Cognitive flexibility: Impact on entrepreneurial intentions

Entrepreneurial intentions are an important determinant to starting new ventures. However, there is only limited knowledge of their cognitive antecedents. Building on the person-environment fit theory and tenets from the cognitive psychology literature, we analyze the effect of cognitive flexibility on individual's intentions to pursue a career in entrepreneurship. We also ascertain the role of attitude toward risk taking and entrepreneurial self-efficacy in explaining the cognitive flexibility-entrepreneurial intentions link. Empirical analyses based on a sample of 440 respondents, supported our hypothesized arguments. We discuss our contributions, highlight limitations and advance suggestions for future research. •Theoretical arguments are used to advance the effect of cognitive flexibility on entrepreneurial intentions.•Mediating effect of attitude toward risk taking and entrepreneurial self-efficacy is discussed.•Proposed hypotheses are tested using a sample of 440 respondents.•Analytical findings and contributions to vocational literature in entrepreneurship are discussed.