Introduction/Objectives: intrapreneurship has emerged as a key driver for innovation and the consolidation of organisational capacities in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In this context, this study examines the internal and external determinants that influence the strengthening of intrapreneurship in SMEs in northwestern Mexico, identifying those that enhance or limit their innovative capacity. The objective is to analyse the key variables that condition the evaluation of entrepreneurship within SMEs, in order to identify the key elements that enhance or limit their capacity for organisational innovation.

Methodology: the study adopted a quantitative, causal, explanatory and predictive cross-sectional approach, based on a survey applied to 1,012 SMEs. Likert-type scales and structural equation analysis (PLS-SEM) were used to validate the proposed hypotheses, guaranteeing the robustness of the psychometric properties and the empirical coherence of the model constructs.

Results: it will be confirmed that business education, funding, and social norms have a significant positive impact on intrapreneurship. Conversely, technological infrastructure, low investment in R&D, and restrictive public policies have a negative influence. Physical infrastructure did not show a statistically significant effect.

Conclusions: the results underscore the need to strengthen internal capabilities and reform the external environment in order to enhance intrapreneurship. It is recommended to invest in continuing education, technological advancement, and innovation, while also restructuring public policies to better align with the real needs of SMEs, thereby contributing to their sustainable competitiveness.

---

Keywords:
Factors: Business education,
financing,
physical infrastructure,
technological infrastructure,
research and development,
social norms,
public policies, intrapreneurship,
SMEs.

JEL codes:
A20, C120, D21, M130, 0320.

02_RSN_17(36)_97_Factors_influencing

Abid, K., & Polo, F. (2025). Talent development through intrapreneurship: A human-capital approach in French SMEs. European Journal of Training and Development. https://doi.org/10.1108/ejtd-11-2024-0162

Aina, Q., & Solikin, I. (2020). Entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship: How supporting corporate performance. Review of Integrative Business and Economics Research, 9, 288-297.

Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T

Ambad, S. N. A., & Ali, M. M. (2024). Drivers for intrapreneurship: A systematic literature review and future research agenda. Innovating From Within, 14-29.

Ametefe, M. D., Adamu, A. G., Umaru, F. A., & Ametefe, F. G. (2025). Leadership’s impact on SME performance: A systematic review of its role in enterprise. Journal of the International Council for Small Business, 1-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/26437015.2024.2443764

Amo, B. W. (2010). Corporate entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship related to innovation behaviour among employees. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2(2), 144-158.

Batista-Canino, R. M., Sosa-Cabrera, S., Medina-Brito, P., & Santana-Hernández, L. (2025). scientific progress on entrepreneurship in the circular economy: A scientometric analysis. Sustainability (Switzerland), 17(2), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020777

Bouchard, V., & Basso, O. (2011). Exploring the links between entrepreneurial orientation and intrapreneurship in SMEs. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 18(2), 219-231.

Carmines, E. G., & Zeller, R. A. (1979). Reliability and validity assesment: Quantitativr applications in the social sciences. Sage University, Beverly Hills, 17(1), 1-71.

Chakuzira, W., Okoche, J. M. M., & Mkansi, M. (2024). Refining the definition and typologies of entrepreneurship in Africa: A systematic review. Administrative Sciences, 14(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14080184

Chen, D., & Bu, T. (2024). The threshold effect of political connection on the green innovation of businesses: Evidence from China. The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, 74, 102255. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.najef.2024.102255

Chin, W. W. (1998). Commentary: Issues and Opinion on Structural Equation Modeling. MIS Quarterly, 22(1), vii–xvi. http://www.jstor.org/stable/249674

Chin, W. W., & Dibbern, J. (2010). An introduction to a permutation based procedure for multi-group pls analysis: Results of tests of differences on simulated data and a cross cultural analysis of the sourcing of information system services between Germany and the USA. Handbook of Partial Least Squares, 171-193. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-32827-8_8

Dentchev, N., Baumgartner, R., Dieleman, H., Jóhannsdóttir, L., Jonker, J., Nyberg, T., Rauter, R., Rosano, M., Snihur, Y., & Tang, X. (2016). Embracing the variety of sustainable business models: Social entrepreneurship, corporate intrapreneurship, creativity, innovation, and other approaches to sustainability challenges. Journal of Cleaner Production, 113, 1-4.

Dino, A. (2024). A literature review and bibliometric analysis on intrapreneurial intensity. GSB Insight: Journal of Business and Research, 1(1), 13-28.

Divakara, S., Semasinghe, D. M., & Surangi, H. (2019). A literature review on intrapreneurial constraints in the development of small and medium scale enterprises. International Journal of Current Research, 11(11), 8540-8547. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24941/ijcr.37296.11.2019

Drucker, P. (2014). Innovation and entrepreneurship: Practice and principles.

