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This study examines the relationship between entrepreneurial alertness, long-term and short-term focus and sustainable entrepreneurship in the context of young family firms. Additionally, we investigate how family management and long-term/short-term focus moderate the relationship between entrepreneurial alertness and sustainable entrepreneurship. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors influencing sustainable entrepreneurship in family firms.

This quantitative study investigated 707 young family firms in Portugal. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the data and test the proposed hypotheses.

The results indicate a positive relationship between young family firms’ entrepreneurial alertness and sustainable entrepreneurship. Also relevant is that long-term focus is positively related to sustainable entrepreneurship, while short-term focus shows a negative relationship, challenging the temporal ambidexterity of new ventures. Conversely, two moderating effects were found: family management weakens and short-term focus strengthens the relationship between entrepreneurial alertness and sustainable entrepreneurship.

As far as we know, this study is the first one to explore the link between the entrepreneurial alertness of young family firms and sustainable entrepreneurship. It is also the first study to explore the contradictory impacts of both long-term focus and short-term focus on sustainable entrepreneurship.

This paper aims to evaluate the relationship between grit and individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) of Brazilian startup founders.

To understand the relationship between IEO and grit, a quantitative and descriptive research was conducted with 124 founders of Brazilian startups through T-test and analysis of variance analyses.

The authors evidenced that perseverance has a greater correlation with IEO than passion. It was also identified that the perseverance of novice entrepreneurs is lower than that of established ones.

The authors contribute to advancing the prediction of entrepreneurial success. Furthermore, this study contributes to a discussion about behaviours that influence entrepreneurial performance. In the managerial field, it provides inputs to guide entrepreneurial training and development programmes.

The results of this research contribute to a discussion and reflection on the importance of passion for business and how to ensure greater perseverance in entrepreneurs.

The paper aims to analyse the effects of interplay between entrepreneurial risk-taking behaviour and each of the three components of intellectual capital (IC) on the degree of novelty of new products.

This article studies one of the most recognized dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) along with knowledge-based assets owned by high-tech firms. In this way, entrepreneurial risk-taking is analysed considering the companies’ intellectual capital endowment, as a contingent variable, to examine the achievement of a higher novelty in developing new products from firms’ EO. The empirical study was carried out on a sample of 155 Spanish knowledge-intensive firms and based on survey data gathered from two different respondents. Hierarchical regression analysis was used.

Findings reveal heterogeneous effects of IC components on the relationship between entrepreneurial risk-taking and innovation novelty. While innovative culture (organizational capital) has a positive interaction with risk-taking in the influence on the degree of novelty of new products, relationships with customers (social capital) have a negative one. And, however, CEO industry experience (human capital) doesn’t have any contingent effect.

This study contributes to shed light on the few empirical studies that analyse internal contingent elements in the relationship between entrepreneurial risk-taking behaviour and the novelty of product innovation in high-tech firms. Concretely, specific manifestations of IC components are examined jointly with entrepreneurial risk-taking.

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of innovativeness (INN), proactiveness, (PRC) and risk-taking (RIT) on the export performance of apparel small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the role of differentiation and low-cost leadership (LCL) strategies as mediating effects between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) dimensions and the performance of exporting firms. INN, RIT and PRC are considered EO dimensions.

A cross-sectional survey was carried out by providing a questionnaire to the owners, directors and senior managers of the apparel SMEs – the primary data of 550 treated by structural equation modeling (SEM) technique for final data analysis.

The study has revealed the positive dimensional effect of EO on export performance. For the mediation effects of differentiation and LCL, differentiation strategy (DS) positively mediates between INN, PRC and export performance. However, no mediation has been found between RIT and export performance. On the other hand, LCL has found positive effects between INN, RIT and export performance. However, the mediation effect was absent between PRC and export performance.

Limitations/implications- This study has been conducted on only Muslim owners, senior export managers and directors of apparel SMEs in Bangladesh. It has examined the two main competitive strategies as a mediator between EO dimensions and export performance. The findings of this study are based on one country data analysis.

EO, differentiation and low-cost leadership (LCL) strategy are resources and capabilities of an organization to create a competitive advantage to enhance performance. The factors of this research are helpful for SME practitioners.

The direct and indirect effects (differentiation and LCL strategy) of EO dimensions on export performance in an emerging country, i.e. the South-Asia region, is a pioneer study. Therefore, current research has theoretical and managerial implications for the international business and strategic management literature.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of business group (BG) affiliation on affiliated firms' entrepreneurial orientation (EO). The authors further investigate the possible contingent factors affecting this relationship – the age of BGs and the affiliated firm’s external linkages (ratio of external to in-house interlocks) on the relationship in an emerging market context.

