Abstract
In recent years, the entrepreneurial activities of tea farmers have experienced rapid development, driven by the rural revitalization strategy. In this study, the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method was employed to analyze the key factors and configurations influencing the entrepreneurial performance of tea farmers in the central and western regions of Hunan Province. The findings reveal that no single variable is necessary for either high or non-high entrepreneurial performance. High entrepreneurial performance is achieved through three distinct pathways: willingness-opportunity-driven, willingness-team-opportunity-driven, and team-opportunity-driven. Conversely, non-high entrepreneurial performance is associated with two unfavorable pathways: willingness-opportunity-resource inhibition and opportunity-resource inhibition. It is recommended that tea farmer entrepreneurs proactively enhance their opportunity identification abilities and actively align with national policies. Additionally, the government should formulate and implement talent attraction policies, ensure effective policy execution, create a supportive entrepreneurial environment for tea farmers, and establish relevant institutions to improve their knowledge and skills.
Funding source: The National Social Science Fund of China
Award Identifier / Grant number: 19BJY170
Funding source: Project supported by the Natural Social Foundation of Hunan Province, China
Award Identifier / Grant number: 20YBA145
-
Research funding: National Social Science Foundation of China (19BJY170) and Hunan Provincial Social Science Foundation (20YBA145).
References
Aiqi, Wu, Song Di, and Yang Yang. 2020. “Untangling the Effects of Entrepreneurial Opportunity on the Performance of Peasant Entrepreneurship: The Moderating Roles of Entrepreneurial Effort and Regional Poverty Level.” Entrepreneurship & Regional Development 32: 112–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2019.1640479.Suche in Google Scholar
Alexandra, Pliakoura, Grigorios N. Beligiannis, Kontogeorgos Achilleas, and Chatzitheodoridis Fotios. 2021. “Farmers’ Perception of Entrepreneurial Success: Evidence from the Greek Reality.” Agriculture 11: 1192–2. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11121192.Suche in Google Scholar
Alfredo, De Massis, Audretsch David, Uhlaner Lorraine, and Kammerlander Nadine. 2018. “Innovation with Limited Resources: Management Lessons from the German Mittelstand: Innovating with Limited Resources.” Journal of Product Innovation Management 35: 125–46. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpim.12373.Suche in Google Scholar
Ardichvili, Alexander, Richard Cardozo, and Sourav Ray. 2003. “A Theory of Entrepreneurial Opportunity Identification and Development.” Journal of Business Venturing 18: 105–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0883-9026(01)00068-4.Suche in Google Scholar
Baocai, S. U., L. I. Yuxuan, and G. O. N. G. Peng. 2017. “Study on the Tea Farmers′ Cognition and Participation Model to Tea Manor-Based on the Survey Data of Fujian Province.” Journal of Tea Science 37: 315–23.Suche in Google Scholar
Chen, Yuran, Ruoxuan Huang, Yangge Zeng, and Qian Huang. 2024. “Research on the Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on the Performance of Rural Returnee Entrepreneurs in China.” Scientific Reports 14: 22077–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-72691-7.Suche in Google Scholar
Cheng, Guo, and He Anhua. 2019. “Impact of Entrepreneurship Training on Peasants Performance of Entrepreneurship Related to Agriculture – An Empirical Study Involving Regulatory Effect of Human Capital Endowment of Peasant Entrepreneurs.” Agricultural Economics and Management: 84–91.Suche in Google Scholar
Chunxiao, Wang, Gao Feng, Chen Fuqiao, and Zeng Lian. 2021. “Did the “Belt and Road” Initiative Promote the Export of China’s Tea? – An Empirical Study Based on the Generalized DID.” Journal of Tea Science 41: 865–75.Suche in Google Scholar
Fang, Jiaming, Yunfei Shao, and Chao Wen. 2016. “Transactional Quality, Relational Quality, and Consumer E-Loyalty: Evidence from SEM and fsQCA.” International Journal of Information Management 36: 1205–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2016.08.006.Suche in Google Scholar
FISS, PEER C. 2011. “Building Better Causal Theories: A Fuzzy Set Approach to Typologies in Organization Research.” Academy of Management Journal 54: 393–420. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2011.60263120.Suche in Google Scholar
Gielnik, Michael M., Stefanie Barabas, Michael Frese, Rebecca Namatovu-Dawa, Florian A. Scholz, Juliane R. Metzger, et al.. 2014. “A Temporal Analysis of How Entrepreneurial Goal Intentions, Positive Fantasies, and Action Planning Affect Starting a New Venture and When the Effects Wear Off.” Journal of Business Venturing 29: 755–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2013.09.002.Suche in Google Scholar
