The Curiosity-Driven Path to Entrepreneurial Success: Harnessing Creativity and Playful Work Design
Keywords:
Epistemic Curiosity, Creative Ideas, Entrepreneurial Success, Work Design, SMEs, Creativity, StartupsAbstract
This paper aims to investigate the outcomes of epistemic curiosity on entrepreneurial success, focusing on the sequential mediating roles of creative ideas and playful work design. A sample of 273 entrepreneurs and managers was selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data was gathered from startup owners and senior management of SMEs in the twin cities and analysed through correlation, reliability, and regression using SPSS. The theoretical model was further examined through CFA and hypothesis testing via AMOS. The results indicate that epistemic curiosity significantly and positively affects entrepreneurial success, mediated sequentially by creative ideas and playful work design. Entrepreneurs with higher curiosity levels tend to generate more innovative ideas, which, when coupled with a playful work environment, markedly enhance their success potential. This study is limited to SMEs in twin cities, which may affect generalizability to broader entrepreneurial contexts. Further research could explore similar relationships in varied cultural and industry settings. The findings provide actionable insights for entrepreneurs, managers, and policymakers on fostering curiosity-driven environments that promote creativity and enhance business success. Emphasizing epistemic curiosity can lead to an innovative-driven workplace culture, contributing to sustained competitive advantage. This study offers a novel perspective by elucidating the sequential mediating effects of creative ideas and playful work design on the relationship between curiosity and entrepreneurial success, adding valuable insights into the role of curiosity in entrepreneurial environments.
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