How and when entrepreneurs’ passion lead to firms’ radical innovation: moderated mediation model

ABSTRACT

The extant literature affirms that passion is important for entrepreneurs’ success. However, the related studies have failed to explain how and when entrepreneurial passion (EP) affects firms’ radical innovation (RI). The current study explores the connections between EP and firms’ RI and mediation of exploratory learning (EL) in this relationship. Moreover, we investigate the moderating role of the Zhong–Yong thinking (ZYT) of Chinese entrepreneurs. Findings from 310 new Chinese enterprises demonstrate that EP directly influences RI and indirectly through EL. ZYT of entrepreneurs can likewise reinforce the connection between their EP and RI via EL. Lastly, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Entrepreneurs’ passion
• exploratory learning
• entrepreneurs’ Zhong–Yong thinking
• radical innovation

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Professor James Fleck (Editor-in-Chief) and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions during the review process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Ataullah Kiani is a PhD scholar at the School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China. He received his Master's degree from Wuhan University China in 2017. His research interests lie in the areas of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Ahmed Ali (PhD, University of Science and Technology of China) is a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China. His research interests include entrepreneurship and organisational behaviour.

Shamsa Kanwal graduated from the School of Public Affairs, University of Science and Technology of China. Her research is concerned with entrepreneurship and innovation.

Dan Wang is a PhD scholar at the School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China. Her research interests lie in the areas of entrepreneurship and innovation.

ORCID

Ataullah Kiani http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2529-3105