Providing an Appropriate Model for the Commercialization of Entrepreneurial Ideas in Knowledge-Based Companies with an Export-Oriented Approach Using a Mixed-Methods Research Design
Keywords:
entrepreneurial ideas, commercialization, knowledge-based companies, structural equation modeling (SEM), grounded theoryAbstract
In today’s global economy, companies that emphasize marketing and innovation are more capable of achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. On the other hand, the core driver of growth and development in the export sector is increasingly knowledge-based. The success of knowledge-based companies depends on their sales performance and market share; the more effective they are in the commercialization of goods and services, the greater their access to national and international markets will be. Accordingly, the present study aimed to propose a model for the commercialization of entrepreneurial ideas in knowledge-based companies with an export-oriented perspective, employing a mixed-methods research design (qualitative–quantitative). In the qualitative phase, the grounded theory approach was applied. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 21 experts, including university faculty members, specialists, and practitioners in the service sector, using purposive judgmental and snowball sampling. Data analysis followed the three-step coding procedure of open, axial, and selective coding. The resulting paradigmatic model consists of six causal categories (social factors; individual factors; organizational–technological factors; financial–economic factors; and legal–regulatory factors), an intervening category (mindset and support of transformational managers and leaders, universities and educational organizations, and the government), a contextual category (individual contextual conditions, socio-economic deficiencies, and intra-organizational factors), strategies (customer and market orientation, innovation orientation, international entrepreneurship culture, creativity and innovation training, and structural and industrial transformation), and consequences (individual outcomes, short-term and long-term results, national results, and regional results). In the quantitative phase, structural equation modeling (SEM) using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) technique was applied to test the proposed model. The findings revealed significant and positive reciprocal effects between internal and external latent variables. Considering the R² and Q² indices, the model demonstrated strong predictive power, and the overall model fit was high with a goodness-of-fit index of 0.659.
References
S. Rahimi, "The Role of Intellectual Capital in Educational Development and Its Impact on Iran's Knowledge-Based Economy," in 1st National Conference on Teaching Skills, Masjed Soleyman, 2024.
A. Ja'fari Samimi and F. Ja'fari Salahdar Kolaei, "Investigation and Ranking of Factors Affecting Commercialization of Export Products in Knowledge-Based Companies of Mazandaran Province," in 1st National Conference on Applied Research in Dynamic Economics, Modern Management, and Accounting, Babol, 2020.
F. Papi, Z. Rezaei Ashiyani, and A. E. Zahedi, "Analysis of Barriers to Innovation and Technology Commercialization in Iranian Knowledge-Based Companies," in 4th Scientific Conference on New Achievements in Management Sciences, Accounting, and Economics of Iran, Ilam, 2020.
H. Safar Zād, F. Āzmā, P. Saeidi, and H. Aghājāni, "Presenting a Commercialization Model for Knowledge-Based Products with an Emphasis on Resistance Economy Policies," Quarterly Journal of Strategic and Macro Policies, vol. 8, no. 29, pp. 1-21, 2020.
A. Shahrabi, S. Tahmasebi Limooni, and S. A. A. Razavi, "Research Commercialization in Iranian Medical Universities," 2019.
A. John, G. M. Kivengea, and G. A. Ombakho, "Initiatives to Promote Commercialization of ResearchOutputs by Kenyan Universities," Elixir International Journal, vol. 100, no. 5, pp. 512-529, 2019.
B. Anthoonsd, Karamichalia, A. Schrøder- Nielsenb, A. Drouzase, D. B. H, and P. Madesi, "Metabarcoding reveals low fidelity and presence of toxic species in short chain-of-commercialization of herbal products," J Food Compos Analys, vol. 97, no. 10, pp. 37-67, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.jfca.2020.103767.
G. Secundo, V. Ndou, P. Vecchio, and G. D. Pascale, "Sustainable Development, Intellectual Capital and Technology Policies," J Technol Forecast Soc Chang, vol. 153, pp. 911-917, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2020.119917.
M. Kim, H. Park, Y.-w. Sawng, and S.-y. Park, "Bridging the Gap in the Technology Commercialization Process: Using a Three-Stage Technology-Product-Market Model," Sustainability, vol. 11, no. 22, 2019, doi: 10.3390/su11226267.
A. Karīmi Yazdi, M. Haghighi, and T. Nāteq, "Identifying and Ranking the Future Strategies for Commercialization of New Technologies in Startup Knowledge-Based Companies," Management Futures Studies (Management Research), vol. 31, no. 124, pp. 30-44, 2021.
O. Krätzig and N. Sick, "Exploring the role of entrepreneurial passion for facilitating university technology commercialization: Insights from battery research as an interdisciplinary field," Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, vol. 60, p. 101627, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.jengtecman.2021.101627.
A. Azīmzādeh, H. Sanā'īpūr, M. Ashrafi, and S. Shojā'i, "Presenting a Structural Equation Model for International Entrepreneurship Development in Knowledge-Based Businesses," Quarterly Journal of Business Management, vol. 13, no. 50, pp. 150-172, 2021.
M. Alikhāni and M. Alikhāni, "Investigating Legislative Problems and Barriers in the Field of Commercialization of Knowledge-Based Products," in 5th International Conference on Management, Accounting, and Economic Development, 2020, pp. 1-12.
S. Albukhitan, "Developing Digital Transformation Strategy for Manufacturing," J Proced Comput Sci, vol. 170, pp. 664-671, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.procs.2020.03.173.