The study employs a dynamic panel data framework using the system-generalized method of moments (Sys-GMM) on a sample of 670 NSE-listed Indian firms during the 2006–2019 period. EO is measured through content analysis of the letters to shareholders (LTS) issued by the companies between the period 2006 and 2019.

BG affiliates have more EO than standalone firms, as affiliates can access group-wide resources and capabilities apart from firm-specific resources. Affiliates of older BG have less EO since they are more entrenched in the institutional settings of their BG. Affiliates with more external linkages of board members will have a higher level of EO, as such linkages would subside inertial tendencies by exposing them to novel sets of information, resources and strategic practices. Further, the negative effect of BG age on EO is countered by external linkages. Overall, the study shows that the effect of group affiliation is not uniform and is contingent on the factors we have theorized and tested.

The paper proposes the resource-based view and the institutional void theory as likely candidates for explaining the contribution of BGs towards the EO of its affiliates, especially in the context of emerging markets. The contingent role of BG age highlighted in the paper forewarns managers about the importance of establishing internal mechanisms to preserve the EO in affiliates. Our findings about the positive role played by external linkages of the board members provide one such mechanism that can be leveraged to enhance affiliated firm’s EO.

Entrepreneurial support programs, like incubators and accelerators, often offer mentorship to new ventures. However, existing research on mentoring has mainly focused on the entrepreneur's perspective, leaving researchers with limited understanding of why experienced mentors provide support to new ventures. This study aimed to explore mentors' motives in mentor–venture relationships and their impact on the advisory process. It also examined different types of mentors (social and commercial) and their motivations for assisting and supporting new ventures.

The present study utilizes a qualitative research approach to investigate the motivations and mechanisms through which new venture mentors assist founders in their growth and success. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 mentors supporting both social and commercial ventures. These mentors were selected from ten accelerator and incubator programs situated in Belgium. The interviews aimed to gain insights into the mentors' motivations and their experiences in the role of mentors.

Based on the social exchange theory and the norm of reciprocity, this study identified two main motives of mentors: “gaining back” reflecting mentors’ self-interest in deriving benefits from the relationship and “paying back” representing their altruistic reasons for supporting new ventures. Additionally, the study identified mentor functions that primarily involved providing career-related support to new ventures. Moreover, the research revealed intriguing similarities and differences in the motivations and mentoring functions between mentors of social and commercial ventures.

Future research should explore the evaluation process and criteria used by mentors and new ventures when selecting each other for a productive mentoring relationship. Additionally, further investigation is needed to examine the firm-level impact of various mentoring services on the performance of social and commercial new ventures at different stages of development. Comparing mentor motives and functions across diverse geographical settings would address the limitation of the study and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.

The findings of the study can inform policymakers, accelerator and incubator program managers and new ventures seeking mentors and support initiatives. They can use the insights to design effective mentoring programs that align with the specific needs and motivations of mentors and new ventures. Understanding the different motives and functions of mentors can help in the selection of appropriate mentors who can provide the necessary support and expertise to new ventures.

The study highlights the importance of mentorship in the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Accelerator and incubator programs play a crucial role in connecting new ventures with mentors who have the right motivation and expertise, contributing to the growth and success of new ventures and the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem. By identifying both altruistic and self-interest motivations in mentoring relationships, the study emphasizes the dual dimensions that characterize the mentor–venture relationship. This understanding can foster stronger collaborations and reciprocal exchanges between mentors and new ventures, ultimately benefiting both parties.

This research contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by exploring the mentor–new venture relationship from mentors' perspective. It expands the existing research on mentor–protégé relationships, broadening the understanding of mentoring dynamics in different organizational settings. The findings offer insights grounded in social exchange theory and provide directions for future research on mentor–venture relationships, resource exchange and relationship development. The study also holds practical implications for policymakers and program managers involved in fostering mentoring initiatives for new ventures.

This paper aims to advocate for a paradigm shift that prioritizes a human-centered approach in the pursuit of innovation during crises, urging a departure from the prevailing dominance of the technology-centric approach. The incorporation of emotional capabilities as a dynamic capability is posited as a pivotal contribution, in harmony with the tenets of Society 5.0 and imperative for establishing a robust knowledge management foundation. This research underscores the significance of the human-centered approach, portraying women as exemplars in a novel paradigm of innovation development amid crises.

This research uses the framework of knowledge management for innovation to focus on the challenges presented by complex crises, now considered the new normal. The study employs a distinct, human centric approach to explore the nexus of gender, opportunities and innovation, during crises, with an emphasis on the founders’ emotional capabilities and resources as catalysts for innovation development.

This research utilizes mixed methods; qualitative findings driven from AI analyses reveal women’s positive approach toward innovation development in adversity, showcasing the influence of their emotional resources in their innovation pursuits. The subsequent quantitative findings, derived from a sample of 464 tech-founders navigating complex crises, emphasize the role of emotional capabilities as activators of opportunity exploitation for enhancing innovation development during crises, particularly among female founders.

