Human behaviour, entrepreneurial narratives, and entrepreneurial intention of undergraduate university students in Kenya

Abstract

Entrepreneurial intention has proved to be an imperative and ongoing construct in entrepreneurship theory and research. Despite training youths in institutions of higher learning with the aim of venturing into self- employment, a large number continue to seek paid employment, with many of them remaining unemployed with low entrepreneurial intentions. The entrepreneurial narratives are critical to understanding the process of entrepreneurship. The relationship between entrepreneurial intentions and the entrepreneurial narrative of established small firms are neglected. The broad objective was to investigate the mediating effect of entrepreneurial narratives on the relationship between human behavior and entrepreneurial intentions. Specific objectives were: To determine the effect of human behavior on knowledge, inspiration, and transportation. Determine the effect of knowledge, inspiration, and transportation on entrepreneurial intention. To establish the effect of human behavior on entrepreneurial intention, investigate the mediating effect of knowledge on the relationship between human behavior and entrepreneurial intention, to determine the mating effect of knowledge and inspiration on the relationship between human behavior and entrepreneurial intention, to establish the mediating effect of knowledge and transportation on the relationship between human behavior and entrepreneurial intention, to investigate the mediating effect of inspiration and transportation on the relationship between human behavior and entrepreneurial intention, to determine the mediating effect of knowledge, inspiration and transportation on the relationship between human behavior and entrepreneurial intention. The study was guided by the Theory of planned behavior, Shapero’s entrepreneurial event theory and the Role model theory. A positivism paradigm using explanatory research design was used. The population comprised 6032 undergraduate university students who were in their fourth year of study between January and May 2019 doing business related courses. Random sampling techniques were used. The study sample size was 400 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires. Hayes model six was used to test hypothesis. The study findings indicated that human behavior has significant and positive effect on knowledge (β=0.85, p0.00<.05), inspiration (β=0.39, p0.00<.05), transportation (β=0.15, p 0.03 <.05). Knowledge from Narratives (β=0.139, p 0.013<.05), inspiration from Narratives (β=0.14, p 0.003<.05) and transportation from narratives (β=0.093, p 0.027<.05) were significantly associated with entrepreneurial intention. The relationship between human behaviors and intention was partially mediated by knowledge (β=0.119, BootLLCI=.003, BootULCI=.226), knowledge and inspiration (β=0.066, BootLLCI=.010, BootULCI=.128), knowledge and transportation (β=0.032, BootLLCI=.003, BootULCI=.073), inspiration and transport (β=0.011, BootLLCI=.01, BootULCI=.025), knowledge, inspiration and transport (β=0.012, BootLLCI=.002, BootULCI=.027). The Study concludes that human behavior and entrepreneurial narratives encourages entrepreneurial intentions among university students. Students who deduce knowledge, inspiration transportation from entrepreneurial narratives exhibit high entrepreneurial intention because of human behavior. The study therefore recommended that the level of attitude towards behavior and perceived behavioral control be increased to enhance entrepreneurial intention among the students. For instance, students could be convinced that having their own business is the other option for their career and that they can control the creation process of a new firm. Since knowledge partially mediates the relationship between human behavior and entrepreneurial intention, universities could ensure that there is specific knowledge about entrepreneurship learned from a storytelling to improve the participants' opportunity identification ability and their entrepreneurial intentions. v