IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bfy/ojtije/v6y2023i2p30-46id1519.html

Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Competitive Advantage of SMEs in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Author

Listed:
  • Godwin Poi

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the influence of entrepreneurial self-efficacy on competitive advantage of SMEs in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Methodology: The study adopted a cross sectional survey research design. The population for this study was 300 owners/managers of small and medium scale enterprises in Bayelsa State that are registered with the Small and Medium Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). Primary data was collated using structured questionnaire. A sample size of 171 was obtained using the Taro Yamane sample size determination formula. The reliability of the instrument was achieved by the use of the Cronbach Alpha coefficient with all the items scoring above 0.70. The inferential statistics absorbed three parametric inferential tests-Pearson's Product Moment Coefficient (PPMC), One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Simple Regression Analysis. Pearson's Product Moment Coefficient (PPMC) was used test the relationship between the variables, ANOVA was employed to test the differences in means of responses on the variables, while by means of simple regression, the study tested the effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy on competitive advantage. The tests were carried out at a 0.05 significance level. Findings: Findings from the study revealed that entrepreneurial self-efficacy significantly influences competitive advantage of SMEs in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate that entrepreneurial self-efficacy plays a significant role in influencing the competitive advantage of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study shed light on the importance of individuals' beliefs in their own abilities to effectively engage in entrepreneurial activities and how these beliefs impact the competitive positioning of their businesses. Recommendation: Therefore, the study recommends that there is need to encourage and support aspiring and existing SME owners to develop and enhance their entrepreneurial self-confidence. This can be achieved through entrepreneurship education and training programs, mentorship initiatives, and networking opportunities that focus on building self-belief, risk-taking abilities, and resilience.

