Unpacking the Drivers of Intrapreneurship in Azerbaijani SMEs

This quantitative study examines the impact of entrepreneurial leadership, corporate training, and organizational learning capacity on intrapreneurship. It emphasizes the mediating role of innovation competency. Data were gathered from 250 participants in the Azerbaijani private sector. A structured questionnaire and multistage random sampling were used. Analysis employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), including measurement and structural models with hypothesis testing. Results indicate that entrepreneurial leadership, corporate training, organizational learning capacity, and innovation competency significantly enhance intrapreneurship. Moreover, innovation competency mediates the relationships between the antecedent variables and intrapreneurship. The findings remind the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) of their need to employ entrepreneurial leadership, invest in training, and strengthen learning capacity to develop innovation competency. These capabilities enable SMEs to seize new opportunities, adapt to technological changes, and boost competitiveness, ultimately supporting sustainable economic growth.