Entrepreneurial commitment, ambidextrous entrepreneurial learning and opportunity identification of new ventures in China: a moderated mediating effect model

Purpose Grounded in organizational learning theory, this study examines how entrepreneurial commitment influences opportunity identification through ambidextrous entrepreneurial learning, and assesses whether environmental munificence moderates these relationships. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through a survey of 240 entrepreneurs in China. Findings Entrepreneurial commitment is positively associated with both exploratory and exploitative learning. Exploratory learning and exploitative learning play a mediating role in the relationship between entrepreneurial commitment and opportunity identification. Environmental munificence has different effects on the relationship between entrepreneurial commitment and the two learning styles. Environmental munificence positively regulates the relationship between entrepreneurial commitment and exploitative learning, and negatively regulates the relationship between entrepreneurial commitment and exploratory learning. The results further reveal that greater environmental munificence strengthens the entrepreneurial commitment–exploitative learning relationship while weakening the commitment–exploratory learning relationship. Originality/value This study contributes to organizational learning theory by positioning exploratory and exploitative learning as mediating mechanisms in the relationship between entrepreneurial commitment and opportunity identification, and showing the moderating role of environmental munificence.