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Article

Evaluating the Effect of Redundant Resources on Corporate Entrepreneurial Performance

by
Lexin Yun
,
Xiaolin Yao
,
Wenlong Zhu
* and
Zishan Zhang
Business School, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266520, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7101; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127101
Submission received: 19 May 2022 / Revised: 6 June 2022 / Accepted: 7 June 2022 / Published: 9 June 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Information Technology and Sustainability)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
Redundant resources are indispensable resources in corporate entrepreneurship. Nowadays, establishing how to evaluate the impact of redundant resources on corporate entrepreneurial performance has become a critical issue considered by managers. However, few studies have addressed this issue. Based on the perspective of resource bricolage and corporate resource interaction, this work constructs a theoretical model to analyze the influence of redundant resources on corporate entrepreneurial performance. Data were collected in Chinese enterprises. A structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was used. We obtained four valuable conclusions. First, redundant resources have a significant positive effect on corporate entrepreneurial performance. Second, redundant resources exert a significant positive influence on resource bricolage. Third, resource bricolage has a significant positive influence on corporate entrepreneurial performance. Fourth, resource bricolage plays a partial mediation effect between redundant resources and corporate entrepreneurial performance. The insights can provide theoretical and practical guidance for enterprises that intend to use redundant resources to carry out entrepreneurial activities.

1. Introduction

Corporate entrepreneurship is the hot topic in the field of entrepreneurship research [1], and it refers to the process of innovation, new business and strategic update by individuals or teams in an enterprise [2]. In the context of digital transformation, in the face of a highly competitive and dynamic environment, more and more enterprises are engaging in a variety of entrepreneurial activities by revitalizing their resources. In a given market, compared with new companies, existing enterprises often have more resources, business knowledge, etc. However, due to the turbulent environment, existing enterprises do not always have an advantage in competing with new companies. On the contrary, new enterprises can flexibly take advantage of the opportunities caused by the changes in the market and quickly seize the market share, which has attracted the widespread attention of scholars [3].
Resources are one of the core elements in a corporate entrepreneurial model. Redundant resources indicate the difference between the resources actually owned by the enterprise and the resources occupied by the operation process. Such resources can provide support for enterprises to identify and take the chances and quickly carry out competitive activities. Moreover, it can be of great significance to the establishment of a corporate competitive advantage and the promotion of its market position [4,5] However, resource-based theory states that redundant resources can only exert their value under certain conditions. In other words, redundant resources do not directly translate into corporate entrepreneurial performance [6]. Corporate entrepreneurial performance represents a series of behaviors that an enterprise identifies as entrepreneurial opportunities, dynamically optimizes resource, and uses all kinds of innovation activities to plan strategies and achieve essential development [6]. In reality, enterprises often apply resource bricolage to exert the value of redundant resources. Resource bricolage can fully exploit and utilize the inherent properties of redundant resources, which is helpful for enterprises to control and utilize market opportunities [7]. At present, scholars mostly focus on the resource action in the process of enterprise entrepreneurship and ignore the effect of redundant resources on corporate entrepreneurial performance. In view of this, this study proposes the following research question.
RQ: How do redundant resources actually affect a company’s entrepreneurial performance? Specifically, can redundant resources stimulate the enterprises’ entrepreneurial activities to achieve entrepreneurial performance? If redundant resources can play this role, what is the entire impact process? In addition, do redundant resources exert this effect directly or indirectly through some factors?
To address this question, this study evaluates the effect of redundant resources on corporate entrepreneurial performance and the mediation effect of resource bricolage. A schematic diagram of this study is shown in Figure 1. So far, most of the existing research has analyzed corporate entrepreneurship from the perspectives of external enterprise and individual enterprise. Little research focuses on the role of internal company factors [8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18]. However, resource bricolage is an effective means for enterprises to utilize redundant resources. It can help enterprises to examine and explore the potential value of corporate resources, and it provides an insight for enterprises to develop and reconstruct redundant resources. Therefore, this study will have important theoretical and practical significance.
The potential contribution of this research is that we construct a theoretical model that can show that redundant resources affect corporate entrepreneurial performance. This theoretical model not only describes which factors can have a significant impact on corporate entrepreneurial performance, but also explains the interaction of these factors. It shows the effect process of redundant resources–resource bricolage–corporate entrepreneurial performance. At present, most of the studies on the pre-factors of corporate entrepreneurship analyze it from the perspective of resource stock. This research proves that internal redundant resources are also one of the important antecedents of entrepreneurial activities. In addition, most of the existing studies on resource bricolage focus on the practices of new enterprises, which ignores the integration of internal resources by existing enterprises. In this sense, this article enriches the research systems of redundant resources and resource bricolage to some extent. The insights of this study can provide reference and support for enterprise managers to integrate redundant resources and implement resource bricolage to improve corporate entrepreneurial performance.

