Purpose This study aims to analyze how intrapreneurship influences commitment to work, employee satisfaction, innovative behaviour and employee performance in public organizations. Design/methodology/approach To develop this study, a structured questionnaire was applied to a sample of 503 employees from different Portuguese institutions. Data processing was performed using the structural equation modelling technique, using Smart PLS software. Findings The results show that intrapreneurship is positively associated with work engagement, employee satisfaction and innovative behaviour. Work engagement emerged as the strongest mechanism linking intrapreneurship to employee performance. Innovative behaviour showed a positive but marginal relationship with employee performance, suggesting that innovation-oriented behaviour may require organizational support to be translated into performance outcomes. Employee satisfaction, however, showed a negative relationship with performance, indicating that satisfaction alone may not be sufficient to improve employee outcomes in public institutions. Originality/value This study contributes to public sector intrapreneurship research by shifting attention from organizational-level innovation outcomes to employee-level attitudinal and behavioural mechanisms. It shows that work engagement, employee satisfaction and innovative behaviour should not be treated as interchangeable constructs and that the relationship between intrapreneurship and performance in public institutions is shaped by distinct mechanisms. The findings also contribute to entrepreneurship and public policy debates by highlighting the need for organizational and policy conditions that enable public employees to transform intrapreneurial initiative into innovation and performance.
Purpose This study explores how psychological capital (PsyC), social empowerment (SE), entrepreneurial opportunity recognition (EOR), and continued entrepreneurial pursuit (CEP) contribute to entrepreneurial performance satisfaction (EPS) among women entrepreneurs. It also examines how EOR and CEP mediate the influence of PsyC and SE on EPS across two contrasting institutional contexts: India, a developing economy with expanding entrepreneurial support structures, and Yemen, a least-developed economy characterised by institutional voids. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on Social Cognitive Theory and Social Capital Theory, the study adopts a quantitative cross-sectional design using standardised measurement scales. Data were collected from 179 women entrepreneurs from India (n = 97) and Yemen (n = 82) using purposive snowball sampling. Structural relationships were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Findings The findings reveal important contextual differences in how psychological and social resources influence entrepreneurial outcomes. Psychological capital (PsyC) positively influences entrepreneurial performance satisfaction (EPS) and continued entrepreneurial pursuit (CEP) in both countries, indicating its universal importance as an internal entrepreneurial resource. However, PsyC significantly enhances entrepreneurial opportunity recognition (EOR) only in India, suggesting that favourable institutional and market conditions are necessary for psychological resources to translate into opportunity identification. In contrast, social empowerment (SE) plays a stronger role in Yemen, where informal networks and community support compensate for weak institutional structures. While SE contributes to EPS in both contexts, its influence on opportunity recognition and entrepreneurial persistence is considerably stronger in Yemen. Furthermore, EOR acts as a context-dependent mediator: it mediates the effect of PsyC on EPS in India, whereas in Yemen it mediates the effect of SE on EPS. Continued entrepreneurial pursuit (CEP) does not mediate the relationship between PsyC/SE and EPS in either context. Originality/value This study provides a comparative analysis of women entrepreneurs operating in two contrasting institutional contexts. By identifying context-specific pathways linking psychological capital, social empowerment, and entrepreneurial outcomes, the study refines Social Cognitive Theory and Social Capital Theory and offers new insights into how institutional environments shape the drivers of entrepreneurial satisfaction.
