Title: Modes of learning and entrepreneurial knowledge

Authors: Diamanto Politis; Jonas Gabrielsson

Addresses: Sten K. Johnson Centre for Entrepreneurship, Lund University School of Economics and Management, P.O. Box 7080, S-220 07 Lund, Sweden ' CIRCLE, Lund University, P.O. Box 117, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden

Abstract: In this study, we examine how entrepreneurs differ in their modes of learning and whether variations in modes of learning have any influence on their possession of entrepreneurial knowledge that increase their ability to recognise and exploit new business opportunities. Based on statistical analysis of 291 entrepreneurs we find that a learning mode that favours exploration is positively associated with the ability to recognise a higher number of business opportunities. A learning mode that favours exploitation is on the other hand negatively associated with the ability to cope with liabilities of newness. Adding to this, we find that the positive association between career experience and entrepreneurial knowledge is stronger with a learning mode that favours exploration.

Keywords: entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial knowledge; innovation; learning; exploration; exploitation; learning modes; business opportunities; opportunity recognition; career experience.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2015.070241

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2015 Vol.18 No.1, pp.101 - 122

Received: 08 May 2021
Accepted: 12 May 2021
Published online: 18 Jun 2015 *

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