What Influences the Success of Academic Entrepreneurship? A Framework of Motivation Theory

Abstract

What influences the success of academic entrepreneurship? Drawing on motivation theory, this study aims to explore the effects of entrepreneurial intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation on entrepreneurial persistence and academic entrepreneurship performance by considering the contingency role of innovation and entrepreneurship support institutions. Data from 211 academic entrepreneurs from Chinese universities were adopted to test our research model. The results indicate that entrepreneurial intrinsic motivation increases entrepreneurial persistence which then results in promoted academic entrepreneurship performance, while entrepreneurial extrinsic motivation reduces entrepreneurial persistence. Entrepreneurial persistence mediates the effects of entrepreneurial intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation on academic entrepreneurship performance. Innovation and entrepreneurship support institutions alleviate the negative effect of entrepreneurial extrinsic motivation on entrepreneurial persistence and enhance the positive effect of entrepreneurial persistence on academic entrepreneurship performance. This study advances the literature on academic entrepreneurship and motivation theory and provides practical implications to academic entrepreneurs and governments.