Purpose The study aims to examine financial strategies (financial assistance, building financial management capacities and sound macroeconomic management) to tackle critical factors that cause the failure of startup businesses in developing and lower-middle-income countries. Design/methodology/approach Panel data covering 2000 to 2023 (quarterly data) from 70 developing and lower-middle-income countries and the pooled mean group model are employed for the analysis. Findings The study's result indicates that the provision of financial assistance, proper financial management capacity training programmes and sound macroeconomic management help to reduce the failure of startup businesses by tackling critical factors such as lack of financial assistance, weak financial management capacity and poor macroeconomic management. Practical implications The study recommends that governments and other stakeholders should work towards increasing their financial assistance, implementing more robust measures to build startup businesses' financial resilience, provide more financial management capacity training programmes and achieving sound macroeconomic management to help reduce higher failure of these businesses. Addressing these issues will help these startups to contribute significantly to employment creation and economic growth in these countries. Originality/value The study contributes significantly to existing empirical studies by examining financial strategies (financial assistance, financial management capacities and sound macroeconomic management) to help tackle critical factors that lead to higher failure of startup businesses in developing and lower-middle-income countries. Existing empirical studies have not addressed this issue; hence, the study fills the gap by focusing on this issue.
Purpose This study critiques the development studies, entrepreneurship, management and strategy (DEMS) theories by examining how they converge and diverge in their conceptual frameworks and applications based on previous studies to propose a comprehensive research agenda for future studies. Design/methodology/approach The thematic review with a seven-step approach is adopted to provide an explicit method for critically reviewing existing literature focusing on the four multidisciplinary areas: development studies, entrepreneurship, management and strategy. In the end, five findings emerged from the 34 critiqued theories. Findings The study identifies five key findings from analyzing 34 DEMS theories. First, DEMS theories both converge and diverge in their frameworks, particularly in development studies focused on economic growth. Second, integrating these theories offers insights but poses challenges, especially in reconciling differing perspectives. Third, recognizing these patterns is vital for shaping future research and promoting interdisciplinary studies. Fourth, contextual factors such as socioeconomic conditions and technological advances significantly influence these theories. Finally, emerging changes in socioeconomic, technological, legal and environmental factors drive theory integration and offer strategic solutions to current challenges. Originality/value This study's originality lies in its critical review of DEMS theories, analyzing their convergence and divergence across development, entrepreneurship, management, and strategy. By employing a seven-step thematic review, it highlights the intersections between these theories, identifies research gaps and proposes a comprehensive interdisciplinary research agenda. The study also examines the influence of socioeconomic, technological and environmental changes on theory integration, offering strategic insights for addressing modern challenges.
PurposeThis research examines previous studies on the relationship between social capital and community-based financing (CBF), focusing on the essential role of social capital in enabling an inclusive financial ecosystem. The antecedent, mediator/moderator, outcome (AMO) framework will delineate the functions of these concepts to clarify the positioning of social capital within the empirical model related to CBF. Design/methodology/approachThis research employs a rigorous bibliometric–systematic literature review (B–SLR) to examine a range of prior studies dating back to 2024. This study carefully identifies the keywords for extracting data from the dataset. Therefore, three inclusion criteria – suitability to research questions, publication type, and publication quality – were utilised to extract the data. To analyse the data, this review employs both bibliometric analysis, a quantitative approach, and content analysis, a qualitative approach. FindingsWe identified 120 articles that fulfilled our criteria. Our bibliometric analysis reveals a consistent increase in publications examining the relationship between social capital and CBF from 1995 to 2024. The content analysis revealed a strong correlation between CBF and social capital. We propose a framework for forthcoming social capital and CBF research using the AMO framework. Originality/valueThis research makes a distinct contribution by systematically examining the role of social capital in CBF through the AMO framework. It offers valuable insights into the impact of social capital on the effectiveness of such financing models. The findings enhance scholarly comprehension and provide actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners to strengthen financial inclusion and bolster socio-economic resilience through CBF for local businesses.
