Abstract
Purpose
The upgrading of Chinese enterprises is an important issue with theoretical and practical
significance in the field of management in recent years, but the existing research does not pay
enough attention to the role of entrepreneurship in enterprise upgrading. Based on the literature
review and under the guidance of relevant theories, this research establishes the conceptual model
of “entrepreneurship-enterprise upgrading-enterprise performance” and related hypotheses in the
studies of the following three issues: the impact of entrepreneurship on enterprise performance;
the impact of entrepreneurship on enterprise upgrading and the mechanism by which
entrepreneurship influences enterprise performance through enterprise upgrading.
Research methodology
This research follows the classic quantitative research approach. Data come from a questionnaire
survey with a sample of 152 validated returns from the manufacturing enterprises in Hunan
Province China. The data were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor
analysis and multiple regression analysis.
Findings
It is found that: (1) Innovation of entrepreneurs has a significant positive impact on enterprise
performance. Risk-taking of entrepreneurs has a significant positive impact on enterprise
performance. (2) Innovation of entrepreneurs has a significant positive impact on product
upgrading, process upgrading, and production as service; risk-taking of entrepreneurs has a
significant positive impact on product upgrading, process upgrading, and production as service.
Risk-taking of entrepreneurs plays a greater role in enterprise upgrading. (3) Both product
upgrading and process upgrading have a significant positive impact on enterprise performance
while production as service has no significant positive impact on enterprise performance. Among
them, product upgrading has the greatest impact on enterprise performance. (4) Innovative spirit
and risk-taking of entrepreneurs in entrepreneurship has effect on enterprise performance through
enterprise upgrading. Product upgrading, process upgrading, and production as service play a
mediating role between innovation of entrepreneurs and enterprise performance and between
entrepreneurs’ risk-taking and enterprise performance respectively.
Research limitations
The questionnaire survey was conducted by a convenience sampling strategy. Sample was
collected by the researcher’s personal and business networks mainly in Hunan Province, China.
This may raise concerns on the issues of representativeness and coverage. Readers should be
carefully in generalizing the findings.
Keywords
Entrepreneurship, Enterprise upgrading, Product upgrading, Process upgrading, Enterprise
performance
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