Title: CEOs' entrepreneurial leadership and radical innovation performance of internet firms in China: upper echelons theory

Authors: Xilun Yang; Harry Entebang

Addresses: Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia ' Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract: Building on the upper echelons theory, this study investigates the impact of entrepreneurial leadership (EL) on radical innovation (RI) performance while also examining the potential mediation role of innovation climate (IC) and the moderation role of technological turbulence (TT) in Chinese internet firms. This study employs partial least square structural equation modelling to confirm that entrepreneurial leadership positively influences radical innovation performance, mediated by innovation climate. Additionally, technological turbulence weakens this relationship. In fostering organisational radical innovation, the originality and value of the study lie in addressing the scarcity of research on the role of entrepreneurial leadership amongst CEOs, particularly with regard to the mechanisms of innovation climate and technological turbulence in China. The study's limitations provide recommendations for future research to broaden the scope to management teams, diverse factors, longitudinal data, and various institutional contexts to enhance innovation strategies.

Keywords: entrepreneurial leadership; innovation climate; technology turbulence; radical innovation; emerging economy; internet enterprises; China.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEV.2024.144215

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2024 Vol.16 No.4, pp.500 - 519

Received: 11 Sep 2023
Accepted: 23 Sep 2024
Published online: 31 Jan 2025 *

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