2. Theoretical Backgrounds

2.1. Redundancy Resources

Cyert and March first proposed redundant resources in 1963, and they pointed out that there was a difference in essence [19]. In detail, redundant resources refer to the difference between the resources owned by the enterprise and the resources occupied by the operation process [20,21]. In other words, it represents underutilized resources and capabilities in enterprises [22,23]. On this basis, many scholars proposed that redundant resources were temporarily idle, potential and untapped resources [24,25]. Based on these concepts, we believe that redundant resources are resources that can reflect the elasticity and flexibility of an organization and can be re-excavated, assembled and utilized according to the corporate development plan. In addition, redundant resources are divided into unabsorbed redundant resources and absorbed redundant resources, depending on whether the resources can be used for strategic objectives [26]. To obtain novel insights, we also adopt this classification in this study. It should be noted that unabsorbed redundant resources are embedded in the operational process of organization and have poor liquidity. Such resources are not fully utilized, and it is difficult to demonstrate their values in a short period, such as semi-finished products, untimely workers and equipment [27]. On the contrary, absorbed redundant resources represent resources that are highly liquid and can be flexibly allocated, such as cash and raw materials [27].

2.2. Resource Bricolage

Redundant resources can prompt enterprises to adjust their decisions to make full use of these resources [28,29]. Baker and Nelson (2005) combined resource bricolage with entrepreneurship, and believed that in the early stage of entrepreneurship, enterprises faced severe resource constraints. Resource bricolage could activate and expand the use of existing resources and provide resource support for enterprises to solve new problems or take advantage of new opportunities [30]. Based on this point of view, we believe that resource bricolage is a resource action to make use of opportunities, quickly examine the inherent characteristics of existing resources, and realize resource reconstruction. It links resources and opportunities effectively.
In addition, according to the studies by Rönkkö et al. (2013) and Senyard et al. (2014), we divide resource bricolage into three types: elements bricolage, customer bricolage and institution bricolage [31,32]. Elements bricolage refers to the activities in which an organization examines, mines, reorganizes, and utilizes various resources with potential to maximize the value of these resources [31]. Customer bricolage is the activities in which enterprises provide services to customers outside the scope of corporate services, and make them an external resource of this company [31] Institution bricolage indicates the activities in which enterprises use existing resources to break through traditional rules, and realize new business models, technical norms and conventions [31].

