
Entrepreneurial Posture and Its Strategic Impact on Business Success and Growth
Abstract
This study synthesizes existing literature to comprehensively examine the aggregated effect of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on enterprise performance. Drawing upon a wide range of empirical studies conducted across diverse industries and geographical contexts, this review analyzes the multifaceted relationship between EO – encompassing innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy – and various dimensions of organizational success. By aggregating findings from prior research [1], [3], [7], [12], [18], [25], [29], [31], this article provides a robust understanding of how a firm's entrepreneurial posture collectively drives improved performance outcomes. The analysis identifies key mediating and moderating factors that influence this relationship, such as market orientation [10], [16], [44], innovation capabilities [21], [22], total quality management [2], [3], and environmental dynamism [16]. The findings highlight the consistent and significant positive impact of a strong EO on various aspects of business performance, offering valuable insights for both academics and practitioners seeking to enhance organizational effectiveness through entrepreneurial initiatives.
Keywords
Entrepreneurial Orientation, Firm Performance, Meta-Analysis
References
Aisyah, S., Musa, C. I., & Ramli, A. (2017). Effect of characteristics and entrepreneurial orientation towards entrepreneurship competence and crafts and arts SMEs business performance in Makassar. International Review of Management and Marketing, 7(2), 166–173. https://www.econjournals.com/index.php/irmm/article/view/4019
Al-Dhaafri, H. S., & Al-Swidi, A. (2016). The impact of total quality management and entrepreneurial orientation on organizational performance. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 33(5). https://doi.org/10.1108/ijqrm-03-2014-0034
Ali, G. A., Hilman, H., & Gorondutse, A. H. (2020). Effect of entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation and total quality management on performance: Evidence from Saudi SMEs. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 27(4), 1503–1531. https://doi.org/10.1108/bij-08-2019-0391
Al-Swidi, A. K., & Al-Hosam, A. (2012). The effect of entrepreneurial orientation on the organizational performance: A study on the Islamic banks in Yemen using the partial least squares approach. Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 2(1), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.12816/0002244
Anwar, M., Clauss, T., & Issah, W. B. (2022). Entrepreneurial orientation and new venture performance in emerging markets: The mediating role of opportunity recognition. Review of Managerial Science, 16(3), 769–796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-021-00457-w
Arabeche, Z., Soudani, A., Brahmi, M., Aldieri, L., Vinci, C. P., & Abdelli, M. E. (2022). Entrepreneurial orientation, organizational culture and business performance in SMEs: Evidence from emerging economy. Sustainability, 14(9), 5160. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095160
Arellano, M. (2022). Effect of entrepreneurial orientation on enterprise performance: Basis for microenterprise community mobile app development. International Journal of Research Publications, 104(1), 1186–1204. https://doi.org/10.47119/ijrp1001041720223567
Arshad, A. S., Rasli, A., Arshad, A. A., & Zain, Z. M. (2014). The impact of entrepreneurial orientation on business performance: A study of technology-based SMEs in Malaysia. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 130, 46–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.04.006
Avlonitis, G. J., & Salavou, H. E. (2007). Entrepreneurial orientation of SMEs, product innovativeness, and performance. Journal of Business Research, 60(5), 566–575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2007.01.001
Baker, W. E., & Sinkula, J. M. (2009). The complementary effects of market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation on profitability in small businesses. Journal of Small Business Management, 47(4), 443–464. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-627X.2009.00278.x
Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108
Bedi, H. S. (2018). A contingency approach to proactiveness - Business performance relationship. Indian Journal of Marketing, 48(12), 34–49. https://doi.org/10.17010/ijom/2018/v48/i12/139555
Bermudez-Hernandez, J., Valencia-Arias, A., & Montano-Arias, W. M. (2021). Conceptual model for innovation in the approach of market - oriented strategies. Indian Journal of Marketing, 51(12), 8–25. https://doi.org/10.17010/ijom/2021/v51/i12/167217
