An Exploration of the Influence Mechanism of Resource Bricolage and Ambidextrous Learning on Micro-Innovation in New Ventures: The Moderating Roles of Customer Participation and Government Support

Weiming Li, Boyang Cao and Chunyan Li ()
Additional contact information
Weiming Li: International Business School, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Boyang Cao: International Business School, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Chunyan Li: International Business School, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-26

Abstract: Resource bricolage, centered on breaking through resource constraints, emphasizes providing innovation momentum for new ventures by creatively reorganizing existing resources at hand. Existing studies have confirmed that resource bricolage exerts an impact on corporate innovation, yet explorations into this approach’s mechanism of action remain insufficient. Based on resource bricolage theory and organizational ambidexterity theory, this study constructs a theoretical framework of “resource bricolage–ambidextrous learning–micro-innovation”. Using 319 new ventures as samples, hierarchical regression analysis is adopted to empirically test the mediating effect of ambidextrous learning and the moderating effects of government support and customer participation. The results show that resource bricolage has a significant positive impact on micro-innovation, with ambidextrous learning playing a partial mediating role. The research conclusions indicate that under resource-constrained contexts, new ventures can activate idle resources and improve resource efficiency through resource bricolage, thereby reducing reliance on new resource inputs. Under this method, new ventures can also rely on ambidextrous learning to accumulate knowledge and capabilities, laying the foundation for the continuous improvement of micro-innovation and further leverage government support to stabilize resource supply and absorb customer participation to align with market demand. This mechanism ultimately enables the achievement of micro-innovation while enhancing its sustainability. This study enriches resource bricolage theory by unpacking the “resource–learning–innovation” mechanism and provides practical guidance for new ventures to leverage resource bricolage and external support for micro-innovation under resource constraints, which is of reference value for sustainable entrepreneurial practices.

Keywords: new ventures; micro-innovation; resource bricolage; resource efficiency; ambidextrous learning; government support; customer participation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/7786/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/7786/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7786-:d:1737391

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().