2.3. Corporate Entrepreneurial Performance

Corporate entrepreneurship has become an important means for enterprises to identify and utilize entrepreneurial opportunities, and maintain and expand their competitive advantages. In essence, entrepreneurship is a dynamic activity for transforming and allocating resources [33,34]. So far, many studies have evaluated the factors that influence corporate entrepreneurship. Table 1 summarizes these factors. However, most of the existing studies explain the enterprises’ entrepreneurial phenomenon from a single external or internal factor. These studies mainly examine the relationship between single or multiple factors and enterprise entrepreneurship, but do not systematically analyze the relationships among these factors. Moreover, enterprises need to actively look for opportunities and quickly allocate resources to carry out entrepreneurial activities. Most of the companies discussed in the existing studies identify entrepreneurial opportunities through market perception, rather than actively exploring these opportunities. In this sense, the existing studies have certain limitations in evaluating the role of redundant resources on entrepreneurial performance. To make up for the shortcomings of existing research, this study analyzes the effect of redundant resources on corporate entrepreneurial performance based on the perspective of resource bricolage and corporate resource interaction. At present, Chinese enterprises are generally faced with various problems such as shortage of resources and backward technology. In this regard, a large number of enterprises have begun to allocate and utilize redundant resources to implement entrepreneurial activities or sustainable management. Therefore, it is feasible to evaluate the impact of redundant resources on corporate entrepreneurial performance based on Chinese enterprises. In addition, considering that corporate entrepreneurship performance is a comprehensive variable, we measure corporate entrepreneurship from the three dimensions of product innovation, management innovation and business expansion [35]. Specifically, product innovation is the behavior of upgrading existing products and developing new products [35]. Management innovation indicates the behavior of realizing management system innovation, including the abolition and establishment of new institutions or departments [35]. Business expansion refers to the behavior of entering new markets and developing new businesses [35].

3. Research Hypotheses

3.1. The Impact of Redundant Resources on Corporate Entrepreneurial Performance

Abundant redundant resources can provide resource support against external market risk, making it easier for enterprises to carry out entrepreneurial activities, which in turn affects enterprise entrepreneurial performance [41]. Absorbed redundant resources are embedded in the daily activities of the enterprise. It is less liquid, but it can provide resource support and buffer effect for the entrepreneurial change of the organization. When there are many absorbed redundant resources, there will be a lot of idle resources because the resources cannot be fully utilized. At this time, in order to utilize resources and reduce cost pressure, managers will carry out entrepreneurial activities to take advantage of these resources. Entrepreneurial activities can integrate external resources and realize the transformation and use of resources [42]. On the contrary, the unabsorbed redundancy resources have strong liquidity, which is conducive to the implementation of information and opportunity search by the company [43], thus helping to improve the corporate entrepreneurial performance. Therefore, we propose the following hypotheses:
H1a: 
Unabsorbed redundant resources have a significant positive influence on corporate entrepreneurial performance.
H1b: 
Absorbed redundant resources have a significant positive influence on corporate entrepreneurial performance.

3.2. The Impact of Redundant Resources on Resource Bricolage

From the perspective of resource-based theory, the value of resources is not only determined by the inherent properties of resources, but also by the way enterprises organize and deploy resources [6,44]. Most of the resource bricolage of enterprises focuses on the development of new opportunities or new businesses, which will lead to great risks. However, the abundant redundant resources can provide resource support for the enterprise to conduct various experiments, thus contributing to the spread of entrepreneurship in enterprises [45,46]. Therefore, we propose the following hypotheses:
H2a: 
Unabsorbed redundant resources have a significant positive effect on elements bricolage.
H2b: 
Unabsorbed redundant resources have a significant positive effect on customer bricolage.
H2c: 
Unabsorbed redundant resources have a significant positive effect on institution bricolage.
H2d: 
Absorbed redundant resources have a significant positive effect on elements bricolage.
H2e: 
Absorbed redundant resources have a significant positive effect on customer bricolage.
H2f: 
Absorbed redundant resources have a significant positive effect on institution bricolage.

3.3. The Impact of Resource Bricolage on Corporate Entrepreneurial Performance

Enterprises that use resource bricolage can creatively transform and utilize redundant resources, helping to form unique business models to improve performance [38]. Resource bricolage helps companies stimulate innovation. This not only plays an important role in breaking the resource dilemma and maintaining survival, but also helps to improve the internal research and development (R&D) technology and overall innovation performance of the enterprise [47,48,49,50]. Therefore, we believe that resource bricolage is a logical model of thinking. It enables enterprises to have room for trial and error in the process of developing new businesses, and enables iterative innovation in the process of entrepreneurship [51,52,53,54]. Therefore, we propose the following hypotheses:
H3a: 
Elements bricolage has a significant positive impact on corporate entrepreneurship performance.
H3b: 
Customer bricolage has a significant positive impact on corporate entrepreneurship performance.
H3c: 
Institution bricolage has a significant positive impact on corporate entrepreneurship performance.

