CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

An individual who has an optimistic mindset exhibits good entrepreneurial

skill in terms of team effectiveness (Achor & Gielan, 2020). Optimism is the belief

that situations will turn out good. It is the thought of expecting that there will be good

things that will come in an individual’s life and that they have the capability to control

the path at which their life takes (Reivich, 2010). In terms of entrepreneurship,

optimism has been observed by the researchers to be an undervalued trait due to the

lack of literatures, as well as studies that assess the relationship, which tackle about

optimism and entrepreneurship as well as team effectiveness skill. According to

Ashworth-Keppel (2018), it has been found in research that intelligence quotient (IQ)

has a poor correlation towards entrepreneurial success. As stated by the author, one of

the underrated traits which can enhance the entrepreneurial IQ of an individual is

optimism.

Optimists are full of hope for success, they think positively, see the good sides

of every situation, and are strongly motivated to accomplish their goals (Czerw,

2015). Several research studies have highlighted the importance of entrepreneurial

skills and their contribution to the growth and sustainability of any business. In an

article by Bowser (2019), a successful entrepreneur has strong leadership qualities in

which they explained further that these qualities refer to the strong communication

skills and the ability to encourage a group of people to achieve a common goal in a

way that each individual is motivated and works effectively, i.e., an entrepreneur

should be team effective. According to Carver (2010), in periods of adversity or

An analysis of current entrepreneurial literature reveals that optimism is associated

with entrepreneurial success, the global belief that good things will be abundant in the

future and poor things scarce, and that optimism is a distinguishing characteristic of

entrepreneurs. Even though theories suggest that there is a positive relationship

among optimism and entrepreneurship, very little attention has been given to the

investigation of the relationship. In terms of team effectiveness, Prof. Niyogi (2017)

has said in their article that optimism can create a long-term effectivity for the team

and that individuals who possess good team effectiveness skill can be a great source

of efficiency for the group. To support the aforementioned statement, results of the

study conducted by Giacomin, Janssen, and Shinnar (2018) show that students who

are more optimistic tend to be more entrepreneurial than their peers and people who

demonstrate self-efficacy, i.e., optimism is important for an entrepreneur to have

passion in their work which, in relation, can be useful in team effectiveness.

Researchers in psychology have investigated optimism as an attribute of individuals

that governs positive thinking and the outlook of the future and perhaps relates to

better outcomes, better performance, better personal well-being, and coping strategy

(Jeraj, 2014).

On the other hand, Beheshtifar (2013) states that there are only few studies

concerning optimism in the workplace, evidence certainly suggest that there exists a

link between the concepts to the improvement of work performance. Icekson et al.

(2019) supports the findings of Beheshtifar (2013) stating in their study that there is

little recognition for the role of optimism in forming and cultivating entrepreneurial

intentions and that only few studies exist concerning optimism in the workplace.

Kluemper et al. (2009), as cited by Kenneally (2015), have found that personal
optimism has no relation or association or had a very weak connection towards an

individual’s task performance. There are only few studies that tackle on the

relationship between individual optimism and task performance which can be related

to the current study (Kenneally, 2015). In the study of Alafriz et al. (2014) where they

conducted it in Manila, Philippines that included the participation of six Filipino work

teams, it was found that having a positive attitude creates effectiveness in the team

work and was seen as one of the highly rated attitudes that is needed when doing

group work which shows that optimism is a trait that should embodied by aspiring

entrepreneurs because it can affect the course of their business, especially when

handling the workplace which deals with how the workers will effectively do their

given tasks and responsibilities among the team. According to the LinkedIn

Opportunity Index 2020 (Cahiles-Magkilat, 2020), Filipinos are optimistic workers in

the sense that they placed fifth globally in the latest index that covered over 30,000

respondents in 22 markets nationwide which included 1,068 Filipinos. The top four

are India, Indonesia, China, and United Arab Emirates, respectively. The study also

states that younger generations are more optimistic about engaging in opportunities

while it was uncertain for the younger Filipino generation because of other factors. It

is valuable that an individual is effective in teamwork as it is important for the

business (Hutton, 2014). Wiseman (2013) negates the idea that optimism is useful

especially when situated in a group work because it makes the individual lose their

sense of reality and turns the world into an illusion wherein everything that happens

will have a good outcome even in bad times and that having optimism is not that

helpful when it comes to working in teams which suggest that may be there is no

relationship between the two. Upon discovering these gaps, the researchers will serve

it as their inspiration to conduct the study.

influence of the self as a factor of optimism towards the team effectiveness skill of the

Senior High Schools students, specifically Grade 12, in a private school located in

Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental. The selected school is one of the most

prestigious institutions in the city that offers the Accountancy, Business, and

Management (ABM) strand which will be the main participants of the study.

