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Impact of support from social network on entrepreneurial intention of fresh business graduates: A structural equation modelling approach

Muhammad Shoaib Farooq (Institute of Business and Management, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan)
Maimoona Salam (Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia)
Saif ur Rehman (China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China)
Alain Fayolle (Department of Entrepreneurship, Emlyon Business School, Ecully, France)
Norizan Jaafar (Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia)
Kartinah Ayupp (Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia)

Education + Training

ISSN: 0040-0912

Article publication date: 27 March 2018

Issue publication date: 12 April 2018

2453

Abstract

Purpose

Developing on the base of theory of planned behaviour (TPB), the purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between perceived social support (SS) from one’s social network and entrepreneurial intention (EI). Moreover, mediating effect of other constructs of TPB, i.e., attitude towards entrepreneurship (ATE), subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioural control (PBC) is also examined in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involves a variance-based partial least square-structural equation modelling approach for analysing responses from 381 fresh business graduates.

Findings

Findings of this study revealed that SS positively influences EI and also that this relationship is fully mediated by ATE, SN and PBC.

Research limitations/implications

Due to limited resources, cross cultural comparison and multi-group analysis were not performed, which are considered as a limitation of this study.

Practical implications

It is expected that the findings of this study can help policy makers, researchers and academicians in better understanding of critical role of SS for understanding the intentions of nascent entrepreneurs.

Social implications

Further, findings of this study suggest that academicians and policy makers need to take heed towards relatively less explored phenomenon of SS to enhance the attractiveness of entrepreneurial career in fresh business graduates.

Originality/value

This study has proposed a model for assessing impact of SS on EI. By doing so, this study extends TPB in the context of EI. Moreover, findings of this study are a unique step forward, and offer a new insight towards better understanding of the determinants of EI in fresh business graduates.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thanks the editor, Dr Martin McCracken, and the two anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful, supportive, and developmental comments. The authors would also like to thank Dr Norris Krueger, Mrs Shahida Parveen, Dr Farooq Azam and Dr Ali Sajid for their comments, guidance and unflinching support throughout this study.

Citation

Farooq, M.S., Salam, M., ur Rehman, S., Fayolle, A., Jaafar, N. and Ayupp, K. (2018), "Impact of support from social network on entrepreneurial intention of fresh business graduates: A structural equation modelling approach", Education + Training, Vol. 60 No. 4, pp. 335-353. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-06-2017-0092

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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