Title: Drivers of employee entrepreneurial intention: a study of the oil and gas sector in Qatar

Authors: Salem Al-Halbadi; Boumediene Ramdani; Wafi Al-Karaghouli

Addresses: Marketing and Management Department, College of Business and Economics, Qatar University, Qatar ' Centre for Entrepreneurship and Organizational Excellence, College of Business and Economics, Qatar University, Qatar ' Brunel Business School, Brunel University London, UK

Abstract: Many employees are opting to start new businesses while working full-time for established firms. Although employee entrepreneurship has attracted much attention recently, very little is known on what motivates employees with high income and secure employment contracts to form their entrepreneurial intention. Using the integrated behavioural model and expectancy theory, data was collected from 509 employees working for the oil and gas companies in the state of Qatar. Results from a structural equation modelling show that employee entrepreneurial intention is driven by affective attitude and personal agency, which are affected by perceived norms and expectancy. This study provides evidence in support of our framework that combines the integrated behaviour model and expectancy theory to explain employee entrepreneurial intention to start new ventures in the context of high-income economy.

Keywords: employee entrepreneurs; entrepreneurial intention; new venture; start-up; integrated behavioural model; expectancy theory; Qatar.

DOI: 10.1504/JIBED.2023.132876

Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development, 2023 Vol.15 No.2, pp.213 - 235

Received: 06 Sep 2022
Received in revised form: 28 Mar 2023
Accepted: 31 May 2023
Published online: 13 Aug 2023 *

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