Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Cultural Perspective

Abstract

The theory of planned behaviour is widely used to measure entrepreneurial intentions. Thus, we investigate the possible moderating role of indigenous ethnic culture on the attitude-intention, subjective norm-intention and perceived behavioural control-intention relationships. In support of the theory of planned behaviour, attitude and perceived behavioural control have a positive influence on the odds of becoming a nascent entrepreneur. However, subjective norm was not a significant predictor. The inclusion of ethnicity significantly improved the predictability of entrepreneurial intentions. We found that, in comparison with students from the Kikuyu tribe, students from the Luhya and Luo tribes are less likely to have intentions becoming nascent entrepreneurs. Finally, our findings confirm significant moderating effects of ethnicity. We draw a number of implications for the theory and practice of entrepreneurship education.

Keywords:

• intentions
• ethnicity
• Kenya
• theory of planned behaviour
• context
• students

ACKNOWLEDMENT

This work was supported by the Joint Doctorate Program, funded by the EACEA (Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency) of the European Commission under Grant AGTRAIN agreement number 2011 - 0019.

ORCiD

Ian K. Alexander http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7708-1393