Purpose Grounded in dynamic capabilities theory (DCT), this study investigates the mechanisms linking innovation strategy to post-COVID-19 recovery performance of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana. It critically tests the presumed mediating roles of three micro-foundations, namely business agility (seizing), new idea search (sensing) and frugal spending (transforming), in a resource-constrained, post-crisis context. Design/methodology/approach A survey was administered to 243 owners and managers of Ghanaian MSMEs in the manufacturing and service sectors during the post-pandemic recovery period. Data were analysed using covariance-based structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the hypothesised mediation model. Findings Innovation strategy has a significant positive direct effect on MSME recovery performance. However, contrary to expectations derived from literature on constrained environments, only business agility significantly mediates this relationship. New idea search and frugal spending show no significant mediating effects. Originality/value This study provides a critical contextual refinement of DCT. First, it reveals a temporal hierarchy of dynamic capabilities in post-crisis recovery, in which the seizing function (agility) is paramount over sensing (search) or transforming (frugal reconfiguration). Second, it challenges the narrative of frugality as a key dynamic capability in such settings, positing it instead as a universal “hygiene factor” rather than a performance-differentiating mediator. Third, it demonstrates that, in this context, agility is enacted through informal, tactical adjustments rather than formal strategic planning. These findings advance theory by delineating boundary conditions for DCT's micro-foundations and offer counter-intuitive insights for MSME support in an emerging economy. Finally, the study translates these insights into targeted policy actions for MSME recovery in emerging economies, directly linking entrepreneurial capability to economic development strategy.
Purpose This study examines the dynamic impact of legal system and property rights (LSPR) institutions on investment and entrepreneurial activity across countries with varying income levels. By analyzing how institutional improvements influence economic behavior over time, this research aims to provide insights into the role of LSPR in fostering sustainable economic development, particularly in developing economies. Design/methodology/approach The study utilizes a fixed-effects dynamic panel regression model with lagged dependent variables to assess the short and long-term effects of LSPR on investment and entrepreneurship. By conducting separate analyses for low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income countries, the study provides a nuanced perspective on how LSPR influences economic outcomes across different stages of development. To ensure the validity of the findings, robustness checks are also performed. Findings The results reveal that improvements in LSPR lead to an immediate and sustained increase in investment, whereas entrepreneurial responses emerge with a delay, suggesting a gradual adaptation to institutional changes. The impact is most pronounced in low-income countries, where stronger LSPR institutions significantly enhance both investment and entrepreneurship. In contrast, high-income countries, already equipped with well-established legal and property rights frameworks, exhibit minimal responsiveness. These findings underscore the critical role of institutional development in driving economic growth, particularly in developing nations. Research limitations/implications This study is subject to several limitations. The LSPR index primarily captures formal legal protections and may not fully reflect informal institutions or regional disparities. Data gaps and reporting inconsistencies across countries also constrain comparability, particularly in entrepreneurship measures. While robustness checks strengthen confidence in the results, potential endogeneity and unobserved shocks cannot be fully ruled out. Despite these limitations, the findings underscore the critical role of institutional reforms in fostering investment and entrepreneurship, especially in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Policymakers should tailor institutional strengthening strategies to developmental stages for more inclusive and sustainable growth. Practical implications The findings highlight that strengthening LSPR can significantly enhance investment and entrepreneurship, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Policymakers should prioritize judicial independence, contract enforcement, and secure property rights to create predictable business environments. For upper-middle- and high-income economies, complementary measures such as innovation incentives, regulatory streamlining, and trade integration may be necessary to sustain growth. Development agencies and governments should design stage-specific institutional reforms that not only attract capital and foster entrepreneurship but also ensure inclusive participation and long-term economic resilience. Social implications Strengthening LSPR extends beyond economic benefits to broader social outcomes. Secure institutions reduce uncertainty, foster trust, and promote fairness by safeguarding private assets and minimizing arbitrary state intervention. In low-income contexts, reforms can encourage the formalization of businesses, creating jobs and widening access to economic opportunities. Over time, inclusive institutional frameworks can reduce inequality, empower marginalized groups, and enhance social stability. By ensuring that entrepreneurship and investment are driven by transparent and equitable rules, stronger LSPR institutions support not only growth but also more cohesive, resilient, and inclusive societies. Originality/value This study advances the literature by analyzing the dynamic effects of institutional changes, particularly property rights, on entrepreneurship and investment. Unlike existing research that primarily examines static relationships, this study captures immediate and long-term impacts, highlighting how these effects vary across countries at different income levels. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers seeking to enhance investment, foster entrepreneurship, and drive sustainable economic growth through institutional reforms.
