The relationship between intrapreneurial capabilities and development in high-tech SMEs in China

ABSTRACT

The deep-seated intersection between intrapreneurial activities and innovation presents a new paradigm with innovation at its core. This study explores the relationship between intrapreneurial capabilities and the development of high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises (HTSMEs) and examines the role and impact of ambidextrous innovation and knowledge heterogeneity. We employed a questionnaire survey of 649 HTSMEs in China, and the data are analysed using structural equation modelling. The results indicate that HTSMEs could achieve sustainable development by improving their intrapreneurial capabilities, while ambidextrous innovation plays a mediating role. When knowledge heterogeneity is introduced as a moderating variable, the results indicate that knowledge heterogeneity has a negative partial moderating effect on the relationship between intrapreneurial capabilities and ambidextrous innovation. This study contributes to our understanding of intrapreneurial capabilities by introducing balanced ambidextrous innovation and knowledge heterogeneity. Ultimately, the results suggest that HTSMEs should focus on building intrapreneurial capabilities and balance the needs of ambidextrous innovation as a path to achieving sustainable development. However, firms need to control the effect of internal knowledge heterogeneity in the innovation process.

KEYWORDS:

• Intrapreneurial capabilities
• ambidextrous innovation
• knowledge heterogeneity
• sustainable development
• SMEs

Acknowledgement

All authors thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions, which improved the quality of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data presented in this study are available on request from the authors. The data are not publicly available due to privacy concerns.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [Grant Number 2021YJS065].

Notes on contributors

Jianjun Sun

Mr. Jianjun Sun is a PhD candidate at School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong University. His research focuses on business management (E-mail address: [email protected]).

Shuxiang Wang

Dr. Shuxiang Wang is a Professor at School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong University. His research focuses on business management (E-mail address: [email protected]).

Fang Yuan

Dr. Fang Yuan is a lecturer at Business School, University of Jinan. Her research focuses on business management and financial management (E-mail address: [email protected]).