Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

From green entrepreneurial intentions to green entrepreneurial behaviors: the role of university entrepreneurial support and external institutional support

  • Published:
International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Green entrepreneurship is playing an increasing role in ecological environmental protection. Based on existing literature, this study aims to develop a hypothesis model of green entrepreneurship behavior (GEBs) for the purpose of investigating the GEBs of university graduates. In order to accomplish this, this study intends to use the structural equation model to examine the hypothesis model based on 586 university graduates from two selected universities in China. The results reveal that green entrepreneurial intentions (GEIs) have a direct positive effect on GEBs and that the university entrepreneurial support coupled with external institutional support are indeed key intermediary variables that play important roles in turning GEIs into GEBs. Therefore, we can draw some implications for researchers and policy makers alike that are concerned with students’ GEBs, namely, implementing green entrepreneurship education with the integration of cognitive-and behavior-oriented education, fostering an enablement environment for green entrepreneurship with the integration of university entrepreneurial support system and external institutional support system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ada Domańska, B. Ż., & Zajkowski, R. (2018). Green entrepreneurship as a connector among social, environmental and economic pillars of sustainable development. Why some countries are more agile? Problems Of Sustainable Development, 13(2), 67–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alvarez, S., & Busenitz, L. (2001). The entrepreneurship of resource-based theory. Journal of Management, 27, 755–775.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bae, T. J., Qian, S., Miao, C., & Fiet, J. O. (2014). The relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions: A meta-analytic review. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 38(2), 217–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagozzi, R. P., & Yi, Y. (1989). On the use of structural equation models in experimental designs. Journal of Marketing Research, 26(3), 271–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, S. J. (1991). Ecopreneuring : The complete guide to small business opportunities from the environmental revolution. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blue, J. (1990). Ecopreneuring: Managing for results. London: Scott Foresman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogatyreva, K., Edelman, L. F., Manolova, T. S., Osiyevskyy, O., & Shirokova, G. (2019). When do entrepreneurial intentions lead to actions? The role of national culture. Journal of Business Research, 96, 309–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borasi, R., & Finnigan, K. (2010). Entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviors that can help prepare successful change-agents in education. New Educator, 6(1), 1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burzyńska, D., Jabłońska, M., & Dziuba, R. (2018). Opportunities and conditions for the development of green entrepreneurship in the polish textile sector. Fibres & Textiles in Eastern Europe, 26(2), 13–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deephouse, D. L., & Carter, S. M. (2005). An examination of differences between organizational legitimacy and organizational reputation. Journal of Management Studies, 42(2), 329–360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demirel, P., Li, Q. C., Rentocchini, F., & Tamvada, J. P. (2019). Born to be green: New insights into the economics and management of green entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics, (52), 759–771.

  • Fayolle, A., Liñán, F., & Moriano, J. A. (2014). Beyond entrepreneurial intentions: Values and motivations in entrepreneurship. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 10(4), 679–689.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fichter, K., & Tiemann, I. (2018). Factors influencing university support for sustainable entrepreneurship: Insights from explorative case studies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 175, 512–524.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller, B., Yan, L., Bajaba, S., Marler, L. E., & Pratt, J. (2018). Examining how the personality, self-efficacy, and anticipatory cognitions of potential entrepreneurs shape their entrepreneurial intentions. Personality & Individual Differences, 125, 120–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao, B. (2017). Third 'nternet+' college students innovation and entrepreneurship competition, The People’s Daily.

  • Gast, J., Gundolf, K., & Cesinger, B. (2017). Doing business in a green way: A systematic review of the ecological sustainability entrepreneurship literature and future research directions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 147, 44–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelderen, M. V., Kautonen, T., & Fink, M. (2015). From entrepreneurial intentions to actions: Self-control and action-related doubt, fear, and aversion. Journal of Business Venturing, 30(5), 655–673.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginanjar, A. (2016). Entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention on entrepreneurship behavior: A case study. Paper presented at the 2016 Global Conference on Business, Management and Entrepreneurship.

  • Grinevich, V., Huber, F., Karataş-Özkan, M., & Yavuz, Ç. (2019). Green entrepreneurship in the sharing economy: Utilising multiplicity of institutional logics. Small Business Economics, 52, 859–876.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, J. K., Daneke, G. A., & Lenox, M. J. (2010). Sustainable development and entrepreneurship: Past contributions and future directions. Social Science Electronic Publishing, 25(5), 439–448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, C.-Y., & Wang, S.-M. (2018). Social entrepreneurial intentions and its influential factors: A comparison of students in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 1, 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jolink, A., & Niesten, E. (2015). Sustainable development and business models of entrepreneurs in the organic food industry. Business Strategy and the Environment, 24(6), 386–401. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1826.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kautonen, T., van Gelderen, M., & Tornikoski, E. T. (2013). Predicting entrepreneurial behaviour: A test of the theory of planned behaviour. Applied Economics, 45(6), 697–707.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kautonen, T., Hatak, I., Kibler, E., & Wainwright, T. (2015). Emergence of entrepreneurial behaviour: The role of age-based self-image. Journal of Economic Psychology, 50, 41–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krueger, N. F. (1993). The impact of prior entrepreneurial exposure on perceptions of new venture feasibility and desirability. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 18(5), 5–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/104225879301800101.