3.4. The Mediation Effect of Resource Bricolage

Resource bricolage can examine existing resources from different perspectives, and can fully explore the inherent attributes of resources, which helps enterprises to control and utilize opportunities, and also stimulates entrepreneurial activities and improve performance [55]. Insufficient utilization of redundant resources will result in idle resources. At this time, managers will explore new paths in order to revitalize and utilize resources and reduce cost pressures. Entrepreneurial activities can realize the efficient use of resources [56]. In addition, enterprises can integrate internal redundant resources and external resources, realize the transformation and use of resources, and then convert them into entrepreneurial activities to improve entrepreneurial performance [57]. Therefore, we propose the following hypotheses:
H4a: 
Elements bricolage plays a mediation effect between unabsorbed redundant resources and corporate entrepreneurial performance.
H4b: 
Elements bricolage plays a mediation effect between absorbed redundant resources and corporate entrepreneurial performance.
H4c: 
Customer bricolage plays a mediation effect between unabsorbed redundant resources and corporate entrepreneurial performance.
H4d: 
Customer bricolage plays a mediation effect between absorbed redundant resources and corporate entrepreneurial performance.
H4e: 
Institution bricolage plays a mediation effect between unabsorbed redundant resources and corporate entrepreneurial performance.
H4f: 
Institution bricolage plays a mediation effect between absorbed redundant resources and corporate entrepreneurial performance.
The theoretical model and research hypotheses are shown in Figure 2.

4. Methodology

4.1. Measures

By using the Likert five-point scale, we designed 25 measurement items to measure the 8 variables in the theoretical model. In this study, it should be noted that corporate entrepreneurial performance was measured by three variables: product innovation, management innovation and business expansion. In addition, we designed each item based on previous valid measures. The contents of all items are shown in Table 2. The 25 items in Table 2 were the main survey contents of the scale used in this study.

4.2. Data Collection

The data collection for this study focuses on Chinese companies over 8 years old, and these companies have the following characteristics. First, these enterprises have undertaken entrepreneurial activities. Second, they have accumulated some redundant resources. Third, they have implemented resource bricolage activities. We selected middle and senior managers in these companies who are familiar with redundant resources and resource bricolage and who have been involved in some entrepreneurial activity as respondents. These managers were able to answer all the questions in this survey effectively.
We first conducted a preliminary survey. The results of preliminary survey showed that the questionnaire had good reliability and validity. In the formal investigation, we used the field interview method to obtain data. Specifically, the enterprises selected by this research are all located in more than ten cities in Shandong Province, China, such as Qingdao, Weifang, Yantai and Jinan. During the interview, we strictly followed the epidemic prevention policies of Shandong Province. To improve the efficiency of data collection, we set up eight interview teams. These teams needed to present the nucleic acid test reports at the gate of the enterprise. After the staff checked the reports, the teams could interview the company’s executives. In addition, to ensure the data quality, the interview teams explained and answered various questions of interest to the executives on the spot during the interview. The survey period was from 20 June 2021 to 24 October 2021. We distributed 405 questionnaires and all of them were returned. After careful screening, we obtained 403 effective questionnaires. The attributes of the subjects are shown in Table 3. In addition, to examine common method bias, we performed Harman’s single factor test. The results showed that the percentage of variance explained by the largest eigenvalue was 37.69%. Therefore, there was no common method bias in this study [58].