Goyal, Arpita, and Uma Sankar Mishra. 2023. “Impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation on MSME Performance: Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Competency.” Entrepreneurship Research Journal 14: 1583–609. https://doi.org/10.1515/erj-2022-0315.Suche in Google Scholar
Guangyu, Wan, Pu Feiyan, and Li Zichun. 2021. “Research on the Interaction between Enterprise Marketing Ability and Production and Operation Ability and its Impact on Performance.” China Management Science 1–14.Suche in Google Scholar
Heyong, Shen. 1990. “Theory and Methods of Group Dynamics.” Journal of Nanjing Normal University (Social Science): 101–5.Suche in Google Scholar
JeanGabriel, Contamin. 2011. ““book-review” Configurational Comparative Methods. Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and Related Techniques (Applied Social Research Methods Series. 51).” Revue française de science politique 61: 1157–8.10.3917/rfsp.616.1157aSuche in Google Scholar
Ji, Shiyu, and Jincai Zhuang. 2023. “The Impact Path of Digital Literacy on Farmers’ Entrepreneurial Performance: Based on Survey Data in Jiangsu Province.” Sustainability 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411159.Suche in Google Scholar
Jie, Ma, Ye Chaoyang, and Mao Liyu. 2024. “Research on the Path to Realize the Value of Tea Agricultural Cultural Heritage: Empirical Analysis Based on 31 Typical Cases.” Journal of Tea Science 44: 161–74.Suche in Google Scholar
Kanas, N., and B. Caldwell. 2000. “Summary of Research Issues in Personal, Interpersonal, and Group Dynamics.” Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine 71: A26–A28.Suche in Google Scholar
Lei, Fu, Sun Tong, Xia Tao, and Wen Xiaomeng. 2018. “Study on the Moderate Scale of Tea Family Farm-Based on the Survey Data of Anhui Province.” Journal of Tea Science 38: 643–51.Suche in Google Scholar
Liao, Riqing, Wei Liu, and Yuandao Yuan. 2023. “Resilience Improvement and Risk Management of Multimodal Transport Logistics in the Post-COVID-19 Era: The Case of TIR-Based Sea-Road Multimodal Transport Logistics.” Sustainability 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076041.Suche in Google Scholar
Linda, Smail, AlAwad Mouawiya, and Abaza Wasseem. 2025. “Exploring the Influence of Environmental, Social and Individual Factors on the Entrepreneurial Intentions of Emirati University Students.” Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy 14: 129–48. https://doi.org/10.1108/jepp-04-2024-0058.Suche in Google Scholar
Luo, Shudan, Pengfei Zhou, and Yang Shen. 2024. “How Can New Farmers Improve Their Entrepreneurial Performance? Qualitative Comparative Analysis Based on Fuzzy Sets.” Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 8: 1372250. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1372250.Suche in Google Scholar
Ming, Zhang, and Du Yunzhou. 2019. “Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) in Management and Organization Research: Position, Tactics, and Directions.” Chinese Journal of Management 16: 1312–23.Suche in Google Scholar
Neneh, Brownhilder Ngek. 2022. “Why Peer Support Matters: Entrepreneurial Stressors, Emotional Exhaustion, and Growth Intentions of Women Entrepreneurs.” Entrepreneurship Research Journal 14: 985–1019. https://doi.org/10.1515/erj-2021-0501.Suche in Google Scholar
Qiangqiang, Zhang, Wu Xixi, and Ma Hongyu. 2022. “How Does Three-Dimensional Capital Improve Farmers’ Entrepreneurship Performance? Chain Intermediary Role of Entrepreneurial Learning and Entrepreneurial Opportunity Identification.” Agricultural Economics and Management: 28–41.Suche in Google Scholar
Qu-ying, Hu. 2012. “Research on Relationship Between Environmental Performance and Financial Performance of Chinese Listed Companies.” China Population,Resources and Environment 22: 23–32.Suche in Google Scholar
Ragin, C. 2009. Redesigning Social Inquiry: Fuzzy Sets and Beyond. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.10.7208/chicago/9780226702797.001.0001Suche in Google Scholar
Rihoux, Benoît. 2006. “Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and Related Systematic Comparative Methods.” International Sociology 21: 679–706. https://doi.org/10.1177/0268580906067836.Suche in Google Scholar
Roig-Tierno, Norat, Tomás Félix González-Cruz, and Jordi Llopis Martínez. 2016. “An Overview of Qualitative Comparative Analysis: A Bibliometric Analysis.” Journal of Innovation & Knowledge 2: 15–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2016.12.002.Suche in Google Scholar
Shiyuan, Yang, Li Mengjia, Yue Longhua, Yu Lina, and Li Wei. 2022. “From Farmers’ Entrepreneurial Motivation to Performance – The Chain Mediating Effect of Entrepreneurial Learning and Entrepreneurial Ability.” Sustainability 15: 726–6. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010726.Suche in Google Scholar
Stuetzer, Michael, Martin Obschonka, Per Davidsson, and Eva Schmitt-Rodermund. 2013. “Where Do Entrepreneurial Skills Come From?” Applied Economics Letters 20: 1183–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2013.797554.Suche in Google Scholar
