Exploring entrepreneurial alertness and entrepreneurial intention in times of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unexpected level of uncertainty worldwide. However, not everyone responds to uncertainty in the same way. This study examines the fundamental constructs of entrepreneurship - entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial alertness - in the context of the new uncertainty created by the pandemic. The study design included the CAWI method and a sample of students from two higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Consistent with previous studies, the research results confirmed a strong positive relationship between entrepreneurial alertness and the main elements of the theory of planned behaviour. The final model shows a partial mediation effect of attitude and control variables in the relationship between evaluation and judgement (the dimension of entrepreneurial alertness) and entrepreneurial intention. In addition, the results suggest that pandemic-induced uncertainty is not related to individuals’ decisions to start a business. However, the perception of the pandemic as a threat may increase individuals’ willingness to be alert. The results are discussed, considering entrepreneurial intention and alertness as predictors of entrepreneurial behaviour and their sensitivity to current environmental uncertainty.