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 Entrepreneurial passion and venture

profit: Examining the moderating

effects of political connections and

environmental dynamism in an

emerging market

Samuel Adomako

University of Birmingham, UK

Kevin F Mole

University of Warwick, UK

Rebecca J Franklin

Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada

Charles Y Murnieks

University of Missouri, USA

Abstract

This article analyses the contingent factors which influence the relationship between entrepre-neurial passion and venture profit. While research on entrepreneurial passion is burgeoning, studies that analyse contingent factors and boundary conditions surrounding entrepreneurial passion theory are sparse. Moreover, we know very little about how the influence of entrepreneurial passion on venture outcomes might vary in emerging markets, typically characterised by higher level of bureaucratic involvement and institutional deficiencies. We extend entrepreneurial passion theory by testing a contingent model that evaluates the influence of political connections

and environmental dynamism on the relationship between entrepreneurial passion and venture

profit. More specifically, we examine the role of passion on venture profit and the moderating

impact of political connections and perceived environmental dynamism. Using time-lagged data

from 231 small businesses in Ghana, we find that political connections amplify the potency of

passion as a driver of venture profit. In addition, we find that this interaction is conditioned by

environmental dynamism; specifically, the moderating effect of political connections on the rela-

tionship between entrepreneurial passion and venture profit is stronger when dynamism is high.