Entrepreneurs’ Perception of Business Environments and Innovation Based on Warm Impressions and Competence Impressions with the Stereotype Content Model (SCM)

Abstract

From the perspective of entrepreneurs’ perception of a business environment (EPBE), this study explores the mechanism of EPBE on enterprise innovation with regional stereotypes. Data from 358 entrepreneur questionnaires in China were tested by using a structural equation model. The results showed that the two dimensions of EPBE—entrepreneurs’ perception of the government environment (EPGE) and entrepreneurs’ perception of the factor environment (EPFE)—are significantly positively correlated with enterprise innovation, willingness–ability fit (WAF) plays a mediating role between EPBE and enterprise innovation, a warm impression has a greater positive moderating effect on the relationship between EPGE and enterprise innovation, and a competence impression has a greater positive moderating effect on the relationship between EPFE and enterprise innovation. These research findings expand the ideas of research on business environment optimization and enterprise innovation and provide theoretical references for stimulating enterprise innovation.