dc.description.abstract |
The development of entrepreneurial intensity in an enterprise is important in
accelerating the innovation of new products and services. This study examined the
influence of the enterprise profile and external environment on enterprise performance
through entrepreneurial intensity in the hotel enterprises in Uasin Gishu County,
Kenya. The specific objectives were to determine; the influence of the enterprise
profile on entrepreneurial intensity, the relationship between external environment and
entrepreneurial intensity, the influence of entrepreneurial intensity on enterprise
performance; relationship between enterprise profile and performance through
entrepreneurial intensity and the influence of the external environment on enterprise
performance through entrepreneurial intensity. The objectives of this study were
achieved through developing an entrepreneurial intensity and performance model.
This study was guided by the psychological, behavioral and social cognitive theories
of entrepreneurship. The study was anchored on a realist ontology and a postpositivist
epistemology. The research design was a survey. From a target population of 4465, a
sample of 450 respondents consisting of 297 hotel enterprise employees and 153 hotel
enterprise owners participated in the study. Questionnaires were the main data
collection instruments. Data was analyzed using the Structural Equation Modelling
(SEM) technique. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to explore possible
underlying factor structure of observed variables before Confirmatory Factor Analysis
(CFA) was undertaken to verify the factor structure. SEM was used to test the study
hypotheses. The results of this study show that the enterprise profile influenced
entrepreneurial intensity (β=0.822, p<0.001); external environment had a significant
relationship with entrepreneurial intensity (β=0.214, p<0.001). There was a positive
influence of entrepreneurial intensity on enterprise performance (β=0.900, p<0.001).
However, there was no relationship between enterprise profile (β=0.003, p>0.05),
external environment (β =0.032, p>0.05) and enterprise performance through
entrepreneurial intensity. The findings of this study indicate that the enterprise profile
and external environment influenced entrepreneurial intensity which enhanced
enterprise performance. Enterprise performance is derived from entrepreneurial
intensity influenced by the enterprise profile and external environment. This study
concludes that entrepreneurial intensity is industry specific. Hence, enterprises that
wish to be entrepreneurial should cultivate organizational conditions conducive to the
development of entrepreneurial intensity. This study recommends a reward and
recognition system with its related bonus scheme which are appropriate for
incremental entrepreneurial activities at the individual and team levels. Hotel
enterprises should monitor the external environment and develop appropriate
strategies to counter environmental threats which may arise. Hotel enterprise owners
should encourage entrepreneurial behaviour through recognition and acting as role
models to employees. They should also embrace failure and success to enhance
entrepreneurial behaviour within their enterprises. |
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