ABSTRACT
The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on firm performance. Following the broad objective of this study, the following entrepreneurial dimensions were examined: entrepreneur’s proactiveness, innovativeness, risk taking ability and competitive aggressiveness.
The population of the study consisted of 600 SMEs operating in Benin city, Edo State. 150 copies of questionnaires were distributed to the respondents by the researcher. The collected data was analyzed using Simple percentage, descriptive statistics, and ordinary least squares regression.
Consequently, the following findings were discovered: The study revealed that entrepreneurial orientations significantly influences firm performance in Nigeria, with varying impacts across different dimensions. While innovativeness shows a positive but not statistically significant relationship with performance, risk taking ability, proactiveness, and competitive aggressiveness exhibit significant positive effects. The following recommendations were made; Entrepreneurs should be encouraged to embrace calculated risks by providing training on risk management and decision making, and firms should invest in market research and trend analysis to anticipate future charges and customer needs.
