Entrepreneurial orientation and opportunity recognition: The mediating role of absorptive capacity

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (1) ◽  
pp. 17472
Author(s):  
Hanieh Khodaei ◽  
Victor Scholten ◽  
Emiel F.M. Wubben ◽  
Onno Omta
Author(s):  
Ismail Raisal ◽  
Arun Kumar Tarofder ◽  
Aboobucker Ilmudeen

PurposeDeveloping countries’ economic growth very much depend on the successful performance of entrepreneurial-oriented firms. Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is a valuable conjecturer of firm success. This study mainly focuses on analyzing the effect of EO on the firm performance (FP) with the mediating role of absorptive capacity (ACAP).Design/methodology/approachTo test the hypothetical model, we collected 226 valid responses from senior managers of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The structural equation modeling technique is performed and research hypotheses are validated.FindingsThe findings show that the strong causal relations exit between EO, ACAP and FP. In brief, EO was found to be a predictor of ACAP, and ACAP has a strong positive impact on FP. Moreover, ACAP substantiated to be a mediator between EO and FP.Research limitations/implicationsA notable ramification of this finding is that for SMEs to enhance their performance via EO, the presence of ACAP as a mediator is essential.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can be used as a basis to consider EO to increase firms' level of ACAP and to enhance FP. As a whole, the findings offer pragmatic insights for SMEs and pertinent stakeholders.Originality/valueSo far, little is known about the interrelationship between EO, ACAP and FP. Importantly, the mediating role of ACAP between EO and FP has remained unexplored. This study fills this gap in the existing literature.


Author(s):  
Muhammad Anwar ◽  
Thomas Clauss ◽  
Wunnam Basit Issah

AbstractHow entrepreneurial orientation facilitates the identification of new opportunities in newly established ventures in emerging economies remains largely unexplored. Approaching entrepreneurial orientation as a second order latent construct, we examined the mediating role of opportunity recognition on new venture performance. Using a survey data from 316 SMEs, the results of the analysis in SmartPLS highlights that entrepreneurial orientation indirectly contributes to the performance of new ventures, where the relationship is partially mediated by opportunity recognition. The findings show that firms with high entrepreneurial orientation can identify and exploit new opportunities as well as enjoy superior performance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-570
Author(s):  
Sampson Ato Sarsah ◽  
Hongyun Tian ◽  
Courage Simon Kofi Dogbe ◽  
Bylon Abeeku Bamfo ◽  
Wisdom Wise Kwabla Pomegbe

PurposeThe study explored the mediating role of potential and realized absorptive capacities in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and radical innovation performance among manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachEmpirical analysis was based on 357 manufacturing SMEs in Ghana. Various validity and reliability checks were conducted before the presentation of the actual analysis, which was conducted using ordinary least squares approach, run using SPSS (v. 20).FindingsFindings revealed that potential and realized absorptive capacities significantly mediated the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and radical innovation performance among manufacturing SMEs. Further, it was identified that ambidexterity in absorptive capacity also had a greater effect on radical innovation performance among manufacturing SMEs.Research limitations/implicationsSince the data used were cross-sectional, the relationships measured represent only a snapshot of time. Longitudinal studies could therefore be adopted in the future to complement the cross-sectional conducted.Practical implicationsWhile managers of manufacturing SMEs seek to achieve higher radical innovation performance through entrepreneurial orientation, it should also be noted that both potential and realized absorptive capacities have a significant role to play in this relationship. Managers must therefore also seek to invest time to build both potential and realized absorptive capacities, as they define greater innovation success.Originality/valueSome past studies have considered absorptive capacity as composite variable, therefore added both potential and realized absorptive capacities to form a single variable. Others also presented potential and realized absorptive capacities individually. This current study extends the body of knowledge by presenting an ambidexterity position between potential and realized absorptive capacities.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 818-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
AbdulQadir Rahomee Ahmed Aljanabi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the relationships between entrepreneurial orientation (EO), absorptive capacity (ACAP), and technological innovation capabilities (TIC) among industrial SMEs operating in an unstable environment. The research also aims to determine whether ACAP has a mediating role in the relation between EO and TIC. Design/methodology/approach A structural equation model was designed to examine the relationships. On the basis of a research framework, a self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data from SMEs owners in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. There were 432 out of 676 questionnaires returned and subsequently used for statistical analysis. Findings The outcomes of the present research indicate both EO and ACAP have significant effects on TIC. Furthermore, the outcomes suggest that ACAP has a mediation role in the nexus between EO and TIC and that indicates the ability of EO to strengthen TIC via ACAP. Originality/value The research contributes to the literature through three aspects. First, it provides some empirical evidence on the relationships between EO, ACAP and TIC of SMEs. Second, the research sheds light on the insights that firms can use externally generated knowledge as a mechanism to enhance their proactivity and willingness toward innovation. Third, for the innovation literature, it is valuable contribution to placing ACAP within the frame of EO. Thus, they can be advantageous to more development in innovation literature.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anderson Betti Frare ◽  
Ilse Maria Beuren

PurposeThis paper analyzes the mediating role of green process innovation in the relationships of green entrepreneurial orientation and proactive sustainability strategy with environmental performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyze data from 81 Brazilian agriculture technology startups (AgTechs) using partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).FindingsThe results show that the green process innovation assumes an important role in AgTechs, promoting full mediations between green entrepreneurial orientation and proactive sustainability strategy with environmental performance. There are two ways for AgTechs to achieve high environmental performance. In both, green process innovation is a central condition, while green entrepreneurial orientation or proactive sustainability strategy is a complementary condition.Research limitations/implicationsThis study demonstrates how internal elements (green entrepreneurial orientation, proactive sustainability strategy and green process innovation) improve environmental performance. This answers calls to explore which elements translate green entrepreneurial orientation and proactive sustainability strategies into environmental performance, by highlighting the mediating role of green process innovation.Practical implicationsThe findings are useful for founders and managers of AgTechs to find ways to manage sustainable technological advancement and cleaner production in agribusiness.Originality/valueThis study analyses the interface between sustainable entrepreneurship, strategy and innovation in promoting environmental performance of AgTechs from an emerging economy country.


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