Information technology entrepreneurs: a study to revisit positive psychology

The purpose of this paper is to study the positive psychology of the IT industry. The current inquiry using mixed-method methodology has tried to comprehend the courage dimension in the psychological capital factor structure for IT entrepreneurs. Apart from hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism (HERO) dimensions several other positive psychological resources may be included in its framework. The current paper is organised into two phases. The study in phase 1 conducted qualitative investigations using the paradigm-model approach. The findings identified courage as a probable psychological resource through 24 in-depth interviews. To verify the finding of qualitative investigation, the phase-2 study empirically examined the same on a sample of 224 Indian IT entrepreneurs. The expanded measurement model (expanded psychological capital or EPC) is compared with original PsyCap HERO model using structural equation modelling. The findings show initial support for the novel five factor expanded psychological capital (EPC) framework including original HERO dimensions and courage.