5. Results

5.1. Reliability and Validity Test

We carried out an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and found that the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin value was 0.912, indicating that the data were suitable for factor analysis [59,60,61]. In the reliability analysis, the Cronbach’s α values of all factors exceeded 0.7. In addition, all composite reliability (CR) values also exceeded 0.7, indicating that the scale had high reliability. The detailed results are shown in Table 4.
In the convergent validity analysis, the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results showed that the factor loading of each item was above 0.7. Moreover, the average variance extraction (AVE) value of each variable was not less than 0.5 (see Table 4). These results suggested that the convergent validity of the scale is acceptable [59]. In addition, the discriminant validity test results were shown in Table 5. In this table, we can learn that the absolute value of the correlation coefficient between any two factors was smaller than the square root of AVE. Therefore, this scale has good discriminant validity [59].

5.2. Hypothesis Test

The AMOS 24.0 software and structural equation modeling technique were used to test research hypotheses. A well-fitted model (χ2/df = 1.696, RMSEA = 0.042, GFI = 0.918, IFI = 0.966, TLI = 0.961, CFI = 0.966) can be obtained after analysis. In this sense, the hypothesis test based on this model is reasonable.
The specific hypothesis test results are shown in Figure 3. Unabsorbed redundant resources and absorbed redundant resources had significant positive effects on corporate entrepreneurial performance. Thus, H1a and H1b were supported. Unabsorbed redundant resources had a significant positive impact on elements bricolage, customer bricolage and institution bricolage, respectively. Thus, H2a, H2b and H2c were all supported. Similarly, absorbed redundant resources produced a significant positive influence on elements bricolage, customer bricolage and institution bricolage, respectively. Thus, H2d, H2e and H2f were all supported. In addition, elements bricolage, customer bricolage and institution bricolage all produced significant positive effects on corporate entrepreneurial performance. Thus, H3a, H3b and H3c were all supported.

5.3. Mediation Effect Test

By using AMOS 24.0 software (IBM, USA), we tested six mediation effects. We used the Bootstrap method, and set the repeated 5000 Bootstrap samples. The results showed that for absorbed redundant resources, the confidence intervals of mediation effects of elements bricolage, customer bricolage and institution bricolage were [0.059, 0.157], [0.055, 0.17] and [0.073, 0.184], respectively. For unabsorbed redundant resources, the confidence intervals of mediation effects of elements bricolage, customer bricolage and institution bricolage were [0.036, 0.125], [0.027, 0.125] and [0.061, 0.18], respectively. The zero point was not included in these six confidence intervals. This shows that the partial mediation effects of elements bricolage, customer bricolage and institution bricolage were significant. Thus, H4a, H4b, H4c, H4d, H4e and H4f were all supported.

