From Inspiration to Action: Investigating the Antecedents of Entrepreneurial Intention among Indian Women Entrepreneurs

Abstract

The research delves into understanding what drives the entrepreneurial intentions of female entrepreneurs within Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), utilizing the Entrepreneurial Potential Model (EPM) alongside an extended version of the Social Cognitive Career Theory Model (SCCT). By merging these frameworks, the study examines how entrepreneurial intentions are shaped by perceived desirability (encompassing personality traits, motivation, and subjective norms), perceived feasibility (covering subjective norms and the entrepreneurial ecosystem), and entrepreneurial potential (including grit, learned optimism, cognitive flexibility, role identity, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy), along with previous exposure to entrepreneurship. To collect data, a customized survey instrument was crafted and administered to 489 participants, all of whom were female entrepreneurs from diverse regions of India. Cluster and snowball sampling techniques were utilized to ensure a varied sample. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to scrutinize the connections between the factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions and to assess the model's suitability.
The outcomes reveal that the proposed model elucidates 62% of the variance in explaining entrepreneurial intent, with personality traits exhibiting the strongest correlation, succeeded by motivation and entrepreneurial potential. These findings suggest opportunities for governmental initiatives to promote women's entrepreneurship in India through Training and Development programs. Moreover, the study highlights practical implications and suggests avenues for further research exploration.