ECLAC. (2018). Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Progress and evolution of the insertion of women in productive and entrepreneurial activities in South America. ECLAC.

ECLAC. (2020). About Microenterprises and SMEs. ECLAC. https://www.cepal.org/es/temas/pymes/acerca-microempresas-pymes

Entrepreneurship Monitor, G. (2025). GEM 2024/2025 Global Report: Entrepreneurship Reality Check. In Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. http://www.witchwoodhouse.com

Fu, C., Indiran, L., Abdul Kohar, U. H., & Wiyata (2024). Entrepreneurship orientation (EO) and innovation: A systematic review. KnE Social Sciences, 2024, 368-398. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v9i11.15810

GEM. (2018). Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. Global Report, Entrepreneurship and Innovation 2017-2018. GEM.

Ghobakhloo, M., Arias-Aranda, D., & Benitez-Amado, J. (2011). Adoption of e-commerce applications in SMEs. Industrial Management and Data Systems (vol. 111, issue 8). https://doi.org/10.1108/02635571111170785

Gündoğdu, M. Ç. (2012). Re-thinking entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, and innovation: A multi-concept perspective. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 41, 296-303.

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. (2010). Multivariate Data Analysis. Pearson.

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., & Babin, B. J. (2010). Multivariate Data Analysis. Pearson Practice Hall.

Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review (vol. 31, issue 1, pp. 2-24). Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203

Hair, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., & Gudergan, S. (2018). Advanced issues in partial least squares structural equation modeling. SAGE Publications.

Hatala, J. P. (2005). Identifying barriers to self‐employment: The development and validation of the barriers to entrepreneurship success tool. Performance Improvement, 18(4), 50-70. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1937-8327.2005.tb00350.x

Henseler, J., Hubona, G., & Ray, P. A. (2016). Using PLS path modeling in new technology research: Updated guidelines. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 116(1), 2-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-09-2015-0382

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8

Hernández-Perlines, F., Ariza-Montes, A., & Blanco-González-Tejero, C. (2022). Intrapreneurship research: A comprehensive literature review. Journal of Business Research, 153, 428-444. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.08.015

Hoffman, K., Parejo, M., Bessant, J., & Perren, L. (1998). Small firms, R&D, technology and innovation in the UK: A literature review. Technovation, 18(1), 39-55.

Klepić, I. (2021). Correlation between training and education of human resources and business performance of small and medium enterprises. Naše Gospodarstvo/Our Economy, 67(3), 1-16.

Knossalla, C. E., & Carbon, C. C. (2023). Neither entrepreneurship nor intrapreneurship: A review of how to become an innovative split-off start-up. Frontiers in Sociology, 8(September), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1267706

Leal-Rodriguez, A. L. Roldán, J., Ariza-Montes, J., & Leal-Millán, A. (2014). From potential absorptive capacity to innovation outcomes in project teams: The conditional mediating role of the realized absorptive capacity in a relational learning context. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2014.01.005

Lun, Z. E. B., Jiménez, S. O., & López, J. G. F. (2025). Productivity of SMEs in the traditional channel in Northwest Mexico. Revista San Gregorio, 1(61), 1-7.

Martínez-Román, J. A., & Romero, I. (2017). Determinants of innovativeness in SMEs: Disentangling core innovation and technology adoption capabilities. Review of Managerial Science, 11(3), 543-569.

Mehmood, T., Alzoubi, H. M., Alshurideh, M., Al-Gasaymeh, A., & Ahmed, G. (2019). Schumpeterian entrepreneurship theory: Evolution and relevance. Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, 25(4), 1-10.

Mer, A., & Virdi, A. S. (2024). Decoding the challenges and skill gaps in small- and medium-sized enterprises in emerging economies: A review and research agenda. In A. M. Thake, K. Sood, E. Özen, & S. Grima (eds.), Contemporary challenges in social science management: Skills gaps and shortages in the labour market (vol. 112B, pp. 115-134). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1569-37592024000112B007

Moric Milovanovic, B., Cvjetkovic, M., & Masovic, J. (2025). Public sector entrepreneurship: Present state and research avenues for the future. Administrative Sciences, 15(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15030071

National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). (2018). Economic Census, summary of the final results. INEGI.

National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). (2024). Statistical and Geographic Yearbook by State 2024 (p. 373). INEGI. https://www.inegi.org.mx/contenidos/productos/prod_serv/contenidos/espanol/bvinegi/productos/nueva_estruc/889463921820.pdf

Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric theory. McGraw-Hill.

Orozco, J., Turro, A., & Urbano, D. (2024). Research on corporate entrepreneurship in developing countries: A review and agenda for future directions. Entrepreneurship Research Journal, 14(4), 1735-1779.

Ortega-Argilés, R., & Voigt, P. (2009). Business R&D in SMEs (Working Papers on Corporate R&D and Innovation). IPTS.