Purpose-Crowdfunding (CF) is rapidly emerging as a burgeoning industry, revolutionizing the financing of entrepreneurial projects. In donation-based Crowdfunding (DCF), Donors provide financial support without expecting financial returns, driven solely by social or personal motivations. This study aims to assess the creation of social impact through donors' strategic decisions in DCF of Social entrepreneurship projects. Design/methodology/approach-This research uses a case study approach to analyze a DCF campaign in Iran for a social entrepreneurship project. Finally, the results of a social return on investment (SROI) analysis were examined through game theory. Findings-Social value was measured through an SROI assessment that compares food distribution and employment generation interventions. The values obtained from the social impact calculation were then incorporated into a game theory model to examine how trust and perceived SROI jointly influence donors' strategic decisions and the resulting equilibrium outcomes. Originality/value-First, this study demonstrates that DCF can lead to widespread social impact and make a significant contribution to social entrepreneurship initiatives. Second, integrating trust and SROI within a game theory framework revealed that donors' preferences and strategic decisions determine the social impact generated in CF campaigns for social entrepreneurship projects. Third, trust, as a catalytic factor, can enhance the success of high-impact social entrepreneurship projects in DCF campaigns. This study contributes to the success of entrepreneurs and CF platforms by providing a comprehensive understanding of the factors that drive a DCF project's success.
PurposeThis article focuses on proposing fifteen suggestions to the most pressing challenges faced by impact-driven fintechs. These solutions were built alongside the entrepreneurs' testimonials and the knowledge drawn from literature on the types of challenges they face and how they might be overcome. We highlight the importance of this type of startup and of our suggestions to foster impactful, effective, and meaningful social change.Design/methodology/approachThis article used an exploratory approach, based on twelve interviews with the founders and co-founders of ten Brazilian inclusion-driven fintechs gathered through semi-structured interviews following Kallio et al. (2016) guidelines. The data analysis followed the six phases proposed by Braun and Clarke (2006), and findings were triangulated with the entrepreneurs' statements and with secondary data from nonscientific online sources.FindingsThe findings evidence that the success of impact fintechs is deeply rooted in the entrepreneur's ability to navigate a variety of Knowledge-related, Process-related and Network-related challenges. This article offers 15 practical suggestions to help inclusion-driven entrepreneurs overcome pressing challenges throughout their journey.Practical implicationsThe findings can support newcomers in forecasting and surpassing challenges that threaten the sustainability and survival of impact startups, contributing to their long-term success.Social implicationsBy supporting impact fintechs, this study helps enable scalable financial solutions to persistent social and environmental issues.Originality/valueThis article fills a knowledge gap on overcoming barriers in impact fintechs to advance social transformation.
PurposeAcknowledging the pivotal importance of entrepreneurial orientation for firms' survival, researchers are investigating the contextual factors that could modify the relationship between entrepreneurial education at the post-secondary level and entrepreneurial orientation. Drawing on institutional and managerial discretion theories, this study examined, using archival data, whether online freelancers with varying levels of entrepreneurial education and cultural backgrounds exhibit lower or higher levels of entrepreneurial orientation, as evidenced by their sales pitches on online freelancing platforms.Design/methodology/approachThis research used text analysis methodology to study entrepreneurial orientation, entrepreneurial education at the post-secondary level and culture. It is achieved by first quantifying entrepreneurial orientation through a search of the entrepreneurial orientation's word list in sales descriptions of 25,000 online freelancers from 58 countries, and then conducting correlation and regression tests to examine the moderating effect of cultural values on the relationship between entrepreneurial education at the post-secondary level and entrepreneurial orientation.FindingsThe study found that entrepreneurial education at the post-secondary level affects the entrepreneurial orientation of society's online freelancers; however, all cultural moderators do not influence this relationship. Assertiveness, humane orientation and performance orientation are the only cultural values that moderate the entrepreneurial orientation level. Moreover, findings suggest that culture has a critical role in generating strategic results and a positive impact of entrepreneurial education programs on entrepreneurial orientation.Originality/valueThis study employed sales pitches (sales descriptions) of online freelancers (archival data), representing a pioneering application of such data in examining entrepreneurial orientation. By focusing on online freelancers - an emerging mode of work - the study provides an ideal context for conducting this investigation. It further extends the scope of entrepreneurship research by elucidating the role of culture in shaping entrepreneurial orientation within the dynamic environment of global freelancing platforms. This research directly addresses ongoing calls in the literature for deeper inquiry into the contextual factors influencing entrepreneurial orientation.