Suggested Citation

  • Godwin Poi, 2023. "Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Competitive Advantage of SMEs in Bayelsa State, Nigeria," International Journal of Entrepreneurship, AJPO Journals Limited, vol. 6(2), pages 30-46.
  • Handle: RePEc:bfy:ojtije:v:6:y:2023:i:2:p:30-46:id:1519
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ajpojournals.org/journals/ije/article/view/1519
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anthony Igwe & Anastasia Ogbo & Emmanuel Agbaeze & James Abugu & Charity Ezenwakwelu & Henry Okwo, 2020. "Self-Efficacy and Subjective Norms as Moderators in the Networking Competence–Social Entrepreneurial Intentions Link," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(3), pages 21582440209, July.
    2. Christina Whidya Utami, 2017. "Attitude, Subjective Norms, Perceived Behavior, Entrepreneurship Education and Self-efficacy toward Entrepreneurial Intention University Student in Indonesia," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2A), pages 475-495.
    3. Anna, Alexandra L. & Chandler, Gaylen N. & Jansen, Erik & Mero, Neal P., 2000. "Women business owners in traditional and non-traditional industries," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 279-303, May.
    4. Hmieleski, Keith M. & Corbett, Andrew C., 2008. "The contrasting interaction effects of improvisational behavior with entrepreneurial self-efficacy on new venture performance and entrepreneur work satisfaction," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 482-496, July.
    5. Jennifer Sequeira & Stephen L. Mueller & Jeffrey E. Mcgee, 2007. "The Influence Of Social Ties And Self-Efficacy In Forming Entrepreneurial Intentions And Motivating Nascent Behavior," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 12(03), pages 275-293.
    6. Bandura, Albert, 1991. "Social cognitive theory of self-regulation," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 248-287, December.
    7. Alain Fayolle & Benoit Gailly, 2015. "The Impact of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Attitudes and Intention: Hysteresis and Persistence," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(1), pages 75-93, January.
    8. Adeshina Olushola Adeniyi & Evelyn Derera & Vangeli Gamede, 2022. "Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy for Entrepreneurial Readiness in a Developing Context: A Survey of Exit Level Students at TVET Institutions in Nigeria," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, April.
    9. Chen, Chao C. & Greene, Patricia Gene & Crick, Ann, 1998. "Does entrepreneurial self-efficacy distinguish entrepreneurs from managers?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 295-316, July.
    10. Alain Fayolle & Benoît Gailly, 2015. "The Impact of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Attitudes and Intention : Hysteresis and Persistence," Post-Print hal-02312771, HAL.
    11. Richard J. Pech & Alan Cameron, 2006. "An entrepreneurial decision process model describing opportunity recognition," European Journal of Innovation Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 9(1), pages 61-78, January.
    12. Sanna Joensuu-Salo & Anmari Viljamaa & Elina Varamäki, 2022. "Sustainable Entrepreneurs of the Future: The Interplay between Educational Context, Sustainable Entrepreneurship Competence, and Entrepreneurial Intentions," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, February.
    13. A. Fayolle & B. Gailly, 2015. "The Impact of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Attitudes and Intention: Hysteresis and Persistence," Post-Print halshs-00785012, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maria Mackthalin Lucas & Memukhan Gnanamoni Samnallathampi & Rohit & Hesil Jerda George & Satyanarayana Parayitam, 2025. "Risk taking and need for achievement as mediators in the relationship between self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-29, December.
    2. Bohlayer, Carina & Gielnik, Michael M., 2023. "(S)training experiences: Toward understanding decreases in entrepreneurial self-efficacy during action-oriented entrepreneurship training," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 38(1).
    3. Michael A. Abebe & Jennifer L. Welbourne, 2015. "Blessing In Disguise? Coping Strategies And Entrepreneurial Intentions Following Involuntary Job Loss," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(04), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Quan Hoang Vuong & Thu Hang Do & Thu Trang Vuong, 2016. "Resources, experience, and perseverance in entrepreneurs’ perceived likelihood of success in an emerging economy," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-24, December.
    5. Aya Sehmani & Sara Yassine, 2025. "Evolution of Entrepreneurship education research through bibliometric analysis," Post-Print hal-05270676, HAL.
    6. Adeshina Olushola Adeniyi, 2023. "The mediating effects of entrepreneurial self-efficacy in the relationship between entrepreneurship education and start-up readiness," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    7. Haifa Asif, 2022. "Management skills enhancement improves women entrepreneurship: a study of the informal sector in Lahore," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 12(1), pages 13-22, December.
    8. Juan-José Nájera-Sánchez & Cristina Pérez-Pérez & Thais González-Torres, 2023. "Exploring the knowledge structure of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 563-597, June.
    9. Carla S. Marques & Carlos P. Marques & João J. M. Ferreira & Fernando A. F. Ferreira, 2019. "Effects of traits, self-motivation and managerial skills on nursing intrapreneurship," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 733-748, September.
    10. Wu, Ziqi & Xiao, Yi & Zhang, Jian & Wu, Jingyi, 2024. "Justice Reform and Entrepreneurship: Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1190-1203.
    11. Yangjie Huang & Yue Yuan & Weicheng Sun & Ping Li, 2025. "From classroom to workplace: how entrepreneurship education influences university students’ employability," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
    12. Anabela Dinis, 2024. "The impact of entrepreneurship education on students’ desirability and intentions to pursue an entrepreneurial career: a study in general and vocational secondary schools of Cabo Verde," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-27, December.
    13. Cristian C. Popescu & Ionel Bostan & Ioan-Bogdan Robu & Andrei Maxim & Laura Diaconu (Maxim), 2016. "An Analysis of the Determinants of Entrepreneurial Intentions among Students: A Romanian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-22, August.
    14. Muhammad Salman Shabbir, 2025. "Exploring link between skills, attitudes, and intentions in information technology industry: a study on entrepreneurial mindset," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    15. Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de Moraes & Edson Sadao Iizuka & Matheus Pedro, 2018. "Effects of Entrepreneurial Characteristics and University Environment on Entrepreneurial Intention," RAC - Revista de Administração Contemporânea (Journal of Contemporary Administration), ANPAD - Associação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Administração, vol. 22(2), pages 226-248.
    16. Ben Youssef, Adel & Boubaker, Sabri & Dedaj, But & Carabregu-Vokshi, Mjellma, 2021. "Digitalization of the economy and entrepreneurship intention," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    17. Dan Xu & Chiawen Lee, 2025. "Mechanisms Linking Restaurant Entrepreneurship Education to Graduating Hospitality Students’ Entrepreneurial Intentions: Validating the Theory of Planned Behavior," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(1), pages 21582440251, March.
    18. Pham, Dung & Jones, Paul & Dobson, Stephen & Liñán, Francisco & Viala, Céline, 2021. "Entrepreneurial implementation intention as a tool to moderate the stability of entrepreneurial goal intention: A sensemaking approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 97-105.
    19. Smita Sharma & Nishant Kumar Khandelwal & Anil Mehta, 2025. "An Empirical Study of Factors Contributing to Entrepreneurial Intention Among Students of Higher Education Institutes," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 11(1), pages 88-101, January.
    20. Sharina Shariff & Siti ‘Aisyah Baharudin & Nor Asmat Ismail, 2025. "A Systematic Review of the Challenges and Opportunities of the Agriculture Economic Sector in Malaysia," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 17(1), pages 285-303.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bfy:ojtije:v:6:y:2023:i:2:p:30-46:id:1519. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chief Editor (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://ajpojournals.org/journals/ije/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.