PERCEIVED ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND PERCEIVED ACADEMIC ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION: A MEDIATING ROLE OF KNOWLEDGE CREATION

Abstract

The primary objective of the current study is to examine the role of attributes associated with perceived entrepreneurial orientation in influencing knowledge creation and perceived entrepreneurial intentions. Additionally, the study aims to evaluate the mediating role of knowledge creation in the relationship between perceived entrepreneurial orientation and perceived entrepreneurial intentions. Faculty members from public and private sector universities were selected as the unit of analysis, with a final sample of 392 participants obtained through simple random sampling to investigate the relationships among the latent constructs. The findings reveal that attributes such as unconventionality, research mobilization, industrial collaboration, and supportive university policies significantly and positively predict perceived entrepreneurial orientation. Moreover, the results indicate that perceived entrepreneurial orientation significantly and positively influences perceived entrepreneurial intentions among faculty members. The study also establishes a significant positive relationship between perceived entrepreneurial orientation and knowledge creation. Furthermore, the findings confirm that knowledge creation is significantly and positively associated with perceived entrepreneurial intentions. Importantly, knowledge creation is found to mediate the relationship between perceived entrepreneurial orientation and perceived entrepreneurial intentions, highlighting its pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurial activity among university faculty members. This study provides valuable policy implications and insights for faculty members, universities, policymakers, and regulatory authorities. It underscores the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial culture within academic institutions through targeted policies and practices that enhance knowledge creation and entrepreneurial orientation. Future research directions are also outlined, encouraging further exploration of these constructs in different contexts and among diverse populations