‘Put heads together’: How engaging communities of inquiry propels innovation-driven entrepreneurship in emerging economies

ABSTRACT Recent studies have indicated that innovation-driven entrepreneurship is far more beneficial than traditional entrepreneurship in emerging economies. However, how to propel this type of entrepreneurship remains somewhat unclear. Thus, this study applied social cognitive theory to reveal how engaging communities of inquiry stimulate innovation-driven entrepreneurship in emerging economies. A hierarchical regression analysis on a sample of 207 Chinese entrepreneurs revealed that open community engagement predicts active innovation-driven entrepreneurship, whereas more focused community engagement hinders it. Both relationships are weakened when the entrepreneurial environment is seen as more munificent. The findings advance the entrepreneurship literature by adding understanding of the two kinds of community engagement and explicating their effects on innovation-driven entrepreneurship from the social interaction point of view. That constitutes practical guidance for entrepreneurs, and a basis for governments seeking to encourage innovation-driven entrepreneurship.