S. Ghiyābi and M. Ghiyābi, "The Role of Markets in the Commercialization Process of Knowledge-Based Company Products and a Study of the Role of Technology Units Located in Science and Technology Parks," in 3rd International Conference on Modern Management Tricks, Accounting, Economics, and Banking with a Business Growth Approach, Tehran, 2020.
R. Zare, M. Abedian Khorasani, V. Khashei, and M. Haghighi Kafash, "Strategic Control Model Based on Digital Transformation, Technology in Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management," 2025.
T. Rabbani and H. Mirzaei, "Explaining the Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development Indices on the Regional Knowledge-Based Economy with a Comparative Approach," 2024.
C. Cao, M. Chen, X. Tang, and H. Liu, "Linking information technology use with corporate entrepreneurship: The mediation role of openness to external knowledge," Information Systems Journal, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 71-96, 2025, doi: 10.1111/isj.12529.
M. Tukiran, Y. Indrianti, S. L. Bramaputri, W. S. Dewobroto, and M. D. G. Prathivi, "Business Process Automation as a Strategic Enabler for Entrepreneurial Digital Transformation: A Systematic Literature Review," in APSKI International Conference on Association of Indonesian Entrepreneurship Study Programs, 2025, pp. 43-54.
S. Urooj, A. Ullah, S. Ullah, and H. Nobanee, "Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the Digital Era: The Role of Digital Financial Capability and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance," Business Strategy & Development, vol. 8, no. 3, p. e70147, 2025, doi: 10.1002/bsd2.70147.
F. Hesābi Vīshkaei and S. Kheradmandnia, In the Path of Knowledge-Based Production and Job Creation: Institutional Pathology of the System of Science and Technology Commercialization in the Country. Tehran: Islamic Consultative Assembly Research Center, 2022.
A. Arabi, M. R. Cheraghali, M. Sharifzadeh, and M. B. Gorji, "Identifying and Evaluating Knowledge Commercialization Indicators with an International Approach in Knowledge-Based Companies of Tehran City," Quarterly Journal of Business Management, no. 49, pp. 432-448, 2021.
F. Hesābi, S. Elahi, M. Hasanzadeh, and A. Shayan, "An Analytical Framework for Science and Technology Commercialization with a Meta-Synthesis Approach: Investigating Analytical Dimensions, Actors, and Functions," Entrepreneurship Development, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 401-420, 2021.
A. R. Shirvani, H. R. Tavalaei, and M. R. Delvi, "Design and Testing Human Capital Strategies Model Based on Digital Technology Vision and Transformation: Recognition of Cognitive, Behavioral and Performance Consequences," Research in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 55-70, 2021, doi: 10.22108/cbs.2021.127513.1499.
S. Maleki Far, "The Role and Position of the Innovation and Prosperity Fund in the Development of the Knowledge-Based Economy," 2021.
M. Nasrīni and S. Qāzi Nūri, "Investigating the Moderating Role of Marketing Capability on the Relationship Between Innovation Capability and Performance in Knowledge-Based Companies," Quarterly Journal of Innovation Strategy and Operations Excellence, vol. 1, no. 1, 2024.
A. Nīkzād and M. R. Kābārān Zādqadīm, "Investigating the Impact of Applying the Blue Ocean Strategy with a Strategic Thinking Approach on Innovative Production Commercialization and Systematic Innovative Production in Kaleh Amol Company," Quarterly Journal of Business Management, vol. 12, no. 47, pp. 473-493, 2020.
I. Kalinic and K. D. Brouthers, "Entrepreneurial orientation, export channel selection, and export performance of SMEs," International Business Review, p. 101901, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2021.101901.
K. Daneshjoo Vash, P. Ja'fari, and A. Khamseh, "The Commercialization Cycle of Entrepreneurial Ideas in Advanced Technology-Based Companies," vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 41-68, 2021.
E. Masma' Khosrowshāhi and J. Soltanzadeh, "A Historical Analysis of the Challenges of Development and Commercialization in a Knowledge-Based Company in the Field of Medical Equipment," Quarterly Journal of Management Improvement, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 1-21, 2021.
M. A'Zami, "Analysis of the Dimensions and Components of Product Commercialization of Knowledge-Based Companies in the Context of Technology Markets," Quarterly Journal of Strategic Management Studies, vol. 11, no. 42, pp. 1-14, 2020.
H. Didehkhani, R. Alizadeh, M. Sharifzadeh, and R. Samiei, "Designing a Digital Entrepreneurship Model in Knowledge-Based Companies with a Grounded Theory Approach," Technology Development, vol. 19, no. 75, pp. 1-11, 2023, doi: 10.61186/jstpi.21038.19.75.1.
J. Khani Jazani, S. Ja'fari, and A. Azar Far, "Business Process Modeling of Knowledge-Based Companies," Decision Making and Operations Research, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 277-298, 2022.
M. Alizadeh Seyyedābādi, E. Chīrāni, M. R. Āzāde del, and S. M. Shabgou Monsef, "Commercialization of Medical Goods in Knowledge-Based Companies," Razi Journal of Medical Sciences (Journal of Iran University of Medical Sciences), vol. 29, no. 12, pp. 162-170, 2022.
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Majid Torabi (Author); Mostafa Hashemi Tilehnouei; Younos Vakil Alroaia (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
