Corporate entrepreneurship antecedents and organization performance in Kenya: An empirical study
Keywords:
corporate entrepreneurship, internal environment, Kenya, organization, performanceAbstract
As research on internal environment for corporate entrepreneurship evolves, numerous
researchers have acknowledged it as an important strategy in promoting and fostering an
environment for innovation. The aim of this study was to adopt an entrepreneurship model
(Corporate Entrepreneurship Antecedents) predominantly developed and mostly applied in
developed economies. The model was then to be tested for its adaptability in an emerging
economy, in this case Kenya and establish its influence on organization performance. This has
remained largely untested. A quantitative study approach was carried out, using a questionnaire
survey to obtain responses from 43 established Kenyan banks. The findings indicated that
entrepreneurship models are contingent on the economic and environmental context.
Confirmatory factor analysis identified three specific dimensions that emerged from the original
five dimensions instrument adopted which are crucial for an environment conducive to
entrepreneurial behavior in Kenya. They include top management support, work
discretion/autonomy and rewards/reinforcement. These antecedents also strongly influenced the
organization performance and therefore offer timely contribution towards advanced research in
corporate entrepreneurship in emerging economies. This paper enriches understanding of the
contingent nature of entrepreneurship models, suggesting that emerging country context matters
in terms of organization internal environment for corporate entrepreneurship and its effect on
performance.
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