Uncovering factors affecting bootlegging behavior in selected companies

Studies indicate that a large number of corporate entrepreneurial activities start informally and secretly from operational levels. Bootlegging emerges when employees cannot pursue their ideas formally, and hence utilize organizational time and resources for realizing their ideas. In this vein, this research aims to investigate factors causing employees to initiate bootlegging behavior. This was a qualitative research and the data was collected by semi-structural interviews from R&D and product managers in different industries. We identified 4 groups of factors explaining why employees undertake bootlegging behavior. This provides valuable insights into the better utilization of underground ideas for corporate innovative activities.