A Non-Parametric Analysis of The Relationship Between Business Experience and Entrepreneurial Intention of Final-Semester MBA Students in Nepal

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between prior business experience and entrepreneurial intention among final-semester MBA students in Nepal. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 257 final-semester MBA students across five major Nepalese universities. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire measuring business experience and entrepreneurial intention. Non-parametric statistical methods including Pearson's chi-square test, Cramér's V, and Goodman-Kruskal's lambda were employed for analysis. The results reveal a statistically significant association between business experience and entrepreneurial intention (χ² = 18.42, p < 0.01, Cramér's V = 0.189). Students with business experience demonstrated higher entrepreneurial intention, with 68.4% expressing intent to start a business within three years compared to 52.1% of those without experience. Family business exposure showed the strongest predictive relationship (λ = 0.312). The convenience sampling approach and cross-sectional design limit generalizability. Future research should employ longitudinal designs and probability sampling methods. MBA programs in Nepal should integrate practical business experiences, internships, and family business case studies to enhance entrepreneurial intention among students. This is the first comprehensive study examining business experience-entrepreneurial intention relationships in the Nepalese MBA student context, contributing to entrepreneurship education literature in developing countries.