6. Discussion

With the continuous development of the digital economy, more and more large enterprises have achieved remarkable development by carrying out corporate entrepreneurial activities. This study explores the effect of redundant resources on corporate entrepreneurial performance. Four novel and valuable insights are identified.
First, redundant resources have a significant positive influence on corporate entrepreneurial performance. Specifically, absorbed redundant resources and unabsorbed redundant resources produce a significant positive influence on corporate entrepreneurial performance. This finding is consistent with the conclusions of existing studies (Vanacker et al., 2017 [62]; Marlin and Geiger, 2015 [63]). Absorbed redundant resources exist in the daily activities of the enterprise. Although the mobility of such resources is insufficient, they can provide resource support for organizational entrepreneurial change through entrepreneurial activities. In this process, the absorbed redundant resources will have a buffer effect, which can realize the transformation of resources. Compared with the absorbed redundant resources, unabsorbed redundant resources are more abundant and easier to use, and can provide enterprises with a resource buffer to cope with the turbulent external environment. Moreover, such resources can provide a guarantee for enterprises to identify and utilize opportunities, which is helpful to improve the corporate entrepreneurial performance.
Second, redundant resources have a significant positive effect on resource bricolage. This finding is not consistent with the conclusions of existing studies (Malen and Vaaler, 2016 [64]; Bromiley, 1991 [65]). From the perspective of enterprise behavior theory, redundant resources are not only the basic elements of the internal operation of enterprises, but also the results of enterprise operation. The empirical analysis results show that such resources can not only provide support for the organization’s information search and opportunity identification, but also help enterprises implement various types of resource bricolage.
Third, resource bricolage has a significant positive impact on corporate entrepreneurial performance. This conclusion is similar to that of Wu et al. (2014) [66] and Desa and Basu (2013) [67]. In reality, resource bricolage emphasizes immediate action that is of great significance for grasping opportunities and improving innovation efficiency. More importantly, resource bricolage focuses on realizing the creative use of existing resources, which can fully utilize the inherent properties of resources and is conducive to enterprises to engage in entrepreneurial activities. Empirical analysis results show that resource bricolage does have a non-negligible effect on entrepreneurial activities, ultimately leading to positive entrepreneurial performance.
Fourth, resource bricolage plays a partial mediation effect between redundant resources and corporate entrepreneurial performance. This conclusion is novel and valuable. It highlights the role of resource bricolage in entrepreneurial activities. Empirical analysis reveals that resource bricolage is an indirect link in the transformation of redundant resources to corporate entrepreneurial performance. Specifically, unabsorbed redundant resources have strong liquidity and high flexibility. Moreover, such resources can quickly switch their uses according to the actual situation of the enterprise. This provides a guarantee for an enterprise to identify entrepreneurial opportunities, grasp and utilize resources, and then improve the entrepreneurial performance. For absorbed redundant resources, they are useful but not flexible enough. Therefore, managers will stimulate the potential of absorbing redundant resources through resource bricolage, so as to realize the transformation of such resources into corporate entrepreneurial performance.

7. Implications

7.1. Theoretical Implication

We summarize the theoretical and practical contributions of this study. In theory, we construct a theoretical model that can show that redundant resources affect corporate entrepreneurial performance. Specifically, firstly, we explain the internal factors that drive entrepreneurial activities in firms from the perspective of redundant resources, which can be used as a necessary supplement to internal resource analysis in the further research. Secondly, we explore and test how redundant resources exert their potential effect through resource bricolage, which provides a new perspective for subsequent research on redundant resources. Thirdly, we integrate redundant resources and resource bricolage to analyze the impact of the synergistic effect of the two on corporate entrepreneurial performance, which is conducive to theoretical innovation in cross-disciplinary research. This theoretical implication can help researchers to incorporate the role of redundant resources and resource bricolage into subsequent studies on corporate entrepreneurial activities. In addition, considering the different effects produced by different types of redundant resources and resource bricolage, researchers can conduct in-depth analysis of a specific redundant resource or resource bricolage.

7.2. Managerial Implication

In enterprise management, on the one hand, enterprises should dynamically match the means of resource bricolage according to their actual conditions, so as to realize the creative transformation of redundant resources. In this way, redundant resources can provide instant and high-quality resource support for enterprises to effectively carry out entrepreneurial activities, thereby achieving the improvement of entrepreneurial performance. Moreover, such resources can also stimulate resource bricolage, and then improve corporate entrepreneurial performance. On the other hand, this research will help enterprise managers to understand the effects of two types of redundant resources and the impacts of three types of resource bricolages on corporate entrepreneurial performance. Enterprises should realize that there is a synergistic and complementary relationship between the two types of redundant resources. Moreover, there are also differences in the roles played by three types of resource bricolage. According to the conclusions of this research, enterprises should pay special attention to the effect of absorbed redundant resources and institution bricolage, as well as trying to play their roles in corporate entrepreneurial performance in a variety of ways. This managerial implication involves practical guidance for enterprises to realize the complementary advantages of various resources and the sound development of internal systems.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, L.Y., X.Y. and W.Z.; methodology, L.Y., X.Y. and W.Z.; formal analysis, L.Y.; investigation, X.Y. and Z.Z.; supervision, L.Y.; writing—original draft preparation, L.Y., X.Y. and W.Z.; writing—review and editing, L.Y. and W.Z. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was supported by MOE (Ministry of Education in China) Project of Humanities and Social Sciences (21YJC630161) and Qingdao Philosophy and Social Science Planning Program (QDSKL1801263).

