A Study on Entrepreneurial Orientation and SME Performance

Problem: Many SMEs struggle to sustain growth and competitive advantage due to a lack of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) strategies.

Outcome: Students will develop a research-based understanding of how risk-taking, innovation, and proactiveness affect SME performance.

Week 1-2: Literature Review & Hypothesis Development

Study existing research on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and SME performance.

Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to SMEs.

Develop hypotheses linking EO factors to SME success.

Select SMEs for the study (survey/interview-based).

Develop questionnaires and structured interview formats.

Collect preliminary data from entrepreneurs.

Week 5-6: Data Analysis & Interpretation

Perform statistical analysis (correlation, regression) on collected data.

Identify patterns between EO and business performance.

Week 7-8: Case Studies & Benchmarking

Study successful SMEs with strong entrepreneurial orientation.

Compare findings with underperforming SMEs.

Week 9-10: Report Writing & Strategic Recommendations

Develop strategic guidelines for SMEs to enhance EO.

Provide actionable insights to improve performance.

Week 11-12: Final Report & Presentation

Structure research findings into a detailed report.

Present findings to stakeholders or industry experts.