Entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial intentions: Analyzing the premise of distinct constructs with different determinants

Abstract

This study investigates the entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial intentions of the working-age population in Bosnia and Herzegovina by considering a set of demographic and entrepreneurial background factors. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 782 responses were collected. To test hypotheses, confirmatory factor analysis, Welch's t-test, one-way variance analysis with Brown-Forsythe, Welch's F, and least square difference post hoc tests were used. The results suggest several theoretical and practical implications. First, entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial intentions are statistically different constructs. Second, there were mixed results regarding demographic factors where age is a significant differentiator in entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial intentions, experience and education are partial, while gender is insignificant. Third, concerning entrepreneurial background factors, both entrepreneurial education and family are significant differentiators in entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial intentions. Finally, the study contributes to the current state of knowledge by empirically demonstrating divergence between entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial intentions, extending the comparative research to the working-age population, and providing implications within the context of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Age, entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial intentions: the mediating role of individual entrepreneurial orientation

“…Specifically, the role of age in intrapreneurial literature has primarily been explored in connection with intrapreneurial behavior. The exceptions to this trend include Douglas and Fitzsimmons (2013), who found age statistically insignificant concerning intrapreneurial intention, and Bičo et al (2022), who observed stronger intrapreneurial intention among younger age groups. Furthermore, the mechanism through which age relates to entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial intentions has yet to be sufficiently explored (Fayolle and Linan, 2014).…”

“…Thus, the present study also evaluates if older and younger employees possess similar levels of IEO and how that affects their propensity to become intrapreneurs. It is worth noting that although entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial intentions are very closely related concepts, often studied under the umbrella of entrepreneurship, they are distinct constructs (Douglas and Fitzsimmons, 2013; Bičo et al , 2022). However, these two concepts can share common antecedents, while the nature and strength of their relationships to these antecedents may diverge (Bičo et al , 2022).…”

“…Entrepreneurship has always been considered a young man’s game (Lévesque and Minniti, 2006). Previous research reveals that younger people have a stronger inclination and motivation to start a new business venture – entrepreneurial intention (Blanchflower et al , 2001; Curran and Blackburn, 2001; Hatak et al , 2015), and may also have a stronger desire to engage in entrepreneurial activities within an existing organization – intrapreneurial intention (Douglas and Fitzsimmons, 2013; Bičo et al , 2022). Even the few existing studies that did not detect a statistically significant relationship between age and entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial intentions nonetheless emphasized that such results are not reason enough to consider age an unimportant factor in the entrepreneurial equation (Nguyen, 2018; Douglas and Fitzsimmons, 2013).…”

“…The impact of demographic factors, such as age, varies across developed and developing economies in relation to entrepreneurship (Kropp et al , 2008; Bičo et al , 2022). While the existing literature on entrepreneurial intention has predominantly focused on developed countries, entrepreneurship is also critically important in developing nations (Hatak et al , 2015).…”

Assessing the entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial intentions of current and future labor forces: the role of entrepreneurial orientation

“…Although EI received significant attention in research, this was not the case with II since there are fewer of these studies available (Bi co et al, 2022). Numerous studies measure intentions through the population and the labor force.…”