Entrepreneurial Orientation and Supply Chain Performance Among SMEs in South-South Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The complexity of today’s business environment requires an entrepreneurial mindset in managing global supply chains. This paper attempted the application of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) to the management of small and medium enterprise supply chains. Specifically, the study investigated the interaction between EO and supply chain performance (SCP) amongst small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the South-South geopolitical region of Nigeria. Empirical data from 57 purposively selected SME supply chain executives in the area were collected via the survey questionnaire and analysed via the Pearson' product-moment correlation and multiple linear regression. The results indicated that EO variables: innovativeness, risk-taking, and proactiveness were vital capabilities for SMEs supply chain managers. A strong positive relationship was also found between the dimensions EO and measures of supply chain performance. The more the SMEs are open to innovative supply chain management ideas, and are willing to encourage risk-taking tendencies, and be proactive in making supply chain-related decisions, the better the performance outcomes.

Keywords: Buyer-supplier relationship, Entrepreneurial Orientation, Innovativeness, Small and Medium-sized Manufacturing Enterprises, Supply Chain Performance