PurposeThis study aims to examine the evaluation criteria employed by funders in early-stage entrepreneurial investments in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Design/methodology/approachA qualitative methodology was used, based on 20 interviews with private and public investors, with the data analyzed through NVivo software.FindingsInternal factors - such as entrepreneurial commitment, team quality, scalability and revenue potential - emerge as the dominant drivers. External considerations, including market dynamics, regulatory conditions and macroeconomic factors, also play a significant role. Findings reveal distinct approaches across investor types. Angel investors emphasize founder commitment and mentorship, and venture capitalists prioritize scalability and innovation, while government agencies align investments with strategic national priorities through grants and incubation programs.Practical implicationsThis study underscores the importance of improved investor-startup alignment through digital platforms, structured due diligence and clear exit strategies. Recommendations include streamlining regulatory frameworks, enhancing public-private partnerships and expanding networking channels to strengthen the UAE's entrepreneurial ecosystem and similar emerging markets.Originality/valueBy integrating structural and behavioral investment factors, this research contributes to the understanding of funder decision-making and offers actionable insights for investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers seeking to foster innovation-led startup growth.
PurposeThis study investigates the impact of entrepreneurial orientation, digital literacy, and the adoption of digital-based innovation on public service performance. It addresses the need for public organizations to improve their responsiveness to citizen demands.Design/methodology/approachAn explanatory research design was employed, drawing on the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Affordance Theory to develop hypotheses. Data was collected through an online survey of 100 public sector employees in Indonesia who are directly involved in innovation processes. Data analysis was conducted using the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) method with SmartPLS 4 software.FindingsThe results demonstrate that entrepreneurial orientation and digital literacy positively influence the adoption of digital-based public service innovation. Furthermore, the adoption of digital innovation mediates the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on public service performance. However, digital literacy did not moderate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and digital innovation adoption.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that public organizations should enhance their adoption of digital innovations and equip their staff with both entrepreneurial orientation and digital literacy to improve service delivery and performance outcomes.Originality/valueThis study provides new insights into the role of entrepreneurial orientation and digital literacy as antecedents for promoting digital innovation in public organizations, offering guidance for public institutions aiming to optimize service performance in a rapidly digitalizing environment.
PurposeThis paper investigates how public procurement practices in Nigeria's construction sector address worker welfare and social value creation. It aims to identify institutional barriers and recommend strategies for embedding social outcomes into procurement processes in higher education institutions (HEIs).Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative approach grounded in institutional theory, the study draws on interviews with 19 professionals involved in public tertiary institution construction projects. Reflexive thematic analysis is applied to explore how health and safety, ethical labour practices and welfare measures are implemented in practice in alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).FindingsThe findings reveal significant gaps between formal procurement requirements and site-level implementation. While regulations mandate worker protections, compliance is often undermined by weak enforcement, low contractor commitment and cultural assumptions about casual labour. Institutional misalignments across the regulative, normative and cultural-cognitive pillars result in the limited integration of social value in procurement practice in HEIs.Research limitations/implicationsTo enhance social value in public construction, procurement agencies should strengthen enforcement mechanisms, incorporate clear social criteria in tendering processes and build normative support for ethical labour standards. Institutional reform is needed to move beyond cost efficiency towards inclusive and responsible procurement that highlights responses from entrepreneurs.Practical implicationsTo enhance social value in public construction, procurement agencies should strengthen enforcement mechanisms, incorporate clear social criteria in tendering processes and build normative support for ethical labour standards. Institutional reform is needed to move beyond cost efficiency towards inclusive and responsible procurement.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the literature by offering empirical insights from a developing country context, highlighting how institutional factors constrain the social function of procurement. It presents practical recommendations to embed social value in construction procurement and improve worker well-being through normative and cultural shifts.
