Individual‐Level Ambidexterity and Entrepreneurial Entry

Abstract

This study examines the organizational drivers of entrepreneurial entry through the lens of individual‐level ambidexterity. We theorize that employees that both explore and exploit new activities within organizations are more likely to become entrepreneurs outside the organization. Multilevel analysis results from a large sample of Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey data support this hypothesis. This study contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by highlighting the role of individuals' prior ambidexterity experiences in organizations as foundational building blocks of entrepreneurial entry. The study links entrepreneurship and ambidexterity theories with evidence that an individual's ambidexterity and entrepreneurial activities are related.

Notes

1. Data related to independent variable of organizational experiences (ambidexterity, exploration, and exploitation experiences) are limited to the previous three years. Since it is not appropriate for the dependent variable to go further back than the independent variable, we limit our study to nascent and new businesses up to 30 months old. Thus, the independent variable of organizational experiences precedes the dependent variable by six months.

2. The GEM survey did not collect any other data on the routine work of these employees. Thus, comparisons to the employees' other routine activities were not feasible.

3. Odds ratio (OR) “is the ratio of the odds for x = 1 to the odds for x = 0.” OR = e^βn, where e = 2.718 to the power of βn (the beta coefficient) (Hosmer, Lemeshow, and Sturdivant 2013, p. 51).

4. We thank an anonymous reviewer for making this suggestion.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sepideh Yeganegi

All authors made equal contributions.

Sepideh Yeganegi is at Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University.

Andre O. Laplume

All authors made equal contributions.

Andre O. Laplume is at School of Business and Economics, Michigan Technological University.

Parshotam Dass

All authors made equal contributions.

Parshotam Dass is at Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba.

Nathan S. Greidanus

All authors made equal contributions.

Nathan S. Greidanus is at Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba.