Linking Entrepreneurial Ecosystems to Intrapreneurial Activities: Does Entrepreneurial Cognition Matter?

ABSTRACT What shapes employees' intention to become intrapreneurs? Drawing on the entrepreneurial ecosystem approach and social cognitive theory (SCT), this research examines the relationships among national ecosystems, entrepreneurial cognition and intrapreneurship. Using multilevel structural equation modelling (MSEM), the model is tested on a unique sample of 84,653 employees across 48 countries. The results reveal that entrepreneurial ecosystems influence intrapreneurship both directly and indirectly by shaping employees' entrepreneurial cognition. This research contributes to the literature by demonstrating that the impact of ecosystems extends beyond initial venture creation to intrapreneurial opportunity exploitation. Moreover, it highlights the important role of employees' cognition in shaping their intrapreneurial engagement. The findings have significant theoretical and practical implications for academics and practitioners.