Explaining the entrepreneurial intentions of employees: the roles of societal norms, work-related creativity and personal resources.

Ng, Poh Yen; De Clercq, Dirk

Abstract

This article addresses the important question of why those in paid employment might be hesitant to start their own businesses. In particular, we predict how diminished work-related creativity of employees might mediate the relationship between their perceptions that societal norms do not support initiative taking and their own entrepreneurial intentions. In addition, we consider how risk tolerance and passion for work might buffer this process. Survey data, collected among public-sector employees in the United Arabic Emirates, confirm these predictions with the exception of indications for a buffering role of passion for work. For entrepreneurship stakeholders, this research reveals a critical factor – a diminished propensity to generate new ideas at work – by which employee beliefs about limited normative support for enterprising efforts may escalate into a reluctance to consider an entrepreneurial career. It also identifies how this process can be muted when employees are willing to take risks.

Citation

NG, P.Y. and DE CLERCQ, D. 2021. Explaining the entrepreneurial intentions of employees: the roles of societal norms, work-related creativity and personal resources. International small business journal [online], 39(8), pages 732-754. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242621996614

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 23, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 27, 2021
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2021
• Deposit Date: Feb 23, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 23, 2023
• Journal: International Small Business Journal: Researching Entrepreneurship
• Print ISSN: 0266-2426
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-2870
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 732-754
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242621996614
• Keywords: Conservation of resources theory; Entrepreneurial intentions; Normative adversity; Passion for work; Risk tolerance; Work-related creativity
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1892862