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The impact of organizational structure and work autonomy in fostering entrepreneurial tendencies and job performance

Gorkan Ahmetoglu (Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK)
Lauren Scarlett (Institute of Management Studies, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK)
Sonia-Cristina Codreanu (Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK)
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic (Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK)

Evidence-based HRM

ISSN: 2049-3983

Article publication date: 25 September 2019

Issue publication date: 19 February 2020

907

Abstract

Purpose

Research examining the influence of organizational factors on entrepreneurial tendencies and performance within organizations is scarce. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of organizational structure and work autonomy on entrepreneurial tendencies, locus of control and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained online using validated self-report questionnaires in a sample of 181 currently employed individuals.

Findings

The results showed organizational structure components to be related to work autonomy and performance, but not to individual-level variables. However, work autonomy related to entrepreneurial tendencies and locus of control, indicating potential indirect effects of organizational structure on individual-level variables via work autonomy. Entrepreneurial tendencies and locus of control were positively related to performance.

Originality/value

Whilst the mediating effect of a number of individual-level traits has been examined in the past, very little research has looked at how organizational factors may influence entrepreneurial tendencies. Fostering entrepreneurial tendencies in employees may facilitate corporate entrepreneurship and performance within organizations.

Keywords

Citation

Ahmetoglu, G., Scarlett, L., Codreanu, S.-C. and Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2020), "The impact of organizational structure and work autonomy in fostering entrepreneurial tendencies and job performance", Evidence-based HRM, Vol. 8 No. 1, pp. 128-143. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBHRM-11-2018-0070

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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