Translating entrepreneurial intention to behaviour amongst micro and small entrepreneurs

What is it about?

Most emerging economies are highly dependent on small and medium enterprises as they make up for majority of the businesses and employment. Hence, such countries have attempted to instil entrepreneurial intention among youth through various interventions and researchers have been focused on understanding what influences these intentions. However, entrepreneurial intention often does not translate into start-up behaviour, and this is known as the intention-behaviour gap. Therefore, our study aims to provide a holistic understanding of what influences this gap. In addition, our study explores influences that are specific to an emerging economy such as Malaysia, which is highly dependent on small scale self-employment. We found that immediate social networks such as family and friends are the main driver that translates entrepreneurial intention to action as they provide financial and social resources as well as other means of support such as practical help and business opportunities. Social networks also play a role in instilling passion and drive. However, in the context where individuals were are starting a business for a living, they relied on social networks, while government support is less emphasised. Hence, this calls for policymakers to implement such financial and social support for those transitioning into self-employment. We also found that entrepreneurial traits enable individuals to overcome structural barriers to entrepreneurship. Hence, entrepreneurship programmes need to cultivate such traits in order to develop resilient entrepreneurs.

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