Abstract In the context of entrepreneurship, improvisation is a common behavior in the process of entrepreneurship. It helps new ventures to cope with unexpected events effectively. At the same time, as a special knowledge resource in the enterprise, routines contribute to improving the performance of the enterprise. Therefore, based on the resource-based view and contingency theory, this study explores the impact mechanism of improvisation on the performance of new ventures. Empirical research using 154 sample data of new ventures shows that improvisation of new ventures positively influences routines. Routines positively promote performance of new ventures, and play a full mediating role in the relationship between improvisation and new ventures’performance. Environmental dynamics positively moderate the relationship between improvisation and performance of new ventures, but has no moderating effect on the mediating role of routines.