Su, Xiaohua, Shengmei Liu, Shujun Zhang, and Lingling Liu. 2020. “To Be Happy: A Case Study of Entrepreneurial Motivation and Entrepreneurial Process from the Perspective of Positive Psychology.” Sustainability 12: 584–4. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12020584.Suche in Google Scholar
Tiwari, Pankaj. 2025. “The Impact of Green Human Resource Management Practices on the Environmental Performance of Organisations.” Journal of the Knowledge Economy: 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-025-02701-0.Suche in Google Scholar
Vanacker, Tom, Veroniek Collewaert, and Ine Paeleman. 2013. “The Relationship Between Slack Resources and the Performance of Entrepreneurial Firms: The Role of Venture Capital and Angel Investors.” Journal of Management Studies 50: 1070–96. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12026.Suche in Google Scholar
Vincer, Diana J. E., and Todd M. Loughead. 2010. “The Relationship Among Athlete Leadership Behaviors and Cohesion in Team Sports.” The Sport Psychologist 24: 448–67. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.24.4.448.Suche in Google Scholar
Vis, Barbara, and Jan Dul. 2018. “Analyzing Relationships of Necessity Not Just in Kind But Also in Degree: Complementing fsQCA With NCA.” Sociological Methods & Research 47: 872–99. https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124115626179.Suche in Google Scholar
Weili, Zhu, Chen Jianghua, and Li Daohe. 2022. “Policy and the Total Factor Productivity Change of Tea Industry in China.” Journal of Tea Science 42: 886–99.Suche in Google Scholar
Weixin, Huang, and Gong Xinshu. 2014. “An Empirical Analysis of the Impact of International Logistics Performance on China’s Mechanical and Electrical Products Exports in the Silk Road Economic Belt.” Journal of International Trade: 56–66.Suche in Google Scholar
Weizhong, Fu, and Li Jiayi. 2023. “Research on Green Innovation of Renewable Resources Enterprises Under the Background of Digitalization – Configuration Analysis Based on fsQCA.” Journal of Industrial Technological Economics 42: 47–54.Suche in Google Scholar
Wenhong, Zhao, and Li Xiumei. 2014. “The Impact of Resource Acquisition and Resources Management on Entrepreneurial Performance.” Chinese Journal of Management 11: 1477–83.Suche in Google Scholar
Xiangmin, Meng, Zhang Jie, and Sun Min. 2022. “An Inclusive Entrepreneurial Path Model Based on Rural Digital Entrepreneurship Data in Zhejiang Province Using Few-Shot Learning.” Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience 2022: 8015681–1. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8015681.Suche in Google Scholar
Xiao-chun, Ge, Liu Hu, Tian Xue-ying, and Ge Deng-ke. 2021. “The Recognition and Acquisition of Organizational Entrepreneurial Resources Under Multiple Institutional Logics: A Case Study of NPO-transformed Social Enterprises.” Journal of Management Case Studies 14: 192–204.Suche in Google Scholar
Xiaofu, Si, Wang Song, and Fu Ying. 2016. “Where Does the Entrepreneurial Opportunity Come From: Discovering, Constructing or Discovering + Constructing? The Theoretical Frontier Research of Entrepreneurial Opportunity.” Management World: 115–27.Suche in Google Scholar
Yoo, Sangok, Jin Lee, and Yunsoo Lee. 2021. “Entrepreneurial Team Conflict and Cohesion: Meta-structural Equation Modeling.” Entrepreneurship Research Journal 14: 121–47. https://doi.org/10.1515/erj-2020-0501.Suche in Google Scholar
Yu, Xiao Min, and Xiang Yang Bi. 2023. “The Scaling Strategies and the Scaling Performance of Chinese Social Enterprises: The Moderating Role of Organizational Resources.” Entrepreneurship Research Journal 14: 1701–33. https://doi.org/10.1515/erj-2022-0127.Suche in Google Scholar
Yunzhou, Du, and Ma Hongjia. 2022. “Research on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Context of Complexity: Based on QCA Method.” Research and Development Management 34: 1–9.Suche in Google Scholar
Yunzhou, Du, and Jia Liangding. 2017. “Configuration Perspective and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA): A New Approach to Management Research.” Management World: 155–67.Suche in Google Scholar
Zheng, Yaoyi, and Yi Su. 2022. “How the Leader-Team Age Dissimilarity and Leader Power Shape the Entrepreneurial Ventures’ R&D Intensity: Empirical Evidence from China.” Entrepreneurship Research Journal 14: 871–903.10.1515/erj-2021-0352Suche in Google Scholar
Zhimin, Xie, Wang Xia, Du Yunzhou, and Xie Linmin. 2020. “How Does Entrepreneurial Intent Translate into Entrepreneurial Behavior?” Science of Science and Management of S&T 41: 68–82.Suche in Google Scholar
Zimei, Liu, Ren Yezhi, and Mei Yanlan. 2022. “How Does Internet Use Promote Farmer Entrepreneurship: Evidence from Rural China.” Sustainability 14: 16915–5. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416915.Suche in Google Scholar
© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston