Moderating role of entrepreneurial alertness on the relationship between entrepreneurial passion and strategic change

Purpose - This purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between entrepreneurial passion for developing and strategic change as well as the moderating role of entrepreneurial alertness dimensions in this relationship. Design/methodology/approach - Data were collected from 157 small firms within the sector of manufacturing parts for motor vehicles in Mexico. A hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. Findings - The study's results show that entrepreneurs' passion for developing is related to strategic change. Furthermore, this relationship is enhanced at higher levels of the scanning and search dimension as well as the evaluation and judgment dimension, both of which relate to entrepreneurial alertness. Contrary to expectation, the results suggest that the association and connection dimension negatively moderate the relationship between entrepreneurs' passion for developing and strategic change. Originality/value - This study not only provides a better understanding of the drivers of strategic change, but also offers insights into its temporal component by integrating emotive and cognitive perspectives into a unified theoretical framework.