Entrepreneurship and the Growth of Technology-Based Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Evidence from Shenzhen, China
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This study examines the influence of entrepreneurship on the growth of technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Shenzhen, China, with a particular focus on the mediating role of external support. Drawing on entrepreneurship theory, resource-based theory, and ecological systems theory, the research develops a structural model encompassing three key constructs: entrepreneurship, external support, and SME growth. A quantitative research design was adopted, and data were collected from 368 senior-level respondents representing Shenzhen's 4,923 technology-based SMEs using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using SPSS and AMOS software. The results demonstrate that entrepreneurship—conceptualized through five dimensions: innovation, risk-taking, proactivity, achievement motivation, and professionalism—has a significant positive effect on SME growth and also enhances access to external support. External support, in turn, exerts a direct positive impact on SME growth and partially mediates the relationship between entrepreneurship and growth. These findings confirm the centrality of entrepreneurial orientation in enhancing firm performance, while also emphasizing the enabling role of institutional and environmental factors. The study makes several theoretical contributions, including the development of a multidimensional entrepreneurship scale and an integrated model of entrepreneurship, support, and growth. It also provides practical recommendations for SME managers, policymakers, and ecosystem stakeholders aimed at promoting innovation-driven development. Despite the use of convenience sampling, which may limit generalizability, the study delivers robust empirical validation. It offers a scalable framework for future research and policy design targeting SME ecosystems in rapidly evolving economies.
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ทัศนะและความคิดเห็นที่ปรากฏในบทความในวารสารศิลปการจัดการ ถือเป็นความรับผิดชอบของผู้เขียนบทความนั้น และไม่ถือเป็นทัศนะและความรับผิดชอบของกองบรรณาธิการ ยินยอมว่าบทความเป็นลิขสิทธิ์ของวารสารศิลปการจัดการ
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