Developing a composite index for intrapreneurial orientation in small and medium-sized enterprises: A comprehensive dual methodology

Abstract

Intrapreneurship has long been recognised as a way to develop competitive advantages. This is particularly evident in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), so the intrapreneurial orientation (IO) of these companies should be evaluated from multiple perspectives. Research on this topic involves a wide variety of elements that not only have a direct impact on intrapreneurial behaviour but also change over time. Nonetheless, the development of a holistic system for evaluating IO in SMEs appears to be of great interest to academics and practitioners. Based on the epistemological convictions embodied in multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA), this study sought to combine cognitive mapping techniques and the Choquet integral (CI) to develop a new IO evaluation system for SMEs. To this end, a panel of experienced decision makers with expertise in the subject under analysis was recruited. The results of a practical application of the proposed evaluation system and composite index were validated both by the panel members and a board member of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department of the Portuguese Institute for the Support of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Innovation (in Portuguese, Instituto de Apoio às Pequenas e Médias Empresas e à Inovação (IAPMEI)). The contributions and limitations of the proposed dual methodology are also discussed.

Keywords:

• Choquet integral (CI)
• cognitive mapping (CM)
• intrapreneurship
• intrapreneurial orientation (IO)
• multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA)
• small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was partially funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (Grant UID/GES/00315/2019). Records of the expert panel meetings, including photographs, software output, and non-confidential information generated by the study, can be obtained from the corresponding author upon request. The authors gratefully acknowledge the outstanding contributions of and knowledge shared by the panel members: Henrique Coutinho, Hugo Ribeiro, Ivo Melo, Joaquim Braz, José Pinto, Manuela Cardoso, and Tiago Francisco. The authors also would like to express their gratitude to José Vale, board member of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department of the Portuguese Institute for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Innovation (in Portuguese, Instituto de Apoio às Pequenas e Médias Empresas e à Inovação (IAPMEI)), for his availability and the important insights he provided during the validation of results.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was partially funded by Fundação para a Ci^ncia e a Tecnologia (Grant UID/GES/00315/2019).