviors on Perceptions of New Venture Legitimacy

We examine how entrepreneurs’ behaviors related to credentials and impression management (IM) impact perceptions of new venture (NV) legitimacy. Results from this experiment, as hypothesized, show that entrepreneurs’ credentials and IM behaviors are positively related to legitimacy perceptions. Contrary to expectations, however, findings do not support either interaction hypothesis when credentials are high or low. We discuss how these findings illustrate the importance of entrepreneurs’ behaviors during the NV creation process and outline multiple directions for future research.

Questions About Questionable Research Practices in the Field of Management A Guest Commentary

The discussion regarding questionable research practices (QRPs) in management as well as the broader natural and social sciences has increased substantially in recent years. Despite the attention, questions remain regarding research norms and the implications for both theoretical and practical advancements. The aim of the current article is to address these issues in a question-and-answer format while drawing upon both past research and the results of a series of new studies conducted using a mixed-methods design. Our goal is to encourage a systematic, collegial, and constructive dialogue regarding QRPs in management research.

Publication Bias in Strategic Management Research

Publication bias is the systematic suppression of research findings due to small magnitude, statistical insignificance, or contradiction of prior findings or theory. We review possible reasons why publication bias may exist in strategy research and examine empirical evidence regarding the influence of publication bias in the field. Overall, we conclude that publication bias affects many, but not all, topics in strategic management research. Correlation inflation due to publication bias ranged in magnitude from .00, indicating no bias, to .19, representing considerable bias. These results suggest that caution should be exercised when interpreting scientific conclusions regarding certain determinants of firm performance, while greater confidence may be expressed in others. We discuss how publication bias can be addressed both philosophically and empirically in the domain of strategy.

Exploring small family‐owned firms’ competitive ability

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight points of differentiation for small family businesses, relative to larger “big box” retailers, which may provide marketing‐oriented competitive advantages.Design/methodology/approach – From a conceptual perspective, the authors illustrate how small family‐owned businesses may be able to successfully compete against big box retailers by differentiation in three key areas.Findings – The authors conclude that small family businesses may be able to successfully differentiate themselves from the larger big box retailers by: establishing a relationship with customers based on trust; competing on value (not price); and focusing the business on serving a specialized segment of the market.Practical implications – The paper offers theory‐based advice for practitioners, as well as thoughts on future directions for academic research.Originality/value – Much of the research that has been done on family‐owned businesses has focused on the characteristics of the family...

Self-Efficacy in the Face of Threats to Entrepreneurial Success: Mind-Sets Matter

Results from two studies, extending implicit theories to entrepreneurship, demonstrated that incremental theorists (entrepreneurial ability is malleable), compared to entity theorists (entrepreneurial ability is fixed), reported more self-efficacy after threats to personal ability and business success. In Study 1, women induced to hold an incremental theory reported more self-efficacy regarding future entrepreneurial endeavors, compared to women induced to hold an entity theory, after being told entrepreneurial ability is primarily driven by masculine traits (threat condition). Results from Study 2, a sample of business owners, replicated this incremental buffering effect after threats to both men and womens entrepreneurial success (i.e., poor business performance). We discuss results in terms of how mind-sets matter for entrepreneurial endeavors, especially in the face of challenges.

Implicit Theories of Work and Job Fit: Implications for Job and Life Satisfaction

Extending the implicit theory perspective to the domain of work, we established the factor structure of a newly developed measure and then investigated how destiny theories (potential careers are or are not “meant to be”) interact with job fit to predict job and life satisfaction. Results revealed Destiny Theory × Job Fit interaction effects. Specifically, better job fit predicted higher life satisfaction for individuals with strong (relative to weak) destiny theories. We further examined the indirect effect of the Job Fit × Destiny Theory interaction with life satisfaction through increased job satisfaction. Results supported the proposed model.

Satisfaction, Investment, and Alternatives Predict Entrepreneurs' Networking Group Commitment and Subsequent Revenue Generation

Prevailing wisdom across the body of research regarding social ties suggests that quantity matters. However, this logic is less applicable in formal networking groups, which have a bounded (and stable) membership. In such a setting, we argue that the quality of an entrepreneurs relationship with the networking group is what matters. Accordingly, we suggest that the networking group setting is one in which core tenets of the literature need refining. Consistent with our predictions, findings from a sample of 279 entrepreneurs across 25 separate networking groups demonstrated that entrepreneurs’ affective commitment to the group mediated the relations among (1) satisfaction with their group, (2) investment in their group, and (3) perceptions of alternatives to their group with the outcome of percentage of revenue generated from the networking group. These data provide insight into the psychological and behavioral antecedents of performance for entrepreneurs in networking groups: entrepreneurs who are more affectively committed to their networking groups are more likely to experience gains in revenue attributed to the group. We discuss the implications of these findings as well as offer multiple directions for future work.