Impact of Entrepreneurial Leadership, Network Orientation and Entrepreneurial Orientation on startup Innovation and Performance in Nepalese Tourism SMEs : The moderating Role of Strategic Flexibility = 네팔 관광 중소기업의 스타트업 성공, 기업가적 리더십, 네트워크 지향성 및 기업가적 지향성이 혁신 및 성과에 미치는 영향 : 전략적 유연성의 조절 효과

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study examines the determinants of startup performance and innovation within Nepalese tourism Small and Medium-sized Enterprises （SMEs）, a sector central to national economic development yet operating in a resource-constrained, emerging market environment. Grounded in the Resource-Based View （RBV） and Strategic Fit Theory, the research develops and empirically tests an integrated model assessing the direct effects of entrepreneurial orientation （EO）, network orientation （NO）, and entrepreneurial leadership （EL） on startup performance （SP）. The model further incorporates technological innovation capabilities （TIC） as a mediating mechanism and strategic flexibility （SF） as a moderating variable. A quantitative, cross-sectional methodology was employed using a structured questionnaire administered to 313 owners and managers of tourism SMEs across Nepal. Data were analysed using SPSS 29.0 and the PROCESS macro to test both mediation and moderation effects. The measurement model demonstrated satisfactory reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. The empirical results show that EO exerts a significant positive direct effect on SP, supporting H1a. However, contrary to expectations, NO （H1b） and EL （H1c） do not exhibit significant direct effects on SP. TIC was found to have a strong direct impact on SP （H2）. Moreover, EO, NO, and EL each have significant positive effects on TIC, supporting H3a, H3b, and H3c. Mediation analysis confirmed that TIC partially mediates the relationships between EO and SP （H4a）, between NO and SP （H4b）, and between EL and SP （H4c）. This indicates that while EO contributes directly to performance, the influence of NO and EL on SP operates indirectly through technological innovation capabilities. In terms of moderation, SF significantly strengthens the effect of EL on SP （H5c） and the relationship between TIC and SP （H6）, but it does not moderate the EO-SP （H5a） or NO-SP （H5b） relationships. Overall, the study concludes that within Nepal's fragmented and resource-scarce tourism sector, an entrepreneurial mindset is essential for achieving direct performance gains. However, the performance effects of networking and leadership become substantial only when these capabilities are channelled toward building strong technological innovation capabilities. Theoretically, these capabilities are linked to the adoption of sustainable practices such as green technologies and energy-saving methods, though empirical testing of sustainability outcomes remains a direction for future research. Strategic flexibility emerges as a critical catalyst, amplifying the impact of leadership and existing innovation capacities on performance outcomes. The study contributes theoretically by clarifying the mediating role of TIC and contextualizing the nuanced effects of NO and EL in emerging economy settings. Practically, the findings offer actionable insights for entrepreneurs aiming to strengthen innovation and adaptability, and for policymakers seeking to design supportive ecosystems that foster entrepreneurial development, technological progress, and resilience in the Nepalese tourism industry.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Chapter 1. Introduction 1
• 1.1 Background of the Study 1
• 1.2 Problem Statement 5
• 1.3 Research Questions 7
• 1.4 Research Objectives 8
• 1.5 Significance of the Study 9
• 1.5.1 Theoretical Significance 9
• 1.5.2 Practical Significance for Entrepreneurs and Managers 10
• 1.5.3 Practical Significance for Policymakers and Industry Associations 10
• 1.6 Scope and Delimitations 11
• 1.7 Definition of Key Terms 12
• 1.8 Thesis Structure 14
• Chapter 2. Literature Review and Theoretical Framework 15
• 2.1 Introduction 15
• 2.2 Nepal’s Tourism SME Landscape 16
• 2.3 Comparative Perspectives on Tourism SMEs 18
• 2.4 Theoretical Foundations 21
• 2.4.1 Resource-Based View （RBV） 21
• 2.4.2 Strategic Fit Theory and Dynamic Capabilities 23
• 2.5 Entrepreneurial Orientation （EO） and Startup Performance 24
• 2.6 Network Orientation （NO） and Startup Performance 26
• 2.7 Entrepreneurial Leadership （EL） and Startup Performance 29
• 2.8 Technological Innovation Capabilities （TIC） and Startup Performance 31
• 2.9 The Antecedent Role of EO, NO, and EL in Building TIC 34
• 2.10 The Mediating Role of Technological Innovation Capabilities （TIC） 35
• 2.11 TIC and Sustainability: A Direction for Future Research 39
• 2.12 The Moderating Role of Strategic Flexibility （SF） 40
• 2.13 Conceptual Framework and Hypothesis Development 44
• 2.14 Chapter Summary 48
• Chapter 3. Research Methodology 50
• 3.1 Introduction 50
• 3.2 Research Philosophy and Design 51
• 3.2.1 Research Philosophy: Post-Positivism 51
• 3.2.2 Research Approach: Deductive 51
• 3.2.3 Research Design: Quantitative, Cross-Sectional Survey 52
• 3.3 Population, Sampling Frame, and Procedure 53
• 3.3.1 Target Population 53
• 3.3.2 Sampling Frame and Technique 54
• 3.3.3 Sample Size Determination and Achieved Sample 56
• 3.4 Data Collection Instrument and Procedure. 57
• 3.4.1 Questionnaire Design and Structure 57
• 3.4.2 Scale Adaptation and Contextualization 58
• 3.4.3 Data Collection Procedure 59
• 3.5 Measurement of Variables and Scale Sources 60
• 3.6 Data Analysis Techniques 61
• 3.6.1 Step 1: Data Screening and Preliminary Analysis 61
• 3.6.2 Step 2: Assessment of the Measurement Model 62
• 3.6.3 Step 3: Testing the Structural Model and Hypotheses 63
• 3.7 Ethical Considerations 65
• 3.8 Chapter Summary 66
• Chapter 4. Data Analysis and Results 68
• 4.1 Introduction 68
• 4.2 Data Screening and Preliminary Analysis. 69
• 4.3 Demographic and Firmographic Profile of the Sample 69
• 4.4 Assessment of the Measurement Model 72
• 4.4.1 Reliability and Convergent Validity 72
• 4.4.2 Discriminant Validity 76
• 4.5 Structural Model and Direct Effects 77
• 4.6 Mediation Analysis of TIC 82
• 4.7 Moderation Analysis of Strategic Flexibility （SF） 85
• 4.8 Summary of Hypothesis Testing Results 90
• 4.9 Chapter Summary 91
• Chapter 5. Discussion 93
• 5.1 Introduction 93
• 5.2 Discussion of Direct Effects 94
• 5.3 Central Mediating Role of TIC 97
• 5.4 Moderating Role of Strategic Flexibility （SF） 99
• 5.5 Theoretical Contributions 101
• 5.6 Chapter Summary 104
• Chapter 6: Conclusion and Implications 106
• 6.1 Introduction 106
• 6.2 Recapitulation of the Study 107
• 6.3 Theoretical Implications 109
• 6.4 Practical Implications 111
• 6.4.1 Implications for Tourism SME Owners and Managers 111
• 6.4.2 Implications for Policymakers and Industry Associations 112
• 6.5 Limitations of the Study and Avenues for Future Research 114
• 6.5.1 Acknowledged Limitations 114
• 6.5.2 Directions for Future Research 118
• 6.6 Conclusion 127
• REFERENCES 133