ENTREMPLOYEES AS A TYPE OF HYBRID ENTREPRENEUR: A THEORETICAL EXPLANATION OF HOW THE ENVIRONMENT SHAPES ENTREPRENEURS

Abstract

This paper describes a growing but under-documented entrepreneurial phenomenon called entremployees. This is a hybrid form of entrepreneurship, whereby an individual simultaneously pursues a dual career in both formal employment and, based on that employment, entrepreneurship. Typically, in the mainstream literature, entrepreneurship and formal employment are understood as being mutually exclusive phenomena — one either gets a job or engages in entrepreneurship. However, Zimbabwe’s economic downturn in the last two decades has catalysed the growth of entremployeeism. The paper first outlines the characteristics of entremployeeism. Motivating factors including the external environment as push factors are discussed. The theories that beckon entremployeeism as a distinct form of entrepreneurship are presented. Finally, implications for theory and future research conclude the paper.