521: Cognitive Flexibility, Entrepreneurial Imaginativeness and Opportunity Recognition (12876)

Sunday, August 11, 2024

08:00 – 09:30 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

Location: Hyatt: Burnham

Session Number: 521
Paper Session
Orientation: Research
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/WypdR8

Author(s)

MM

Md Imtiaz Mostafiz

U. of Leicester, Leicester, UK, United Kingdom
SA

SAMUEL ADOMAKO

Birmingham Business School
MA

Mujtaba Ahsan

San Diego State U., United States
MM

Mark Mallon

Florida Atlantic U., United States
BC

Birton Cowden

Kennesaw State U., United States

Although previous research in entrepreneurship highlights the cognitive hurdles associated with opportunity recognition, there is a dearth of empirical investigations into the cognitive attributes that may distinguish entrepreneurs in entrepreneurial ventures. This study contributes to the evolving body of research by pinpointing cognitive flexibility as a significant trait in addressing the challenges of opportunity recognition. Using data collected from entrepreneurs in Bangladesh (n=189) and India (n=242), we propose that cognitive flexibility operates through entrepreneurial imaginativeness. Our findings indicate that entrepreneurs with higher cognitive flexibility are associated with greater imaginativeness. Consequently, entrepreneurial imaginativeness correlates with higher levels of opportunity recognition. Our findings also suggest that entrepreneurs' emotional regulation is a critical moderating factor affecting the indirect effect of cognitive flexibility on opportunity recognition. This research advances the cognitive foundations of opportunity recognition.

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