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Advances in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) bear the promise of multiple benefits, including individual and entrepreneurial empowerment. The prospect of harnessing ICT as a means of creating growth and development opportunities is particularly appealing in developing countries. Still, several factors, including digital illiteracy and gender inequality, hamper the possibility of effective and universal utilization of these opportunities, in extreme cases leading to digital divide, gender-based exclusion, poverty, and precarity. Using this observation as a springboard, the objective of this paper is to conceptualize and quantify the digital divide-gender-entrepreneurial orientation nexus as it emerges in the perception of Pakistan higher education students. Using a quantitative approach, this study identifies the impact of digital skills (and thus the knowledge inequalities that can determine the potential digital gap) on entrepreneurship-related technology adoption (as measured through Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, UTAUT), whereby gender is treated as a moderator. The empirical findings, based on Structure Equation Modelling (SEM) and Multiple Group Analysis (MGA), show that digital skills and perceptions of technology capabilities have a substantial impact on the desire to use ICT in entrepreneurial activities. The influence of technology adoption intent on the development of entrepreneurial orientation is also confirmed. This paper adds to the broader debate on gender, digital divide and entrepreneurship. Importantly, by identifying some of the drivers behind students' technology adoption in a developing nation such as Pakistan, filled with technological and economic unbalances, the conclusions of this study will have conceptual, managerial, and policymaking applications, notably in terms of technological access, digital literary, and gender-based exclusion. • This paper examines the digital divide-entrepreneurial orientation-gender nexus among Pakistani higher education students. • Digital skills and perceptions of technology capabilities significatly impact the desire to use ICT for entrepreneurship. • The influence of technology adoption intent on the development of entrepreneurial orientation is also confirmed. • Results have managerial and policymaking applications about technological access, digital literary and gender exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars stressed over the importance of entrepreneurial orientation and knowledge management for promoting innovation in the enterprises. SMEs, especially in the developing countries are afraid of innovating new products. This research focused particularly on SMEs operating in Jordan which is considered as a heaven for SMEs. The data has been collected with the help of an adopted questionnaires through simple random sampling. The framework has been developed using theoretical lenses of resource-based view, knowledge based view, and contingency theory. A structural equation modelling approach has been applied to test direct and indirect effects. The findings supported all the established relationships except the direct relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and product innovation performance. However, indirect effect of entrepreneurial orientation through open innovation is significant. The findings are highly relevant for the practitioners as they guide that product innovation performance is dependent on open innovation, only entrepreneurial orientation is insufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate social responsibility is a developing approach that any organization can implement for sustainability. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are implementing this strategy in the current climate to improve their quality of education and sustainability, which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Agenda for 2023. The current research examines the critical role of university social responsibility (USR) in sustainable knowledge sharing via the mediation effects of collaborative climate and entrepreneurial orientation. We obtained our dataset from 456 Saudi public and 605 private university students. SmartPLS4 findings showed that USR significantly affects collaborative climate, entrepreneurial orientation, and sustainable knowledge sharing. The multi-group analysis results show that collaborative climate and entrepreneurial orientation partially mediated the USR-knowledge-sharing linkage in favor of private university students. This paper provides useful information for policymakers within HEIs. • Social exchange theory was employed in the proposed model. • Nexus between university social responsibility and knowledge sharing has been investigated. • Collaborative climate and entrepreneurial orientation partially mediated. • Findings provide emerging trends to develop knowledge sharing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Like other developing countries, Pakistan is under severe economic pressure and striving to boost entrepreneurial orientation for achieving growth through minimal depletion of natural resources. In order to facilitate widespread and successful adoption of green entrepreneurial farming, it is crucial to address barriers inhibiting the uptake of green entrepreneurial activities in farming for the sustainability of natural resources as well as food provision. To this end, the present study aimed to investigate barriers in the adoption of green entrepreneurial farming in Pakistan. To fulfill the study objectives, after a comprehensive literature review and field visit, 34 barriers were identified. The results based on ranking analysis identified 20 out of 34 barriers as critical barriers to adoption of green entrepreneurial farming in the country. Furthermore, factor analysis was employed to group underlying 20 critical barriers into six major categories viz. 1) training and development-related barriers, 2) entrepreneurial orientation-related barriers, 3) market orientation-related barriers, 4) customer orientation-related barriers, 5) innovation orientation-related barriers, and 6) green supporting supplies-related barriers. Results showed that most dominant barrier among six groupings was training and development-related barriers and the marginal role of government in the provision of such endeavours. This implies that government needs to play a more active role in the adoption and promotion of green entrepreneurial farming in Punjab, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation in the Pharmaceutical industry, the current study investigates the moderation role of Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) on the influence of innovation on Pharmaceutical SMEs performance in Jordan. The current research was conducted on Jordanian pharmaceutical SMEs including manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies with employee numbers of less than 100. The research design was quantitative, descriptive, causal, and cross-sectional held by an online questionnaire tool targeted all employees, managers, and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in pharmaceutical SMEs. Using the AMOS software, the Structural Equation Model (SEM) was adopted to analyze a sample of 162 surveys and examine the hypotheses. The outcome of this study indicated that the research model variables can explain 69.4 % of the variance of SMEs' performance. Additionally, it confirmed that innovation has a significant positive impact on pharmaceutical SMEs, and Entrepreneurial Orientation moderates the influence of innovation on pharmaceutical SMEs' Performance. Furthermore, current research findings contribute to extending existing relevant knowledge about the innovation impact and moderating role of Entrepreneurial Orientation on pharmaceutical SMEs' performance in Jordan and understanding the relationship between these variables to be of significant guidance to managing entrepreneurship in emerging economies. Further, the results show SMEs' methods and directions to follow during crises, such as COVID-19, to maintain business performance and sustainability. The current research paper contributes to the present literature since very limited studies investigated the innovation impact on SMEs' performance. Moreover, previous studies did not sufficiently analyze the impact of management, product, and process dimensions of innovation on SMEs' performance with the contribution of EO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the relationship between strategic orientations (market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation), organizational ambidexterity, and sustained competitive advantage under the mediation of Industry 4.0 readiness. Based on data from a sample of 144 SMEs belonging to different economic sectors, we employed partial least squares–structural equation modeling to test our hypotheses. Empirical research suggests that market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation have a favorable relationship with Industry 4.0 readiness and sustainable competitive advantage. Moreover, our findings reveal that entrepreneurial orientation has a greater effect on SCA than market orientation in emerging markets. Furthermore, Industry 4.0 readiness acts as a full intermediary between strategic orientations and sustainable competitive advantage. This study contributes to the existing literature by exploring the relationship between strategic orientation and sustainable competitive advantage through Industry 4.0 as the mediator. SMEs' managers can use these findings to rethink their technology adoption strategies and exploitative and explorative approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterprises from different economic sectors play a fundamental role in furthering a sustainable development in the region where it is inserted. However, it is the environmental practices of these organizations which determine the prompt impacts on environmental sustainability. In this sense, Cleaner Production is responsible for the decrease in natural and material resources’ consumption and energy, as well as for the systematic decrease in waste and pollutants emission. Thus, it is important to identify the strategical guides which came before Cleaner Production and, consequently, lead the enterprises to achieve a Sustainable Competitive Advantage before their competitors. In this context, this research aims at analysing the influence of strategic drivers (Entrepreneurial Orientation, Market Orientation and Knowledge Management Orientation) on Cleaner Production and the Sustainable Competitive Advantage. This research was about a survey applied to 1774 small and medium enterprises in Southern Brazil, in the sectors of transformation industry, commerce and services, and it was analysed by the Structural Equation Modelling, typifying it as a quantitative and descriptive research. The results show there is an intense previous influence of strategic drivers over Cleaner Production, pointing out that the correlations among the three antecedents have a high intensity, showing that the enterprises researched use the strategic drivers separately, and that, when they are combined, there is a higher chance of Cleaner Production success, with a significant increase in Sustainable Competitive Advantage for the small and medium enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While considerable scholarly attention has been paid to firm performance and prosperity, the performance implications of network and entrepreneurial orientations of startups in emerging economies are admittedly under-explained. Based on the resource-based view (RBV) and strategic fit theory, this study develops a research model to examine the impact of network orientation and entrepreneurial orientation on startup performance in emerging economies. The model also examines how this relationship is mediated through exploratory and exploitative innovation and moderated by strategic flexibility. Using data from a survey of 273 startups, the findings suggest that, at the initial and growth stages, entrepreneurial orientation has a greater impact on startup performance than network orientation. Exploratory innovation has a mediating effect on network orientation and startup performance. Exploitative innovation has a mediating effect on entrepreneurial orientation, network orientation, and startup performance. In the initial stage, exploitative innovation has a greater impact on startup performance, while in the growth stage, exploratory innovation has a greater impact on startup performance. Strategic flexibility plays a positive moderating role in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, exploratory innovation, exploitative innovation, and startup performance. These findings provide significant contributions to understanding the growth and performance of startups in emerging economies from a strategic and innovation-oriented perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of how to improve green management (GM) is very important for the sustainable development of the world. While this topic has been extensively investigated at the single firm level in the developed countries, it was insufficiently examined in the context of interfirm alliances, especially in developing countries like China. The current study examines how different sources of resources (internal resource accumulation and external resource acquisition) affect the level of alliance green management (AGM). In addition, entrepreneurial orientation (EO) that represents the willingness of firms to adopt new practices has moderating effects on the above relationships. Moreover, the effect of AGM on alliance performance is also examined. We collected multisource data from 164 alliance firms in Chinese manufacturing industry. The results generally support the proposed hypotheses. This study contributes to both GM and alliance research by identifying the internal and external resource factors that influence firms from emerging economies to practice GM in their alliance operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This empirical research investigates the mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation in the relationships between organizational ambidexterity and sustainable development engagement and firm performance. The data were collected from 339 small and medium enterprises using a time-lagged approach and further analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results confirm the mediation of entrepreneurial orientation in the relationships between organizational ambidexterity and firm performance and sustainable development engagement. Institutional support also strengthens the entrepreneurial orientation relationship with firm performance and sustainable development practices. This study provides detailed theoretical and managerial implications by effectively using institutional support to increase firm performance and sustainable development engagement. • The study explored the mediating role of EO in the relationships of OA with SDE and firm performance. • We also examined the moderation of institution support in EO linked with SDE and firm performance. • The time-lagged primary data was collected from the SME sector of the emerging economy of Pakistan. • Institutional support is crucial for the relationship between EO with firm performance and SDE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By combining major tenets developed in the entrepreneurial orientation literature and institutional theory, we investigate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and green management in the context of emerging markets and the moderating effects of social legitimacy and ownership type. Using survey data from 239 firms in China, we find that entrepreneurial orientation is positively associated with emerging market firms' green management. This positive relationship is strengthened by social legitimacy and is stronger for state-owned enterprises than for non-state-owned enterprises. Furthermore, our empirical results partly support the idea that the configuration of high entrepreneurial orientation, high social legitimacy and state ownership is more effective in facilitating emerging market firms' green management than other configurations. This study explores a new perspective (i.e., the integration of an entrepreneurial approach and institutional theory) to explain why firms make differentiated green decisions in emerging markets. Additionally, the three-way configuration effects provide a more complete picture and thereby facilitate a deeper understanding of emerging market firms' entrepreneurial spirit with regard to environmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family businesses often face significant challenges while trying to develop and increase their sustainability throughout generations. This is often due to their inability to properly manage the knowledge required to develop their resources to increase sustainability. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between processes of managing knowledge, dynamic capabilities, and innovative performance in an Indonesian family company in order to improve business performance. This is qualitative research with a single case study used to obtain data from nineparticipants in an Indonesian family company ("Ardiles") that focuses on footwear. The findings showed that a family company that mobilizes knowledge can improve its members' dynamic capabilities for proper business management and growth. Furthermore, the frequent process of mobilizing knowledge improves family members' dynamic capabilities to create new ideas. This creative process helps to improve its innovative performance, thereby creating a sustainable competitive advantage among family companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to study the factors related to the performance of the entrepreneurs who passed through the stages of business development at the university business incubators in Thailand. These factors consist of various characteristics, namely, leadership orientation, entrepreneurial orientation, network capacity, and innovative capacity. The sample group consisted of 220 businesses that had passed through a university business incubator in Thailand. The SPSS Statistics program calculated the basic statistics, as well as the relationship test for each factor studied, and examined the statistics using a structural equation model (SEM). The results revealed that the characteristics of leadership orientation, entrepreneurial orientation, network capacity, innovative capacity, and entrepreneurial performance had relationships in the same direction. Furthermore, an analysis of the relationships between the factors found that entrepreneurial orientation had positive relationships with network capacity and innovative capacity, leadership orientation had positive relationships with innovative capacity and entrepreneurial performance, and innovative capacity had a positive relationship with entrepreneurial performance. These relationships summarize a developmental model for the innovative capacity and performance of businesses that have passed through the university business incubators in Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the relationship between top managers' entrepreneurial orientation and firms' research and development (R&D) investment and the moderating effects of environmental uncertainty on this relationship. Using a sample of 337 Korean technology firms, we implemented a multiple regression analysis with R&D intensity as a dependent variable, top managers' entrepreneurial orientation as an independent variable, and environmental uncertainty as a moderating variable. The findings reveal that the entrepreneurial orientation of top managers has significant and positive relationships with firms' strategic decisions regarding R&D investment. This implies that the tendencies and characteristics of top managers significantly influence firms' innovation efforts, especially during an economic recession. Furthermore, environmental munificence intensifies the entrepreneurial orientation and R&D investment relationship, while environmental dynamism has a negative moderating effect. On the other hand, environmental hostility does not have any impact on this relationship. The moderating effects of environmental uncertainty imply that firms should carefully consider environmental dynamism and munificence to intensify the positive effect of top managers' entrepreneurial orientation on firms' innovation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]