IMPERATIVE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION DIMENSION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study explored the consequence of EO on performance of SMEs in Offa local Government Area of Kwara State. The study’spurpose was to establish the effect of entrepreneurial orientation dimensions such as proactiveness and innovativeness on performance of SMEs as proxy by customers’ patronage and profitability of small and medium scales businesses in Offa local Government Area of Kwara State from 2018 to 2023. Survey design was used for the study as data were collected using questionnaires administered on a sample of one hundred and nine (109) respondents from the total population of 150. Data analysis for the study was carried with multiple linear regression.  Consequently, the findings of the study revealed that R-Square values are 0.967 and 0.683 customers’ patronage and product quality respectively. In the course of the entrepreneurial orientation’s distinctiveness, the findings established the surfacing of proactive innovation (a permutation of proactiveness and innovativeness) which revealed a significant positive association on customer patronage and product quality. The study concludes that entrepreneurial orientation is very significant in the performance of the SMEs as it helps in the survival of the business and allowing them to effectively participate especially within fast-changing industries in this present economic situation. The study further recommends that business should try to be pro-active in pleasing the present and future desires of their esteem customers and should also accept the spate of Innovation in their respective enterprise.