Therefore, it is the goal of the study to determine the optimism level of the

Grade 12 Accountancy, Business, and Management students and its influence towards

their team effectiveness skill wherein the findings of this goal will help future readers

recognize the relationship between the two. The main purpose of conducting the study

is to give knowledge to the society about the correlation between optimism and

entrepreneurial skills which can aid them in understanding the value of self-optimism

as well as its influence regarding team effectiveness skill.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The major theory adopted for this study is Roger’s Self Theory (1951, as cited

by Ismail & Tekke, 2015) since the aim of the current study is to identify the Self as a

factor of optimism and its influence on the team effectiveness skill of the Grade 12

Accountancy, Business, and Management Students. It is in the assumption of the

researchers that the self-optimism level of the students has a significant influence

towards their team effectiveness skill.

In the Self Theory (1951), Rogers pointed out that one’s self-concept is the

basic foundation upon which an individual’s personality is developed. The theory

states that a person has three areas of their existence which are self-worth, ideal self,
and self-image and it is the goal of each individual to find congruence (balance) in

these three areas.

Figure 1.1: Schematic Presentation of Rogers’ Self Theory (1951)

The self-image refers to the individual’s ability to perceive their self. Self-

image directly affects the feelings of an individual. The theorist suggested that each

individual has their own self-image in the sense that it is what the person thinks truly

about their self. Ideal self refers to an individual’s goals in which they create a

thought of who they want to become; this self is usually taken from external factors

because the individual is able to get values from others in which they will then create

their own perception of how others want them to be. Rogers describes self-worth as an

individual’s capability of taking care of their own well-being in the sense that if a

person has high self-worth then they are able to effectively cope with hardships in life

as well as overcome failures. Rogers theorized that it is impossible for an individual

to achieve self-actualization if the three areas do not reach each other, i.e.,

incongruent. Hence, in the process of self-actualization, the individual must be able to

make the three areas congruent in the sense that they will adjust their perception of

self-image and self-worth, as well as creating a more realistic ideal self. The process

of self-actualization will lead to the possibility of the three areas overlapping and will

contribute to the life satisfaction of an individual. It is also in the theory that in order
for a person to have a positive outlook in life, they must be able to have a sense of

trust with oneself in terms of decision-making, freedom of choice, and adaptability

with society without conforming. The theory is able to provide support that a person’s

own mindset can be able to influence their entire outlook in life in the sense that

through the process of self-concept, they are able to know their own personalities

which may also include their optimism.

Shapero and Sokol’s Entrepreneurial Event Model (1982), as cited by Yamina

and Mohammed (2019), supports and connects to the Self Theory (1951). This model

obtains further insight into the study of entrepreneurial behaviors, as the data support

this model as a reliable framework for evaluating entrepreneurial intent. This model

consists of three parts. First, Perceived Desirability (PD) is a consequence of human

perceptions of the desirability of entrepreneurship that are affected by personal

attitudes, beliefs, and feelings; second, Perceived Feasibility (PF) is linked to an

individual's understanding of available resources. In other terms, it tests the personal

perception of the individual in order to carry out such acts. Third and last, the

Propensity to Act (PTA) is the personal disposition to act on its own decisions,

representing the volitional aspects of purpose. The model is that both intention-based

models are critical in deciding the market adventure process for evolving

entrepreneurial samples, in the midst of certain limitations on illustrating the role of

such constructs. In the theorists’ idea, the model focuses on the behavior of aspiring

entrepreneurs, which are related to evaluating their entrepreneurial attitudes. The

Entrepreneurial Event Model (EEM) gives an understanding of the value and

mentality of an entrepreneur. This model supports the Self Theory for the reason that

this model assesses the importance of understanding the individual’s insight. People

have different perspectives into their lives; it may be a positive or a negative

entrepreneurial mind are like having an optimistic mind. Moreover, the model can

describe the individual’s own thoughts that can lead to the development of their

aspirations in life which is related to the researchers’ analysis of the relationship

between optimism and a person's entrepreneurial skill.

Figure 1.2: Shapero and Sokol’s Entrepreneurial Event Model (1982)

Furthermore, the Achievement Theory of Motivation by David Clarence

McClelland (1961), which was cited by Maharjan (2018), supports and connects to

Shapero and Sokol’s Entrepreneurial Event Model (1982). McClelland believes that

this theory is all about the desires of a person changing over a period of time and

shifts because of different encountered experiences. McClelland further discusses the

influence of the individual's desire for achievement, power, and affiliation on their

behavior. McClelland divided the components of the theory into three: achievement,

power, and affiliation. People who are inspired by achievement are marked by a high

degree of performance and often look forward to excellence in their field; in

incentives, however, they need constant input from their superiors, which makes them

equate their anticipated successes with their real achievement. For power, McClelland

refers to the need for power as a need in people to be able to regulate one's actions.
These individuals are not motivated by recognition nor compensation, but rather by

agreement of others. McClelland also stated that individuals with this personality are

often more debating, aggressive, and optimistic than people who value

accomplishment. They are also known for their disciplined mindset. In affiliation, it is

identified as the positive response a person gets in exchange for an effective

relationship with people around him most of the time. Persons with such a personality

are often looking forward to warming interpersonal relations. Strong relations with

others establish affiliation, which leads to a positive and collaborative response.

