Intrapreneurship - An International Study

Abstract

This paper presents the first results of a novel international comparative study of intrapreneurship, i.e., employees developing new business activities for their employer. This study is based on an exploratory investigation in the framework of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2008, in which eleven countries participated. First, it was found that, on average, less than 5 percent of employees are intrapreneurs, and that in most countries its incidence in the adult population is significantly lower than that of early-stage entrepreneurial activity. In addition, the prevalence of intrapreneurship is about twice as high in high income countries as in low income countries, which is probably caused by a combination of a relatively high share of adults employed in multiperson organizations in high income countries and higher levels of autonomy of employees in these countries. Second, the relationship between intrapreneurship and independent entrepreneurship is analysed at the micro (individual) level as well as at the national level. We find that at the individual level, intrapreneurs are much more likely to have intentions to start a new independent business than other employees. However, there is a negative correlation between intrapreneurship and early-stage entrepreneurial activity at the macro level. One explanation for these contrasting outcomes is the diverging effect of per capita income on intrapreneurship (positive effect) and early-stage entrepreneurial activity (negative effect).