Does the Intuition of Top Managers Influence Corporate Entrepreneurship?

Corporate entrepreneurship is critical in determining a firm’s sustainability. Traditionally, middle managers have been believed to lead corporate entrepreneurship by developing relationships between top managers and subordinates. However, the high authority of a top manager can be both a threat and a strength for middle managers. Previous studies have not focused on the role of top managers in developing corporate entrepreneurship. To address this gap, this study aimed to identify the intuition of top managers in facilitating corporate entrepreneurship in China. We also identified the various industries that can develop corporate entrepreneurship, including the manufacturing and financial sectors. Based on a questionnaire survey conducted with 322 top managers in China, the research hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis, respectively, via SPSS and AMOS. Research examined whether the intuition of top managers positively influences corporate entrepreneurship and whether this influence is stronger in a specific industry. Results revealed that the intuition of top managers positively influenced corporate entrepreneurship, and its impact was greater in the manufacturing industry compared to the financial industry. These results implied the need for the development and maintenance of top managers’ intuition. Synthesizing with the current literature, this study has identified new pathways to develop corporate entrepreneurship from the role of top managers rather than only from middle managers.