Entrepreneurship training and entrepreneurs' perceptions of ability: A randomized control trial in Tanzania

This study examines whether training entrepreneurs to apply systematic approaches to strategic decision-making influences their self-perception of ability. Using a field experiment in which 151 entrepreneurs in Tanzania were randomly assigned to two different versions of entrepreneurial training (an evidence-based vs. a theory-and-evidence-based approach), we find entrepreneurs in the theory-and-evidence-based condition experience a larger and more persistent increase in their self-perception of ability to deal with challenges compared to the evidence-based condition. Additionally, entrepreneurs across the two conditions respond differently to the training depending on their initial levels of perceived ability. By integrating insights from social cognitive psychology, this study contributes to research on entrepreneurial experimentation by uncovering the effect of strategic decision-making training on individuals themselves, not just their ventures' outcomes.