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Data Availability Statement

Data available upon request.

Conflicts of Interest

With respect to the provenance of the work, we can declare that this paper presents original, previously unpublished work. It is not currently under consideration elsewhere and has not been submitted before to this or any other journal. There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Sustainability 14 07101 g001 550
Figure 1. Schematic diagram of this research.
Figure 1. Schematic diagram of this research.
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Figure 2. Theoretical model and research hypotheses.
Figure 2. Theoretical model and research hypotheses.
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Figure 3. Hypothesis testing results. Note: *** p < 0.001.
Figure 3. Hypothesis testing results. Note: *** p < 0.001.
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Table
Table 1. Influencing factors of corporate entrepreneurship.
Table 1. Influencing factors of corporate entrepreneurship.
Influencing FactorsAuthorsJournalsTopicsMethodsMain Conclusions
External environmentO’Brien
(2020) [36]		Journal of Business ResearchExamined the relationship between creative search strategies within and outside firm boundaries and enterprise innovation performance.Logit regressionsCross-border search can break down organizational boundaries and provide opportunities for companies to access innovative resources.
Arfi and Hikkerova (2021) [33]Small Business EconomicsAnalyzed the effect of enterprise entrepreneurship on product innovation.Multiple case studiesThe turbulent external environment was conducive to stimulating enterprise entrepreneurship.
OrganizationMiocevic and Morgan
(2018) [37]		International Marketing ReviewEvaluated the interaction between business organization and entrepreneurial opportunities.Structural equation modeling (SEM)The behavioral characteristics of employees were influenced by organization culture. Additionally, organization culture played an important role in entrepreneurial activities.
Kim and Hann
(2019) [38]		Information Systems ResearchTested the role of credit on crowdfunding use.Regression analysisAn organizational structure that provided support and encouragement was the key to a company’s entrepreneurial development.
IndividualBlanka (2019) [39]Review of Managerial ScienceSummarized the research status of entrepreneurship.Theoretical analysisThe entrepreneurial or innovative activities of employees in an organization can improve enterprise performance on the basis of obtaining resource support and transforming organizational strategy.
Rigtering et al. (2019) [40]Journal of Business VenturingExamining the role of managerial communication in motivating individuals to engage in entrepreneurial creativity.Probit and logit regressionHuman factors were necessary factors that maintained or regained a company’s competitive advantage in the process of entrepreneurship.
Table
Table 2. The contents of all items.
Table 2. The contents of all items.
VariablesItemsReferences
Absorbed redundant resources (ARR)ARR1: The enterprise has underutilized equipment or technology.Tan and Peng (2003) [27]
ARR2: The enterprise has many professionals.
ARR3: The enterprise has excess production capacity.
Unabsorbed redundant resources (URR)URR1: The enterprise has sufficient financial resources.Tan and Peng (2003) [27]
URR2: The enterprise has sufficient potential relationship resources.
URR3: The enterprise can obtain loans from banks or other financial institutions when needed.
Elements bricolage (EB)EB1: Despite various constraints, the enterprise can use resources such as labor, raw materials, and skills in a profitable manner.Rönkkö et al. (2013) [31]; Senyard et al. (2014) [32]
EB2: Most of the enterprise’s technology, human, material resources and other resources are developed by the enterprise itself.
EB3: The enterprise will guide employees to use existing resources.
Customer bricolage (CB)CB1: The enterprise is in close contact with its customers and invites them to improve its products and services.Rönkkö et al. (2013) [31]
