‘I know it all’ - overconfidence in digital entrepreneurial competencies among higher education students

Krstić, Jelena and Veselinović, Nevena and Simović, Vladimir and Domazet, Ivana and Lazić, Milena (2026) ‘I know it all’ - overconfidence in digital entrepreneurial competencies among higher education students. The International Journal of Management Education, 24 (3). ISSN 2352-3565

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Abstract

Digital entrepreneurial competencies (DEC) are increasingly important for participation in digitally mediated economic environments, yet little is known about how accurately students assess their own competencies in this domain. This study examines the calibration between self-assessed and objectively measured DEC on a sample of 113 higher-education students in Serbia. Using matched data from a self-assessment survey and a knowledge and ability test, the analysis investigates (1) whether students systematically over- or underestimate their competencies, (2) which individual and curricular factors are associated with objective test performance, (3) which factors explain the gap between perceived and actual competencies, and (4) whether calibration moderates the relationship between learning exposure and competencies outcomes. Results show a positive calibration gap at the cohort level, indicating that students tend to overestimate their competencies relative to objective test performance. Objective performance appears program- dependent, while older students and those with work experience exhibit smaller perception–performance gaps. Calibration does not significantly moderate exposure–competencies relationships. The findings highlight the importance of combining self-assessment with objective measures when evaluating DEC.

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