Fostering intrapreneurship in Scotland: internal and external factors, influences and tensions

Dooley-Nealis, Róisín (2025) Fostering intrapreneurship in Scotland: internal and external factors, influences and tensions. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This research investigates how intrapreneurship is facilitated in Scottish organisations across different sectors, drawing upon four strands of literature: entrepreneurship, human resource management, organisational behaviour, and organisational theory. The overarching aim is to explore how intrapreneurship is understood and enabled in organisations, emphasising the internal organisational dynamics, as well as external shocks and influences.

The study reviews literature across individual, team, and organisational levels affecting intrapreneurship while considering external environmental impacts, synthesising these strands into a conceptual model. A comparative multi-case study approach was employed, investigating three organisations in Scotland through semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis of organisational and government policies. Interviews were conducted with management and employees at each level in the case organisations. Thematic analysis and an abductive approach were adopted to identify and analyse recurring patterns informed by the conceptual framework.

As intrapreneurship is a complex multilevel construct, institutional logics were adopted as a lens to allow for an in-depth understanding of sectoral and industry differences in the intrapreneurship pursuit to be examined. The empirical findings show the enabling mechanisms of intrapreneurship, along with organisational tensions and competing logics. It is evident that top-down antecedents or enabling conditions are necessary to enable bottom-up ‘organic’ intrapreneurial activity. The findings demonstrate the influence of unexpected external events, pushing organisations to pursue intrapreneurship, developing antifragility and facilitating organic intrapreneurship. A multilevel model of intrapreneurship is presented, which considers all influencing factors and enabling mechanisms in its facilitation.

This research contributes to knowledge, policy and practice, building upon the growing body of research on intrapreneurship. It moves beyond the individual level of analysis to provide insights into the multilevel causal mechanisms that facilitate intrapreneurship, revealing the tensions organisations face in enabling it and emphasising the need to navigate these tensions and achieve harmony. Intrapreneurship is highlighted as a key driver of innovation in the cross-sectoral cases with the potential to create change from within existing organisations. Robust evidence is provided as to how intrapreneurship may unlock untapped potential in existing organisations in Scotland and further afield.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: PhD is a co-funded partnership between the Economic and Social Research Council, Skills Development Scotland, and the Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
• Funder's Name: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: Hurrell, Dr. Scott and Gordon, Professor Jillian
• Date of Award: 2025
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2025-85099
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 02 May 2025 08:47
• Last Modified: 02 May 2025 09:05
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.85099
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/85099