MJSS

An increasing number of people are choosing an entrepreneurial career route facilitated heavily by their drive towards their passion and motivation. Founder-entrepreneurs in SMEs usually have a strong and direct impact in deciding the direction of the company, determining the vision and objectives and managing the day-to-day operational risks. In this context, their motivation can highly influence the decision-making process, especially when faced with business challenges and market risks.  However, there are limited studies on Chinese SMEs and the role played by founder-entrepreneur in their success and survival. A prominent gap in the literature is the influence entrepreneurial motivation can have in building resilience and facilitating success. This paper will focus on the Chinese high-tech market and explore key sources of motivation for founder-entrepreneurs and how they respond to changes in the market to retain and drive their organizational sustainability and survival.