When Intentions Stall: Exploring the Quasi-Longitudinal Divide Between Entrepreneurial Intention and Action

The purpose of the study is to investigate the gap between entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial action among business administration students with the aim of understanding why many who develop entrepreneurial intentions do not ultimately take action. A quantitative methodology was adopted from a sample of students who took entrepreneurship courses at different stages of their studies, allowing for the mapping of changes in entrepreneurial intention over time. Findings show that although entrepreneurship education initially strengthens intention, it declines after course completion, mainly due to external constraints, perceived risk, lack of support, and differences in students’ personal backgrounds. This research confirms the existence of a significant “intention-action gap” and highlights determining factors such as self-confidence, family support, and entrepreneurial culture. The value of this study lies in its combined and quasi-longitudinal approach, which offers new insights into the conversion of intention into action and contributes to the development of educational and policy strategies to enhance student entrepreneurship.