PurposeThe purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature on student entrepreneurship careers, examining trends, themes and collaborative networks from 1988 to 2024.Design/methodology/approachUtilizing data extracted from the Scopus database, a total of 683 journal articles, the research identifies key publications, authors and journals contributing to the field, revealing a significant increase in scholarly output and collaboration over the decades.FindingsThe thematic evaluation highlights the evolution of research focus, transitioning from foundational concepts like entrepreneurial intention and self-employment to emerging themes such as social entrepreneurship, digital transformation and sustainability. Co-authorship and co-occurrence analyses illustrate the interconnectedness of research topics and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in entrepreneurship education. The findings underscore the critical role educational institutions play in shaping entrepreneurial mindsets and competencies among students, preparing them for the complexities of modern careers.Originality/valueThis study provides valuable insights for researchers, educators and policymakers, emphasizing the need for ongoing exploration of uncharted areas, such as the impact of digital tools and the role of diversity in entrepreneurship education. Ultimately, it advocates for a holistic approach to entrepreneurship education that integrates contemporary social issues, fostering responsible and innovative future entrepreneurs.
PurposeThis editorial addresses the central question: How do public policy, institutional arrangements and cultural contexts shape the emergence and evolution of social and entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems across geographies? It aims to synthesize insights from a diverse set of studies within the special issue to clarify how contextual dynamics influence the structure, performance and inclusiveness of innovation ecosystems. The purpose is to advance a policy-aware, comparative understanding of how ecosystems function within distinct socio-political and cultural environments and to articulate a justice-oriented research agenda for sustainable ecosystem development.Design/methodology/approachIt synthesizes eight peer-reviewed contributions presented at the 2024 International Public Policy Association Workshop TO8W02 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The papers encompass conceptual development, systematic and bibliometric review, discourse analysis and context-rich case studies drawn from Europe and the Global South. Together, they provide multi-level insights into how public policy, institutional arrangements and cultural contexts interact to shape innovation ecosystems. Through comparative synthesis, the editorial integrates theoretical and empirical perspectives to reveal cross-context patterns, divergences and emerging pathways for sustainable and inclusive ecosystem development.FindingsCross-cutting themes include the centrality of networks and hybrid actors, policy as both enabler and gatekeeper, and the need to embed sustainability normatively. Divergences arise in policy translation, ecosystem readiness and cultural embeddedness across places. The issue broadens ecosystem thinking into human security/peacebuilding and charts recent knowledge trajectories.Research limitations/implicationsAs a curated set, findings reflect selected contexts and methods. The editorial calls for comparative, longitudinal and co-produced research, stronger Global South knowledge leadership and frameworks that integrate epistemic diversity and iterative policy learning.Practical implicationsInvest in cultural infrastructure; design inclusive cross-sector coordination; support translocal/global-local linkages; and institutionalize reflexive, adaptive governance that aligns strategy, implementation and participatory processes with sustainability.Social implicationsContext-sensitive ecosystems can strengthen state-society relations, advance inclusion, and address complex socio-economic and human-security challenges when sustainability and knowledge justice guide design and evaluation.Originality/valueOffers an integrated, policy-aware synthesis across regions and methods; extends ecosystem thinking to security governance; and advances a justice-oriented agenda foregrounding epistemic diversity, sustainability and comparative, context-sensitive scholarship.
