The nexus between entrepreneurial orientation and performance: enabling roles of absorptive capacity, Ismail Raisal, Arun Tarofder, Aboobucker Ilmudeen
Ismail Raisal
Department of Management
South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil
Sri Lanka
Email: ismarais@seu.ac.lk
Arun Kumar Tarofder
Management and Science University, Shah Alam
Malaysia
Aboobucker Ilmudeen
Management and Science University, Shah Alam
Malaysia
DOI: 10.1108/WJEMSD-06-2019-0041
Purpose: Developing countries’ economic growth very much depend on the successful performance of entrepreneurial-oriented firms. Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is a valuable conjecturer of firm success. This study mainly focuses on analyzing the effect of EO on the firm performance (FP) with the mediating role of absorptive capacity (ACAP).
Design/methodology/approach: To test the hypothetical model, we collected 226 valid responses from senior managers of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The structural equation modeling technique is performed and research hypotheses are validated.
Findings: The findings show that the strong causal relations exit between EO, ACAP and FP. In brief, EO was found to be a predictor of ACAP, and ACAP has a strong positive impact on FP. Moreover, ACAP substantiated to be a mediator between EO and FP.
Research limitations/implications: A notable ramification of this finding is that for SMEs to enhance their performance via EO, the presence of ACAP as a mediator is essential.
Practical implications: The findings of this study can be used as a basis to consider EO to increase firms' level of ACAP and to enhance FP. As a whole, the findings offer pragmatic insights for SMEs and pertinent stakeholders.
Originality/value: So far, little is known about the interrelationship between EO, ACAP and FP. Importantly, the mediating role of ACAP between EO and FP has remained unexplored. This study fills this gap in the existing literature.
Keywords: Sri Lanka; Entrepreneurial orientation; Absorptive capacity; Firm performance.
Citation: Raisal, I., Tarofder, A.K. and Ilmudeen, A. (2021), "The nexus between entrepreneurial orientation and performance: enabling roles of absorptive capacity", World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 17 No. 2, pp. 153-166. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-06-2019-0041
