No Way Back? The Challenges of Reintegrating Corporate Entrepreneurs After Project Termination

Corporate entrepreneurial projects frequently fail, yet little is known about how corporate entrepreneurs experience reintegration into traditional organizational roles following project termination. This conceptual paper addresses this gap by developing a framework that theoretically links participation in corporate entrepreneurial projects to turnover intentions after termination. Drawing on literature from corporate entrepreneurship, identity theory, and employee turnover, I propose two simultaneous processes that decrease person-job fit over time: the development of entrepreneurial identity aspirations and corporate job role diminishment. As corporate entrepreneurs engage in entrepreneurial activities, they develop aspirations for an entrepreneurial future self that conflicts with traditional corporate roles. Simultaneously, supervisors transfer meaningful responsibilities to other employees in preparation for potential project success, diminishing the corporate entrepreneur’s conventional role. The framework identifies four distinct turnover trajectories based on the extent of entrepreneurial identity aspirations and job role diminishment. This research reveals potential unintended consequences of corporate entrepreneurship programs and highlights the need for organizations to actively manage reintegration processes to retain entrepreneurial talent.