Let the games begin: the relationship between video gaming and entrepreneurial mindsets
Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
ISSN: 1462-6004
Article publication date: 22 December 2021
Issue publication date: 9 August 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This article addresses the need for further conceptual development of the factors that influence the development of the entrepreneurial mindset. It focuses on finding a link between the classic mental models of entrepreneurship and those that are employed during video game play to explore if similarities exist.
Design/methodology/approach
Using theories of entrepreneurship and opportunity recognition, the study examines a sample of 217 video gamers.
Findings
The results of this study suggest that an individual who exhibits a high level of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) has an enhanced opportunity recognition capability when the intensity of playing video games is also high. Various genres of games were controlled for; however, it was found that shooting games have the highest effect on the emergence of opportunity recognition.
Originality/value
Thus, the study reveals that some game activities can be linked to entrepreneurial cognitions. This has implications for the entrepreneurial intent literature as it reveals certain actions can be linked with entrepreneurial information processing. These findings are useful for game designers and managers as well.
Keywords
Citation
Kraus, S., Niemand, T., Scott, S., Puumalainen, K. and Oberreiner, R. (2022), "Let the games begin: the relationship between video gaming and entrepreneurial mindsets", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 29 No. 5, pp. 807-824. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-09-2021-0360
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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