The influence of entrepreneurial culture and organizational learning on entrepreneurial orientation: the case of new technology-based firms in Iran

Abstract

PurposeThis paper explores how entrepreneurial culture (EC) and organizational learning (OL) determine the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of new technology-based firms (NTBFs). These NTBFs are located in Isfahan Science and Technology Town (ISTT), Iran. These entities face substantial challenges in a highly-sanctioned economy, which makes adopting, acquiring or transferring new technologies daunting.Design/methodology/approachThis paper analyzes a sample of 200 NTBFs. The participants were trained chief executive officers and observed by applying pre-test and post-test designs. As a final step, empirical data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed accordingly. The structural equation modeling (SEM) with the partial least squares (PLS) approach was used by the SmartPLS2 software.Findings OL was found to mediate the relationship between EC and EO in the studied NTBFs. Additionally, the indirect effect of EC on EO and the direct impact of OL on EO were significant (=1.96). Therefore, this study focuses on selected NTBFs within Iran's particular and distinctive context.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has several limitations. These were the time consuming nature, the lack of cooperation by managers and the COVID-19 pandemic-related challenges. Nonetheless, the findings offer several important implications for practitioners, scholars and policymakers.Originality/valueThe paper sought to explore how EC and OL determine EO in Iranian NTBFs. It, thus, investigates the case of a highly-sanctioned context during the coronavirus pandemic, which imposed several basic and technological limitations on their practices.

The Role of Coopetition in Fostering Innovation and Growth in New Technology-based Firms: A Game Theory Approach

“…Iranian NTBFs face various challenges such as financial challenges, human resource management, support actions and mechanisms, and lack of access to international markets due to sanctions . About 3% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Iran belongs to the NTBFs established in the country (Yazdanpanah et al, 2023). They need development and they reflect on their management practices and organizational learning processes and the capabilities they need to develop to achieve competitive advantage (Acosta-Prado et al, 2021).…”

“…The creation and success of new technology-based firms (NTBFs) are the basis of economic prosperity (Yazdanpanah et al, 2023) and one of the key drivers of innovation policies and strategies in developed and developing countries (Ferràs-Hernández et al, 2021). Technological innovation is associated with a set of knowledge and scientific methods and focuses on designing and implementing something bigger than what now exists, like launching new products, methods of production or redesigning organizational processes, etc.…”