Padilla-Rivera, A., Morales Brizard, M., Merveille, N., & Güereca-Hernandez, L. P. (2024). Barriers, Challenges, and Opportunities in the Adoption of the Circular Economy in Mexico: An Analysis through Social Perception. Recycling, 9(5), 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling9050071

Palalić, R., Riđić, O., Jukić, T., Aidoo, A. W., Riđić, G., & Razzak, M. R. (2023). Entrepreneurship ecosystem in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Perspectives and challenges. In V. Ramadani, S. Kjosev, & B. S. Sergi (eds.), Entrepreneurship development in the Balkans: Perspective from diverse contexts (pp. 81-93). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-454-820231005

Poole, D. L. (2018). Entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship and SMEs in developing economies: How subverting terminology sustains flawed policy. World Development Perspectives, 9, 35-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WDP.2018.04.003

Roberts, P., & Priest, H. (2006). Reliability and validity in research. Nursing Standard, 20(44), 41-46.

Romero Alvarez, Y. P., Salas-Navarro, K., Martínez, L. B., & Zamora-Musa, R. (2025). Financing innovation in SMEs: A systematic review of financing channels. International Journal of Innovation Science. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-06-2024-0151

Romero, I., & Martínez-Román, J. A. (2024). Self-employment, innovation, and digital transformation: A review and research agenda. Research Handbook on Self-Employment and Public Policy, 378-394.

Schuberth, F., Henseler, J., & Dijkstra, T. K. (2018). Partial least squares path modeling using ordinal categorical indicators. Quality & Quantity, 52(1), 9-35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-016-0401-7

Soltanifar, M., Hughes, M., O’Connor, G., Covin, J. G., & Roijakkers, N. (2023). Unlocking the potential of non-managerial employees in corporate entrepreneurship: A systematic review and research agenda. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, 29(11), 206-240. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-04-2022-0333

Stezano, F. (2020). VII. Diagnosis of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, policies and development institutions in Mexico. Thank You for Your Interest in this ECLAC Publication, 285.

Sujatha, M. S., & Mukherjee, U. (2023). Unleashing intrapreneurship in SMEs: A comprehensive literature review on key catalysts. International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM), 11(5), 2455-6211. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372518673

Teece, D. J. (2007). Explicating dynamic capabilities: The nature and microfoundations of (sustainabile) enterprise performance. Strategic Management Journal, 298(13), 1319-1350.

Teece, D. J. (2015). Dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial management in large organizations: Toward a Theory of the (Entrepreneurial) Firm. 1-55.

Teece, D. J. (2016). Dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial management in large organizations: Toward a theory of the (entrepreneurial) firm. European Economic Review, 86, 202-216. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EUROECOREV.2015.11.006

Teece, D. J., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Knowledge and Strategy, 18(March), 77-116. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035334995.00014

Urbano, D., Orozco, J., & Turro, A. (2024). The effect of institutions on intrapreneurship: An analysis of developed vs developing countries. Journal of Small Business Management, 62(3), 1107-1147.

Urbano, D., Turro, A., Wright, M., & Zahra, S. (2022). Corporate entrepreneurship: A systematic literature review and future research agenda. Small Business Economics, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-021-00590-6

Vandenberg, R. J., & Lance, C. E. (2000). A review and synthesis of the measurement invariance literature: Suggestions, practices, and recommendations for organizational research. Sage Journals, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/109442810031002

Vela, E. G., Mercader, V., Qalati, S. A., & Ravina-Ripoll, R. (2023). How does the work climate influence intrapreneurship? Evidence from Mexico. Middle East Journal of Management, 10(3), 277-296. https://doi.org/10.1504/MEJM.2023.130589

Wetzels, M., & Odekerken, G. (2009). Using PLS path modeling for assessing hierarchical construct models: Guidelines and empirical illustration assessing the effect of narrative transportation, portrayed action, and photographic style on the likelihood to comment on posted selfies View proje. MIS Quarterly, 33(1), 177-195. https://doi.org/10.2307/20650284

Widya-Hastuti, A., Talib, N. B. A., Wong, K. Y., & Mardani, A. (2016). The role of intrapreneurship for sustainable innovation through process innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises: A conceptual framework. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 6(3), 83–91.

Wolcott II, R. C., & Lippitz, M. J. (2009). Grow from within: Mastering corporate entrepreneurship and innovation. McGraw-Hill Education.

Zahra, S. A., & Wright, M. (2016). Understanding the social role of entrepreneurship. Journal of Management Studies, 53(4), 610-629.

Zahra, S. A. (2007). Contextualizing theory building in entrepreneurship research. Journal of Business Venturing, 22(3), 443-452. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JBUSVENT.2006.04.007

Zampetakis, L. A., & Moustakis, V. (2006). Linking creativity with entrepreneurial intentions: A structural approach. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 2(3), 413-428. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-006-0006-z

Dimensions

PlumX