Deliberate practice and entrepreneurial decision-making among micro-entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka

RIS ID

112339

Publication Details

Ranabahu, N., Barrett, M. & Moerman, L. (2017). Deliberate practice and entrepreneurial decision-making among micro-entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. , Australian Center for Entrepreneurship Research Exchange (ACERE)

Abstract

This paper presents a study on expertise acquisition and business decision-making of micro-entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. We use effectual (means-driven) and causal (predictive) logics to explore entrepreneurial decision-making, while deliberate practice principles are used to study expertise. From the survey and interview data collected we demonstrate that micro-entrepreneurs use both effectuation and causation activities to increase expertise in entrepreneurial tasks through deliberate practice. Non-expert micro-entrepreneurs use effectuation thinking more often than causation. In contrast, expert micro-entrepreneurs balance both effectual and causal thinking. These findings align with the work of other researchers in this space including Daniel et al. (2015) and Engel et al. (2014) in demonstrating that effectuation is prominent among non-experts. In addition, this study extends Read and Sarasvathy's (2005) findings by highlighting that both effectuation and causation behaviours contribute to deliberate practice. Therefore, microfinance institutions should focus on providing opportunities to enhance both means-driven (effectuation) and predictive activities (causation) to enhance the entrepreneurial expertise of their clients.

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