The potential for future research lies in exploring diverse emotional dimensions, employing various measures and methodologies. Envisioning upcoming studies that extend our findings across institutional, national and crisis contexts, emotional capabilities and skills may emerge as critical assets relevant to all entrepreneurs, transcending gender boundaries. This paper’s framework sets the stage for promising avenues at the nexus of gender and emotional capabilities in the innovation pursuits, shaping entrepreneurial performance in both challenging and stable conditions.

This research contributes significantly in several key areas. Firstly, it explores innovation development and knowledge management within Society 5.0 during a polycrisis, emphasizing the crucial role of emotional capabilities in activating opportunity exploitation. Secondly, it champions a human-centric premise in innovation, highlighting women as role models for innovation during crises and introducing pathways to tap into external resources, ultimately enriching knowledge management. Thirdly, the innovative methodological approach using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to construct synthetic personas is groundbreaking. Finally, it advances effectuation, bricolage and dynamic capabilities frameworks, enriching their theoretical foundations and affirming their relevance for innovation development amid instability.

Appealing to the resource-based view and the resource advantage theory, this research aims to ascertain the complementarity of entrepreneurial and market orientation in enhancing the performance of small and medium enterprises.

Following a survey design, a self-administered questionnaire containing scales adapted from leading previous studies was used to collect data from 400 executives working in small and medium enterprises in Pakistan. Partial least squares-based structural equation modeling was performed to analyze the measurement and the structural models and test the significance of the hypothesized relationships.

It has been found that market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation enhance firm performance directly and indirectly with marketing capabilities and competitive strategies (partially or fully) mediating these causes and effects relationships.

The study adds to the literature on entrepreneurship, marketing and strategy and has significant ramifications for managers and public policymakers desiring to boost the performance of small and medium enterprises, which is crucial to the economic growth of developing nations, through nurturing and leveraging intangible resources such as market orientation, entrepreneurial orientation and marketing capabilities.

It is one of the rare attempts to investigate the complementarity of entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation, channeled through marketing capabilities and competitive strategies to boost SME performance, that too in the context of a developing country.

This paper aims to explore the innovation in small and micro family firms, in comparison to that of small and micro nonfamily firms, and the organizational characteristics that could enhance innovation in these firms.

We collected survey data from 215 small and micro business owner-managers in the United States and tested our hypotheses using ordinary least squares regressions.

We find that small family firms are less innovative than small nonfamily firms. However, our results suggest that small family firms can still enhance their innovation by cultivating a more collaborative organizational culture where bottom-level and non-family employees can participate in business decisions. Further, we find that while having an organic organizational design helps small firms be more innovative, the positive effect of organic design on small family firms’ innovation is not as strong as its effect on small nonfamily firms’ innovation.

This paper offers a unique and nuanced examination of innovation in family firms by narrowing down the scope to small and micro firms. Moreover, the paper investigated the drivers of innovation in small businesses and how these drivers enhance/decrease innovation in small family firms. Our findings suggest that the paths for more innovation are different for small family and nonfamily firms.

The purpose of this paper is to depict how entrepreneurs improve community vitality in the economic, social and environmental dimensions. The paper joins the conversation of business spirituality as the study participants were Sri Lankan Buddhist entrepreneurs from the emerging venture context (i.e. from enterprises which are less than 1–10 years old). The aim of the paper is to introduce spiritually informed entrepreneurial actions, thus contributing to a better understanding of entrepreneurial impact on communities.

The paper involves a qualitative, interpretivist research design. Data was collected by conducting 28 semi-structured interviews with 18 Sri Lankan Buddhist entrepreneurs. Research participants were selected from diverse business sectors. The research applied inductive thematic analysis for structuring and interpreting data.

For Sri Lankan Buddhist entrepreneurs, improving community vitality is an essential altruistic goal of their business agenda. During the operations of their ventures, this altruistic goal is translated into altruistic actions that improve the economic, social and environmental vitalities of communities. Research findings highlight that in the case of Sri Lankan Buddhist entrepreneurs, altruistic actions are informed by compassion, which is a fundamental value in the Buddhist religion. Drawing on the findings, an integrated model of community vitality, which describes the role of compassion and the mechanisms of entrepreneurial actions in a Buddhist setting was developed inductively.

Studying entrepreneurial actions to focus on the motivations behind improving community vitality is a new research topic. The paper provides valuable knowledge on business spirituality regarding the compassionate motivations of Buddhist entrepreneurs. The integrated model of community vitality, which describes the mechanisms of entrepreneurial actions to improve community vitality in a Buddhist setting could be an essential compass not only to entrepreneurs but also research scholars in the field of business spirituality.