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Bridging the Intention-Action Gap: The Role of Self-Control and Entrepreneurial Passion among Entrepreneurship Graduates

Festen, Ilse LU and van Westerop, Pascalle LU (2025) ENTN19 20251
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
This thesis examines how psychological traits, specifically self-control and entrepreneurial passion, interact with entrepreneurial intention to predict entrepreneurial action among graduates of a Master's programme in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Lund University. Guided by the Rubicon Model of Action Phases, we distinguish between the formation of entrepreneurial intention (predecisional phase) and the initiation of entrepreneurial action (actional phase), with self-control and passion hypothesised to support the volitional crossing of this psychological ‘Rubicon’. The study builds on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and incorporates volitional and emotional constructs to explore the mechanisms underlying the intention–action gap.... (More)
This thesis examines how psychological traits, specifically self-control and entrepreneurial passion, interact with entrepreneurial intention to predict entrepreneurial action among graduates of a Master's programme in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Lund University. Guided by the Rubicon Model of Action Phases, we distinguish between the formation of entrepreneurial intention (predecisional phase) and the initiation of entrepreneurial action (actional phase), with self-control and passion hypothesised to support the volitional crossing of this psychological ‘Rubicon’. The study builds on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and incorporates volitional and emotional constructs to explore the mechanisms underlying the intention–action gap. Using a quantitative research design, survey data were collected from 70 alumni. Twelve months after graduation, entrepreneurial action was regressed on intention, self-control, and passion using Hayes’ PROCESS macro for moderation analysis. The results show that entrepreneurial intention is a strong and statistically significant predictor of entrepreneurial action, accounting for over 64% of the variance. However, no significant moderating effects were found for either self-control or entrepreneurial passion. A significant positive relationship was observed between self-control and passion, suggesting a volitional emotional linkage. These findings suggest that while intention plays a central role in driving action within this sample, self-control may support emotional engagement rather than directly influencing entrepreneurial action. The thesis concludes by recommending further longitudinal research to examine how volitional and emotional mechanisms develop after graduation and influence entrepreneurial action over time. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Festen, Ilse LU and van Westerop, Pascalle LU
supervisor
organization
course
ENTN19 20251
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Entrepreneurial Intention Entrepreneurial Action Intention-Action Gap Self-control Entrepreneurial Passion
language
English
id
9204897
date added to LUP
2025-09-29 11:29:41
date last changed
2025-09-29 11:29:41
@misc{9204897,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines how psychological traits, specifically self-control and entrepreneurial passion, interact with entrepreneurial intention to predict entrepreneurial action among graduates of a Master's programme in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Lund University. Guided by the Rubicon Model of Action Phases, we distinguish between the formation of entrepreneurial intention (predecisional phase) and the initiation of entrepreneurial action (actional phase), with self-control and passion hypothesised to support the volitional crossing of this psychological ‘Rubicon’. The study builds on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and incorporates volitional and emotional constructs to explore the mechanisms underlying the intention–action gap. Using a quantitative research design, survey data were collected from 70 alumni. Twelve months after graduation, entrepreneurial action was regressed on intention, self-control, and passion using Hayes’ PROCESS macro for moderation analysis. The results show that entrepreneurial intention is a strong and statistically significant predictor of entrepreneurial action, accounting for over 64% of the variance. However, no significant moderating effects were found for either self-control or entrepreneurial passion. A significant positive relationship was observed between self-control and passion, suggesting a volitional emotional linkage. These findings suggest that while intention plays a central role in driving action within this sample, self-control may support emotional engagement rather than directly influencing entrepreneurial action. The thesis concludes by recommending further longitudinal research to examine how volitional and emotional mechanisms develop after graduation and influence entrepreneurial action over time.}},
  author       = {{Festen, Ilse and van Westerop, Pascalle}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Bridging the Intention-Action Gap: The Role of Self-Control and Entrepreneurial Passion among Entrepreneurship Graduates}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}