CB2: The enterprise provides customers with products and services that other competitors cannot provide.
CB3: The enterprise serves customers that competitors find unattractive.
Institution bricolage (IB)IB1: The enterprise develops new rules and regulations.Rönkkö et al. (2013) [31]; Senyard et al. (2014) [32]
IB2: The enterprise will abandon traditional industry standards if they can do better.
IB3: The enterprise uses unconventional regulations in their operations.
Management innovation (MI)MI1: The enterprise invests heavily in new products, services and production processes.Hornsby et al. (2013) [35]
MI2: The enterprise launches many new products or services.
MI3: The enterprise leads industry innovation.
MI4: The enterprise applies for and obtains more patents than its competitors.
Product innovation (PI)PI1: The enterprise substantially updates its original product or business.Hornsby et al. (2013) [35]
PI2: The enterprise has implemented multiple management changes to improve organizational efficiency.
PI3: The enterprise restructures its organization to increase collaboration and communication between businesses.
Business expansion (BE)BE1: The enterprise enters a new business.Hornsby et al. (2013) [35]
BE2: The enterprise acquires another company.
BE3: The enterprise spins off some underperforming industry or business.
Table
Table 3. The attributes of the subjects in this study.
Table 3. The attributes of the subjects in this study.
DemographicsCategoryFrequencyPercentage (%)
GenderMale21653.60
Female18746.40
Age≤20307.44
21–307618.86
31–4010325.56
41–509824.32
≥519724.07
EducationHigh school and below81.99
Junior college9623.82
University16540.94
Master’s degree or higher13433.25
PositionMiddle manager24059.55
Senior manager16340.45
≤5 years399.68
6–10 years13232.75
11–14 years17944.42
≥15 years5313.15
State-owned enterprises4611.41
Private enterprises16641.91
Joint ventures4511.17
Sole proprietorship9824.32
Mixed-ownership enterprises307.44
Others184.47
Table
Table 4. Test results of reliability and convergent validity.
Table 4. Test results of reliability and convergent validity.
VariablesItemsCronbach’s αCRAVE
ARRARR10.8710.8720.694
ARR2
ARR3
URRURR10.9040.9040.702
URR2
URR3
EBEB10.8650.8690.688
EB2
EB3
CBCB10.8120.8120.591
CB2
CB3
IBIB10.8320.8320.622
IB2
IB3
MIMI10.8260.8280.617
MI2
MI3
MI4
PIPI10.8290.8330.556
PI2
PI3
BEBE10.8530.8550.662
BE2
BE3
Note: ARR: absorbed redundant resources; URR: unabsorbed redundant resources; EB: elements bricolage; CB: customer bricolage; IB: institution bricolage; MI: management innovation; PI: product innovation; BE: business expansion.
Table
Table 5. Test results of discriminant validity.
Table 5. Test results of discriminant validity.
VariablesARRURREBCBIBPIMIBE
ARR0.833
URR0.3700.838
EB0.3940.3550.829
CB0.4050.3350.4480.768
IB0.4290.4220.5060.4470.789
PI0.5130.4780.5860.5650.5840.746
MI0.5010.4570.5770.5690.5820.6810.785
BE0.5080.4520.5330.5190.6530.6490.6540.814
Note: ARR: absorbed redundant resources; URR: unabsorbed redundant resources; EB: elements bricolage; CB: customer bricolage; IB: institution bricolage; MI: management innovation; PI: product innovation; BE: business expansion.
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Yun, L.; Yao, X.; Zhu, W.; Zhang, Z. Evaluating the Effect of Redundant Resources on Corporate Entrepreneurial Performance. Sustainability 2022, 14, 7101. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127101

AMA Style

Yun L, Yao X, Zhu W, Zhang Z. Evaluating the Effect of Redundant Resources on Corporate Entrepreneurial Performance. Sustainability. 2022; 14(12):7101. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127101

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Yun, Lexin, Xiaolin Yao, Wenlong Zhu, and Zishan Zhang. 2022. "Evaluating the Effect of Redundant Resources on Corporate Entrepreneurial Performance" Sustainability 14, no. 12: 7101. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127101

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