PurposeIn emerging countries, households usually resort to micro-entrepreneurship for their livelihood and to cope with adversity, whereas social distancing measures during pandemics hinder these options. Using the dynamic capabilities framework, we analyze the conditions under which e-commerce enables household micro-entrepreneurship and livelihood resilience in times of adversity.Design/methodology/approachWe assume that e-commerce capabilities have enabling and moderating effects on the relationship between distancing measures and micro-entrepreneurship in the food and accommodation sector. The hypotheses are tested in Indonesia, which implemented COVID-19-related social distancing unevenly across administrative districts. This context presents a natural experiment, which we exploit using a difference-in-differences on population survey data.FindingsWhile household micro-entrepreneurship decreased on average across Indonesia, it increased significantly in districts implementing restriction measures, and household e-commerce capabilities further enhanced this effect. This reveals the enabling role of e-commerce adoption for household micro-entrepreneurship and livelihood resilience during adversity in emerging countries, with implications for theory and practice.Originality/valueThis paper addresses the lack of theoretical and empirical research on the enabling role of digital technologies in micro-entrepreneurial and resilience processes. More specifically, it focuses on households facing adversity in emerging countries, combining digitalization and micro-entrepreneurship to build livelihood resilience strategies.
PurposeThis article investigates the moderating-mediation roles of value-risk perception and digital financial literacy between AI accounting tools adoption and financial reporting quality for decision-making among family firms in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachA snowball sampling technique was used in the selection of 367 female artisan entrepreneurs in Accra and Ho (2 major cities in Ghana). Regression analysis was used to assess the hypothesized paths.FindingsThe findings show that value-risk perception moderates the mediated link between digital financial literacy and financial reporting quality among female artisanal entrepreneurs in Ghana.Research limitations/implicationsThe article fails to take into account changing behavioral dynamics of female artisan entrepreneurs' overtime.Originality/valueThe article is one of the first to explore AI adoption for intermediate accounting practices among female artisan entrepreneurs in an emerging economy.
PurposeEntrepreneurship drives economic growth, innovation and job creation. Governments and educational institutions worldwide recognize the importance of encouraging and helping potential entrepreneurs. This study investigates how country entrepreneurship support (CES), university entrepreneurship support (UES) and entrepreneurial self-efficacy influence independence-oriented intentions and sustainability-driven entrepreneurshipDesign/methodology/approachBy adopting the quantitative method and following the convenience sampling technique, an online survey was distributed via social media to gather the data, and 326 people were involved in the sample. The CFA measurement model proposes that the suggested data is appropriate for empirical analysis, and structural equation modelling analysis was adopted for the hypothesis analysis through Mplus.FindingsThe dependent variable, independence-oriented intention, was only influenced by entrepreneurial self-efficacy. In contrast, it was not influenced by country and university entrepreneurial support. The second dependent variable, sustainability-driven entrepreneurial, was influenced by country entrepreneurial support and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. In contrast, it was not influenced by university entrepreneurial support. The present study aims to enhance our comprehension of the entrepreneurship phenomenon within various national and cultural contexts.Originality/valueThe study shows how country entrepreneurial support, entrepreneurial self-efficacy and university entrepreneurial support affect entrepreneurship. This study assesses the efficacy of current support policies and programs.
