Entrepreneurial and Intrapreneurial Orientation in Indian Enterprises:An Empirical Study

The present study examined the entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial orientation in terms of six attitudes, viz., achievement orientation, innovativeness, internal locus of control, risk-taking propensity, pro-activeness, and self-efficacy with reference to selected service provider enterprises of India. Both entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs perceived their attitudes (except ‘risk-taking propensity’) as moderately positive. Level of ‘achievement orientation’ and ‘self-efficacy’ vary significantly between the entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs and which was found to be significantly higher among intrapreneurs than the entrepreneurs; all other attitudes were found at same level among both entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs. Earlier research provided evidence that in the matter of ‘achievement motivation’ entrepreneurs are higher than the managers (intrapreneurs) but the findings of the present study contradict such a generalization. Earlier research indicates towards conflict between studies showing entrepreneurs exhibiting ‘moderating risk-taking propensity’ and the widely held believe that entrepreneurship involves ‘high risk-taking propensity’. However, in the present study, the entrepreneurs were found to have less than moderate risk-taking propensity, and thus, the issue remained inconclusive. Previous research suggests that innovation separates entrepreneurs from managers. In the present study, innovativeness of entrepreneurs as well as of intrapreneurs were found moderately positive. Earlier studies support that entrepreneurs are more internal than non-entrepreneurs. But, in the present study, Indian entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs were found to be moderately internal of by and large same degree and thus, such a finding does not match with the results of earlier study.