Cheng, P., Wu, S., & Xiao, J. (2025). Exploring the impact of entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation on entrepreneurial performance in the context of environmental uncertainty. Scientific Reports, 15, Article no. 1913. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86344-w
Cho, Y. H., & Lee, J.-H. (2018). Entrepreneurial orientation, entrepreneurial education and performance. Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 12(2), 124–134. https://doi.org/10.1108/apjie-05-2018-0028
Cho, Y. H., & Lee, J.-H. (2020). A study on the effects of entrepreneurial orientation and learning orientation on financial performance: Focusing on mediating effects of market orientation. Sustainability, 12(11), 4594. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114594
Covin, J. G., & Slevin, D. P. (1991). A conceptual model of entrepreneurship as firm behavior. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 16(1), 7–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/104225879101600102
Criado-Gomis, A., Iniesta-Bonillo, M. A., & Cervera-Taulet, A. (2018). Sustainable entrepreneurial orientation within an intrapreneurial context: Effects on business performance. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 14(2), 295–308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-018-0503-x
Cuevas-Vargas, H., Parga-Montoya, N., & Fernandez-Escobedo, R. (2019). Effects of entrepreneurial orientation on business performance: The mediating role of customer satisfaction-A formative-reflective model analysis. SAGE Open, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019859088
Donbesuur, F., Boso, N., & Hultman, M. (2020). The effect of entrepreneurial orientation on new venture performance: Contingency roles of entrepreneurial actions. Journal of Business Research, 118, 150–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.06.042
Fan, M., Qalati, S. A., Khan, M. A., Shah, S. M., Ramzan, M., & Khan, R. S. (2021). Effects of entrepreneurial orientation on social media adoption and SME performance: The moderating role of innovation capabilities. PLoS ONE, 16(4), Article ID e0247320. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247320
Fang, G. G., Qalati, S. A., Ostic, D., Shah, S. M., & Mirani, M. A. (2022). Effects of entrepreneurial orientation, social media, and innovation capabilities on SME performance in emerging countries: A mediated-moderated model. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 34(11), 1326–1338. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2021.1957816
Farooq, R. (2014). A clever approach to measure organizational performance: An overview. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 7(5), 34–46. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2014/v7i5/59321
Frank, H., Kessler, A., & Fink, M. (2010). Entrepreneurial orientation and business performance - A replication study. Schmalenbach Business Review, 62(2), 175–198. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03396804
Hair Jr., J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Pearson Prentice Hall.
Hambrick, D. C., & Mason, P. A. (1984). Upper echelons: The organization as a reflection of its top managers. The Academy of Management Review, 9(2), 193–206. https://doi.org/10.2307/258434
Hughes, M., & Morgan, R. E. (2007). Deconstructing the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and business performance at the embryonic stage of firm growth. Industrial Marketing Management, 36(5), 651–661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2006.04.003
Jalali, A., Jaafar, M., & Ramayah, T. (2014). Entrepreneurial orientation and performance: The interaction effect of customer capital. World Journal of Entrepreneurship Management and Sustainable Development, 10(1), 48–68. https://doi.org/10.1108/wjemsd-05-2013-0030
Jebna, A. K., & Baharudin, A. S. (2015). The impact of entrepreneurial orientation on manufacturing SME performance with the contingent effect of e-commerce in Malaysia. Advances in Environmental Biology, 9(5), 24–27. https://www.aensiweb.net/AENSIWEB/aeb/aeb/2015/April/24-27.pdf
Kajalo, S., & Lindblom, A. (2015). Market orientation, entrepreneurial orientation and business performance among small retailers. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 43(7), 580–596. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijrdm-04-2014-0044
Article Statistics
Copyright License
Copyright (c) 2025 Fiona McDonald

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Individual articles are published Open Access under the Creative Commons Licence: CC-BY 4.0.