McClelland indicates in the theory that employees must recognize or understand a

workplace comprised of a staff of a different nature to ensure they are adequately

empowering and obtaining the best from employees. It is connected to Shapero and

Sokol’s Entrepreneurial Event Model (1982) because Shapero and Sokol focus more

on different insights of individuals inline to entrepreneurship specifically in the field

of team effectiveness and the Achievement Theory of Motivation of David Clarence

McClelland (1961) can also be understood that a workplace consists of different

individuals with different thoughts and ideas in order to determine how effective their

work is. However, McClelland’s theory gives knowledge on how teams understand

team effectiveness further and understanding the various needs of the participants as

well as how they incorporate optimism in their motivating needs, such as

achievement, power, and affiliation.

These theories are connected to the current study of the researchers since the

aim of the researchers is to determine the correlation of optimism level towards the

team effectiveness skill of the respondents. These theories will provide a good basis

for the current study in determining if there is a significant relationship between

Management students.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES DEPENDENT VARIABLE

The Self as a Factor Entrepreneurial Skill:

Figure 2: A Schematic Presentation of the Variables of the Study

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The study’s main focus is to determine if optimism has an influence on the

team effectiveness skill of the Grade 12 Accountancy, Business, and Management

students in a Religious Virgin Mary (RVM) private institution located in Cagayan de

Oro City. Hence, it is the research’s goal to answer the following questions:

1. What is the level of optimism of the students in terms of the Self?

2. What is the level of entrepreneurial skill of the respondents in terms of team

effectiveness?

3. Is there a significant influence of the respondent’s optimism level to their

team effectiveness skill?

The researchers have identified a null hypothesis through detailed analysis of

the study which is presented below.

Ho: There is no significant influence of the participant’s level of optimism to

their entrepreneurial skill in terms of team effectiveness.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The study will focus on the Self as a factor of optimism and its influence on

the team effectiveness skill of the Grade 12 Accountancy, Business, and Management

(ABM) students. The researchers will only limit the study’s coverage to the Grade 12

ABM students who are currently enrolled in the school year 2020-2021 at a Religious

Virgin Mary (RVM) private institution of Cagayan de Oro City, province of Misamis

Oriental. The main objective of the study is to determine the optimism level and its

influence on the team effectiveness of the Grade 12 ABM students who aspire to

become entrepreneurs in the future. Since the students are currently facing a pandemic

and are only relying on their gadgets to engage in education, the instrument that will

be used in order to acquire their responses will be in the form of an online survey

questionnaire. This will only be given to the Grade 12 ABM students who are

included in the desired sample size of the study. Each question that will be put in the

online survey questionnaire will have its own set of choices which are relevant to the

main topic of the current study.

The findings of the study will give sufficient amount of information about the

influence of optimism to the team effectiveness skill of the Grade 12 ABM students.

This study will be of great contribution to the following:

Students. The study will be beneficial to the students. Even though the study

only focuses on the Grade 12 ABM students, students of other levels will be able to

learn from the study and develop their knowledge regarding the topic of the study.

They will also be able to use the findings of the study in terms of their entrepreneurial

endeavors in life.

Parents. Through this study, the parents are able to have a glimpse of how

important it is for their children to have an optimistic outlook in life. It is also possible

that parents can have an influence on the child’s self-concept in which they will be

able to teach their children about optimism and in return, will become a foundation

for the child in self-conceptualization.

Teachers. The results of the study will let teachers gain new knowledge on

how optimism influences the team effectiveness of the students therefore, helping the

them to improve their teaching, in terms of optimism as well as team effectiveness,

since they are also considered as role models to the students.

Future Researchers. The findings of the study will benefit future researchers

because they will be able to use it as one of their references for their future study

about the influence of optimism to the team effectiveness skill of a student. Future

researchers will also be able to find and fill gaps related to the current study and
provide other variables that can be considered to have an effect either on the optimism

of the students or their team effectiveness.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms are given definitions in this part of the chapter in order to

let the readers know these terms which have been used in the study:

Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM) – it is a branch of the academic

strand under the K-12 Curriculum of the Department of Education which includes the

teaching of concepts that is related and not only limited to entrepreneurship. The topic

of the study is related to the term being defined as it tackles about entrepreneurial

skill.

Grade 12 ABM Students – it refers to the individuals who are currently Grade 12 in

the school year 2020-2021 and who are presently under the ABM strand. This term is

used as the participants of the study.

Optimism – refers to the student’s positive outlook for the future, i.e., expectation of

a successful outcome in the future. The term defined serves as the main independent

variable of the participants that may influence their team effectiveness skill.

Senior High School Students – it refers to the individuals that are currently in Grade

11 and/or Grade 12. The term is used as the population size of the current study.

Team Effectiveness – refers to the ability of the student to be able to perform well

when situated in a group work which is considered as an entrepreneurial skill. The

term is considered as the dependent variable of the study.

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