Interlocking Effects of Self-Efficacy and Self-Regulation on Social Ties and Social Entrepreneurial Orientation

Abstract

In recent years, the projection of Social entrepreneurs' cognitive drive is a critical factor that needs attention in determining the efficiency of social entrepreneurial orientation in entrepreneurship studies. In order for Social entrepreneurs to be fully oriented in improving social well-being through long term developmental project and not merely considered to perform acts of charity, there has to be a social cognitive mechanism as a key characteristic of social value creation. There are however, significant gaps in understanding social entrepreneur orientation hence, few empirical studies on the subject. This paper using both the Social Network and Social Cognitive theories attempts to identify the relationship between Social ties, self-efficacy, self-regulation and entrepreneurial orientation outcomes. Using the Partial lest square of the structural equation model to analyze a survey data of 397 Philanthropist (i.e. social activist, environmentalist and other social innovators) NGOs in Ghana, the findings proved that, the level of an individual's self-efficacy and Self-regulation is not only important to consider as a driving social entrepreneurs' cognitive behaviors but also fruitful in improving social Entrepreneurial orientation. The study reveals some directions for social innovators seeking to promote their social entrepreneurial orientation skills using cognitive measures alongside social connections in solving a social problem.