Innovation as mediator between entrepreneurial orientation and spin-off venture performance
by Roland Helm, Oliver Mauroner, Michael Dowling
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business (IJESB), Vol. 11, No. 4, 2010

Abstract: A fundamental challenge in entrepreneurship is how to predict firm performance particularly for high technology sectors. In previous empirical research on high technology ventures the concepts of entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial behaviour have been found to be able to differentiate between successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurs. The aim of this paper is to discuss why entrepreneurial orientation and in particular risk taking behaviour and proactivity is of particular importance in the context of high-technology venture success. Furthermore, we argue that innovativeness as a central entrepreneurial object mediates between the motivation and the success of entrepreneurs. Therefore we assume a mediation model between motivation, innovativeness and success. Regarding this model the entrepreneurial orientation of the founders influences new venture performance through its generation of innovativeness. To test the mediation we analyse data from 165 high technology spin-off companies in Germany with structural equation modelling. The results suggest that especially in high technology sectors and in fast growing markets, such as biotechnology, healthcare, information technology and optics where innovation is necessary to endure a pronounced entrepreneurial orientation is important.

Online publication date: Mon, 01-Nov-2010

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business (IJESB):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com