Narcissism and entrepreneurial intentions: The roles of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and environmental complexity

Abstract Purpose Exploring factors that can influence employee's entrepreneurial intentions is critical to entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial practice. This study is going to examine the effect of narcissism on entrepreneurial intentions. Moreover, the mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy in narcissism-entrepreneurial intentions link is also tested. Lastly, how environmental complexity moderates these relationships is explored. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 362 employees working in technology incubators and science parks of Saudi Arabia. These technology incubators and science parks were established by the Saudi government as a part of entrepreneurship ecosystem evolution strategy to encourage and support entrepreneurial innovations. Findings The results show that narcissistic employees display greater levels of entrepreneurial intentions, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy mediates the effect of narcissism on entrepreneurial intentions; and environmental complexity moderates the narcissism-entrepreneurial intentions link. Originality The effect of narcissism on entrepreneurial intentions has not been examined before. This study extends knowledge on entrepreneurial innovations by linking narcissism with entrepreneurial intentions through mediation of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and moderation of environmental complexity.