Improving business incubator service performance in China: the role of networking resources and capabilities

Abstract

This research analyses the relationships between resources and capabilities in Chinese business incubators to determine the relative importance in enhancing the service performance of incubators. A mixed-method design is used consisting of an in-depth case study and structural equation modelling based on survey data. Incubator managers are advised to invest in infrastructural and external resources and networking capabilities, which are positively correlated with performance. We find that resources relating to government policy, such as funding, may have a negative impact on incubator performance while other integrated service capabilities have little correlation with improved performance.

Keywords:

• business incubator
• service performance
• resource-based view

Acknowledgement

This paper is supported by NSFC (National Science Foundation of China, No.70872027).

Notes

A State Level Incubator is one of a group of incubators that has been assessed to provide professional services to incubatees and is recognised by the government to be successful. The title of State Level Incubator was awarded by the Torch High Technology Industry Development Center of the Ministry of Science & Technology, China.

The Torch High Technology Industry Development Center(also called the Torch Center) was founded in October 1989 and is part of the Ministry of Science and Technology in China. It aims to encourage the development and industrialisation of high technology, to promote the continuous development of high-tech industries, and to promote high-tech commercialisation, industrialisation, and internationalisation in China.

Based on data from the China Torch Statistical Yearbook, 2009.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dechang Lin

The three authors contributed equally.

Lincoln Christopher Wood

The three authors contributed equally.

Qiang Lu

The three authors contributed equally.