Knowing to Broaden Vision, Acting to Accomplish Goals: A Dual-Path Study on How Work Experience Diversity Influences Entrepreneurial Opportunity Identification
Description
This study tests a dual-path model linking work experience diversity to entrepreneurial opportunity identification through cognitive flexibility and resource bricolage, and examines environmental competitiveness as a moderator. Survey data were collected from 326 entrepreneurs across diverse industries in China (May–August 2025） via stratified random sampling through entrepreneurial associations, incubators, and online communities. All measures used validated Likert-scale instruments drawn from established literature. Structural equation modeling and moderation analysis (PROCESS macro) were employed. Results indicate that work experience diversity significantly enhances both cognitive flexibility and resource bricolage, which in turn significantly improve opportunity identification. However, environmental competitiveness weakens these positive effects: in highly competitive markets, the slopes of the diversity–flexibility and diversity–bricolage relationships decrease substantially, indicating that external pressures constrain the cognitive and behavioral benefits of diverse career experiences. These findings suggest that while diverse prior work experiences foster adaptive thinking and resource recombination, the advantages are context-dependent. In less competitive environments, diversity generates higher returns in opportunity identification, whereas in competitive markets, entrepreneurs should complement experience diversity with targeted strategies for market adaptation and resilience. Our dataset enables replication of the analysis and offers practical implications for entrepreneurs, educators, and policymakers seeking to design interventions mindful of environmental dynamics.
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Institutions
- Shaanxi Normal University International Business SchoolShaanxi, Xi'an