INFLUENCING FACTORS OF TECHNOPRENEURIAL INTENTION AMONG FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

High technology and entrepreneurial skills are currently driving forces behind the economy. Entrepreneurship and technopreneurship are the true propellers of a knowledge-based economy. Technopreneurs play a key role in promoting and creating cutting-edge information and communication technologies (ICTs) goods and services for the local and global markets to meet consumer demand in the digital economy.

This study mainly examined the factors that influence technopreneurial intention in the Sri Lankan context and developed a technopreneurial intention model to recognize the best strategies that encourage technopreneurs in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this dissertation aims to investigate the influencing factors of Innate Innovativeness, Environmental Support, Technopreneurial Self-efficacy, and Risk Propensity on Technopreneurial Intention among Technology Faculty Students in Sri Lanka.

This study has addressed the survey-type research method, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect data and utilized a sample frame of Technology Faculty Students in Sri Lanka. Researchers have used analysis techniques of Descriptive Analysis, Structural Equation Model (SEM), and frequency tests where the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS), and SmartPLS were used as the main analytical software.

The results of the study discuss the Positive and Significant impact of Innate Innovativeness, Environmental Support, Technopreneurial Self-efficacy, and Risk Propensity on Technopreneurial Intention and the non-significant moderate effect of Risk Propensity on the relationship between Innate Innovativeness, Environmental Support, Technopreneurial Self-efficacy on Technopreneurial Intention among Faculty of Technology Students in Sri Lanka.

The study’s findings would be helpful for university officials and planners to advance and enhance the current teaching methodologies and modules. The same factors that influence entrepreneurial behavior, such as attitudes, drives, values, and requirements, also apply to technopreneurs.