Entrepreneurially oriented employees and firm performance : mediating effects

Purpose: This paper aims to contribute to the literature on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) with a focus on the interplay between the individual and firm level for embedding EO pervasively within organisations. Design/methodology/approach: Comprising 356 individual employees from five companies collected from June to September 2015, this investigation uses structural equation modelling. Findings: The results show significant indirect effects from individuals’ EO on firm’s performance, mediated by both individuals’ performance and firm’s EO. Research limitations/implications: While the construct of EO is strengthened with a multi-level approach, the authors also stress the organisational homogeneity of EO. Practical implications: Consequently, the EO instrument can be used as a strategic tool to evaluate an individual’s orientation towards entrepreneurship to facilitate firm performance. Originality/value: Finally, the EO instrument can be used as a strategic tool to evaluate an individual’s orientation towards entrepreneurship to facilitate firm performance.