Corporate entrepreneurship antecedents and organization performance in Kenya: An empirical study

Abstract

As research on internal environment for corporate entrepreneurship evolves, numerousresearchers have acknowledged it as an important strategy in promoting and fostering anenvironment for innovation. The aim of this study was to adopt an entrepreneurship model(Corporate Entrepreneurship Antecedents) predominantly developed and mostly applied indeveloped economies. The model was then to be tested for its adaptability in an emergingeconomy, in this case Kenya and establish its influence on organization performance. This hasremained largely untested. A quantitative study approach was carried out, using a questionnairesurvey to obtain responses from 43 established Kenyan banks. The findings indicated thatentrepreneurship models are contingent on the economic and environmental context.Confirmatory factor analysis identified three specific dimensions that emerged from the originalfive dimensions instrument adopted which are crucial for an environment conducive toentrepreneurial behavior in Kenya. They include top management support, workdiscretion/autonomy and rewards/reinforcement. These antecedents also strongly influenced theorganization performance and therefore offer timely contribution towards advanced research incorporate entrepreneurship in emerging economies. This paper enriches understanding of thecontingent nature of entrepreneurship models, suggesting that emerging country context mattersin terms of organization internal environment for corporate entrepreneurship and its effect onperformance.