Personality traits and intrapreneurial behaviour

Abstract

Purpose Intrapreneurship is rapidly concerning organizations to tailor their operations and strategies for competitive advantage. Research on intrapreneurial dimensions is in the developing stage, requiring more rigorous methods of investigation and application in various contexts. This study aims to focus on individual level intrapreneurship by examining the association of personality traits (PTs) on intrapreneurial behaviour (IB) moderated by knowledge sharing behaviour (KSB) and comparison of employees in engineering and functional departments. Design/methodology/approach A survey has been conducted for data collection using a structured questionnaire. Partial least squares structural equation modelling has been used for hypotheses testing, moderation and multi-group analysis on a sample of 534 respondents. Findings Results reveal that PTs exerted a positive influence on IB. The impact of PTs on IB was more pronounced in the employees of functional departments. KSB moderates positively in the relationship between PTs and IB. Both groups significantly differ in dimensions of PTs. Practical implications Organizations can do little to improve PTs of employees, which impacts on intrapreneurship in organizations. However, KSB in organizations can be improved by adopting various measures. KSB eventually promotes innovation in organizations resulting in an overall competitive advantage for firms. Originality/value This is the first study that contributes theoretically in intrapreneurship literature by providing insights on PTs impacting IB incorporating KSB and comparing the diverse group of employees.