Causal-Comparative Analysis of Factors Affecting Psychological Capital of Knowledge-Based Companies: The Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Social Capital

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
Suzan Zandazar
Kurosh Rezaei-Moghaddam
Mahsa Fatemi
Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract
Nowadays, entrepreneurship and knowledge-based companies are highly considered. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting Psychological Capital (PsyCap) in two groups of agricultural and non-agricultural knowledge-based companies from Science and Technology Park (STP) of Fars Province, Iran. The population included the companies located in the STP incubators in Fars Province. The data were collected by a questionnaire from 238 participants (100 from agricultural companies and 138 from other companies). The difference between agricultural and non-agricultural companies was remarkable in the effect of services provided by the incubators on the other variables. For the agricultural companies, the services provided by the park had no significant effect on entrepreneurial orientation, social capital, and product development process, indicating a direct significant effect on PsyCap. Regarding the non-agricultural companies, the services provided by the park had a significant effect on entrepreneurial orientation, social capital, and product development process, but had no direct effect on PsyCap. Due to the objectives of incubators` establishment as well as the cost and investment in this regard, the lack of appropriate efficiency was completely obvious in these centers, especially about agricultural companies that could be effective in providing food security using new technologies. Regarding the effect of services and facilities provided by STPs on the performance of companies at incubators, it is suggested that such services and facilities become more specialized and reinforced. In addition, it is emphasized to consider the necessity of educational and operational strategies in order to strengthen the entrepreneurial orientation, social capital, and PsyCap among the members.

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Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume 28, Issue 1
January and February 2026
Pages 1-17