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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of cognitive social capital (CSC) on firms’ entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and how knowledge absorptive capacity moderates this relationship. The purpose is aimed at completing the gap in the literature regarding determinants of EO linked with knowledge. Design/methodology/approach The empirical study was carried out on a sample of 292 Spanish firms in the agri-food industry. Partial least squares (SmartPLS software) was used to evaluate the measurement and structural models. Findings CSC has a curvilinear influence (U-shaped) on EO. In addition, this relationship is accentuated with higher knowledge absorptive capacity. Practical implications Managers should promote cognitively close networks and reinforce shared goals and culture with their contacts to maintain a high EO. Furthermore, managers should strengthen their knowledge absorptive capacity to boost innovativeness, risk taking and proactiveness derived from cognitive proximity with their contacts. Originality/value This study adds value to social capital literature by pointing out a curvilinear relationship (U-shaped) between CSC and EO, in contrast to studies focussed on other dimensions of social capital, which have obtained divergent results. Furthermore, this study reinforces the key contingent role of knowledge absorptive capacity. The study provides a valuable theoretical framework of EO determinants connecting the cognitive perspective of social capital theory with a dynamic capability view.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to study the antecedents of entrepreneurial orientation (EO). Specifically, the authors aim to analyze how firms' capabilities influence the relationship between firm environmental dynamism and entrepreneurial orientation. The study seeks to provide a better understanding of antecedents of EO, helping to fill in the gap that exists in the EO literature and explain how certain internal and external factors, independently and jointly, influence EO. Design/methodology/approach -The empirical study is conducted on a sample of 253 firms from the information and communication technology (ICT) industry. In order to test the proposed model, a hierarchical regression analysis was developed. Findings -A positive effect of environmental dynamism, technological capabilities and marketing capabilities on EO was detected and it was possible to observe how technology capabilities improve the positive effect of environment dynamism on EO. Originality/value -The most important contribution of this paper is to demonstrate that the direction of the moderating effect of capabilities on environment dynamism changes depending on the capabilities that are analyzed. While the technology capabilities improve the positive effect of environment dynamism, the marketing capabilities worsen the effect of environment dynamism on EO.

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