  • Krueger, N. F., Reilly, M. D., & Carsrud, A. L. (2000). Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 15(5–6), 411–432.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, H., & Atuahene-Gima, K. (2001a). Product innovation strategy and the performance of new technology ventures in China. Academy of Management Journal, 44(6), 1123–1134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, H. Y., & Atuahene-Gima, K. (2001b). Product innovation strategy and the performance of new technology ventures in China. Academy of Management Journal, 44, 1123–1134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, H., Chen, J., Xu, X., & Zhao, Z. (2016). Research on the trend of green entrepreneurship education in colleges and universities. China Market, (52), 71–74.

  • Liñán, F., & Chen, Y. W. (2009). Development and cross-cultural application of a specific instrument to measure entrepreneurial intentions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 33(3), 593–617.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liñán, F., & Fayolle, A. (2015). A systematic literature review on entrepreneurial intentions: Citation, thematic analyses, and research agenda. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 11(4), 907–933.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lotfi, M., Yousefi, A., & Jafari, S. (2018). The effect of emerging green market on green entrepreneurship and sustainable development in knowledge-based companies. Sustainability, 10(7), 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg, H., & Rehnfors, A. (2018). Transnational entrepreneurship: Opportunity identification and venture creation. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 16(2), 150–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meek, W. R., Pacheco, D. F., & York, J. G. (2010). The impact of social norms on entrepreneurial action: Evidence from the environmental entrepreneurship context. Journal of Business Venturing, 25(5), 493–509.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mustafa, M. J., Hernandez, E., Mahon, C., & Chee, L. K. (2016). Entrepreneurial intentions of university students in an emerging economy: The influence of university support and proactive personality on students’ entrepreneurial intention. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 8(2), 162–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neneh, B. N. (2019). From entrepreneurial alertness to entrepreneurial behavior: The role of trait competitiveness and proactive personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 138, 273–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Neill, K., & Gibbs, D. (2016). Rethinking green entrepreneurship – Fluid narratives of the green economy. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 48(9), 1727–1749.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40(3), 879–891.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothaermel, F. T., Agung, S. D., & Jiang, L. (2007). University entrepreneurship: A taxonomy of the literature. Industrial and Corporate Change, 16(4), 691–791.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger, S. (2002). A framework for ecopreneurship. Greener Management International, 14(38), 45–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlaegel, C., & Koenig, M. (2014). Determinants of entrepreneurial intent: A meta–analytic test and integration of competing models. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 38(2), 291–332.

  • Shepherd, D. A., & Patzelt, H. (2011). The new field of sustainable entrepreneurship: Studying entrepreneurial action linking “what is to be sustained” with “what is to be developed”. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 35(1), 137–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shinnar, R. S., Hsu, D. K., Powell, B. C., & Zhou, H. (2018). Entrepreneurial intentions and start-ups: Are women or men more likely to enact their intentions? International Small Business Journal: Researching Entrepreneurship, 36(1), 60–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shirokova, G., Osiyevskyy, O., & Bogatyreva, K. (2016). Exploring the intention–behavior link in student entrepreneurship: Moderating effects of individual and environmental characteristics. European Management Journal, 34(4), 386–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, X., Zhao, S., & Bai, X. (2018). Relationship among institutional support, top management team risk propensity and corporate entrepreneurship. Science Research Management, 39(12), 123–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutton, S. (1998). Predicting and explaining intentions and behavior: How well are we doing? Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 28(15), 1317–1338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Timmons, J. A. (1999). New venture creation: Entrepreneurship for the 21st century. New York: Irwin McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tjosvold, D., Peng, A. C., Chen, Y. F., & Su, F. (2008). Business and government interdependence in China: Cooperative goals to develop industries and the marketplace. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 25(2), 225–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C. J., Tsai, H.-T., & Tsai, M.-T. (2014). Linking transformational leadership and employee creativity in the hospitality industry: The influences of creative role identity, creative self-efficacy, and job complexity. Tourism Management, 40, 79–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, P. K., Ho, Y., & Chin Low, P. (2014). Do university entrepreneurship programs influence students’ entrepreneurial behavior? An empirical analysis of university students in Singapore. In S. Hoskinson & D. F. Kuratko (Eds.), Ssrn electronic journal (Vol. 24, pp. 65-87): Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

  • Xie, X., & Lv, J. (2017). Female technology entrepreneurs: Resource shortages and reputation challenges – A view of institutional support. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 14(2), 379–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yousafzai, S. Y. (2015). The role of perceived university support in the formation of students' entrepreneurial intention. Journal of Small Business Management, 53(4), 1127–1145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, M., Gao, Q., & Hyuk Soo, C. (2017). The effect of sub-national institutions and international entrepreneurial capability on international performance of export-focused smes: Evidence from China and South Korea. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 15(1), 85–110.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the Project of the National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 19BGL035).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Business School, Yancheng Teachers University, No.2 Nan Road, Xiwang Avenue, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China

    Gaofeng Yi

Authors
  1. Gaofeng Yi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gaofeng Yi.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yi, G. From green entrepreneurial intentions to green entrepreneurial behaviors: the role of university entrepreneurial support and external institutional support. Int Entrep Manag J 17, 963–979 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-020-00649-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-020-00649-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation