The Influence of Intrapreneurship on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Growth in the Food Manufacturing Industry

SME growth is an issue of global concern due to their noted contributions to national economies. Despite their significant contributions to poverty alleviation, unemployment reduction and economic development a significant number of SMEs fail within the first 5 years of their existence. This study aims to explore the influence of intrapreneurship on the growth of SMEs in the food manufacturing industry in Botswana. A deductive study was conducted where data was extracted from existing literature and a questionnaire was compiled. The questionnaires were distributed to 204 participants in Botswana's food manufacturing industry, and the data collected was analysed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The findings indicate that intrapreneurship has a positive and significant relationship with SME growth, intrapreneurship certainly does play a significant role in the survival and growth of SMEs. The study concludes that intrapreneurship does influence the growth of food manufacturing SMEs in Botswana. It is recommended that the influence of intrapreneurship in the growth of SMEs of other industries be investigated.