Purpose-This study aims to examine how entrepreneurial intention (EI), entrepreneurial incubation resources (EIR) and their interaction shape pre-start-up behaviour among rural youth in fragile socio-economic ecosystems. By analysing the case of Jammu & Kashmir, India, the research explores how incubation support strengthens the conversion of entrepreneurial intention into concrete entrepreneurial action, particularly in agrarian contexts. Design/methodology/approach-A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 312 rural youth enrolled in incubation programs and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). This was followed by qualitative interviews with 15 rural youth entrepreneurs to contextualize and deepen the quantitative findings. Findings-Entrepreneurial intention significantly predicts pre-start-up behaviour (ss = 0.41), yet intention alone is insufficient. Entrepreneurial incubation resources exert both direct (ss = 0.33) and moderating (ss = 0.17, p < 0.05) effects on PSB, strengthening the conversion of intention into action. The findings validate the entrepreneurial ecosystem theory by showing that motivation and ecosystem enablers jointly drive early-stage entrepreneurial behaviour. Qualitative insights confirm that EIRs - especially agri-focused incubation - enhance youth confidence, access and legitimacy in pursuing agripreneurship. Research limitations/implications-The cross-sectional design limits causal inference. Future longitudinal studies could explore the evolution of incubation engagement and its long-term outcomes. The sample, while rural and diverse, was limited to one region, and findings may not generalize to other contexts without further validation. Practical implications-The study highlights the importance of strengthening rural incubation ecosystems. Tailored incubation models - especially those supporting agripreneurship - can close the intention-action gap, promote youth-led ventures and stimulate inclusive rural development. Policymakers and incubator managers must design context-sensitive support structures that address local constraints and sectoral needs. Originality/value-This study advances entrepreneurial intention research by embedding it within the entrepreneurial ecosystem theory, offering a novel perspective on how incubation resources moderate the intention-behaviour link. It uniquely extends this discourse to fragile, rural and agrarian contexts - an area largely overlooked in mainstream entrepreneurship literature. By combining micro-level motivational constructs with meso-level ecosystem enablers through a rigorous mixed-methods design, the study contributes both theoretical depth and empirical relevance to rural entrepreneurship scholarship.
Purpose This study takes a direct approach to examine how the owner-operators’ entrepreneurial behavior and managerial competence impact the performance of small enterprises operating in the economically, politically, and environmentally fragile and resource-scarce context of the Horn of Africa (HoA) sub-region. These enterprises are the major drivers of the sub-region’s socio-economic development. Thus far, efforts in the sub-region have primarily focused on external factors, with little attention to the direct and observed behaviors and competence of the owners who operate the enterprises prevailing over the multiple adversities. Design/methodology/approach The study empirically tested the relationships of entrepreneurial behavior (EB), managerial competence (MC), entrepreneurial bricolage (EBR), and the small enterprises’ performance (SEP). The study also accounts for the interference of competition intensity (CI) in the relationships. It is based on survey data collected from 137 owners who operate small enterprises in Ethiopia, a core state in the Horn of Africa (HoA) sub-region. Findings The findings of this study supported the hypothesized relationships that entrepreneurial behavior, bricolage, and managerial competence positively and significantly contribute to the performance of the small enterprises. The moderation effect further reveals that competition intensity positively moderates the relationship between managerial competence and small enterprise performance. Our findings highlight the significance of strengthening entrepreneurial behavior and managerial competence of the owners to operate enterprises that prevail over the multiple adversities. Practical implications Policies and development initiatives in fragile and resource-scarce economies mostly concentrate on institutional factors; they rarely take direct approaches to enhancing the owner-operators’ potential (entrepreneurial behavior, bricolage and managerial competence), which is crucial to challenge conventional norms, envision beyond the immediate and unlock the untapped potential of the context. This study sheds light on the significance of strengthening the owner-operators’ observable behaviors and competence that act on and utilize the institutional resources to make valuable offerings. Originality/value By taking a direct approach, this study offers integrated and practical implications that complement existing efforts in the sub-region, which have primarily focused on external factors, aiming at strengthening the enterprises' performance and scaling up their contribution. The study integrated EB, MC, EBR and SEP and considered CI as a moderator to provide police-makers and development workers with a holistic view for an integrated intervention. The empirical evidence from this typically fragile and resource-constrained study context extends previous findings and the applicability of entrepreneurship theories.
