IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i24p7149-d297644.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing SMEs’ Sustainable Growth through Entrepreneurs’ Ability and Entrepreneurial Orientation: An Insight into SMEs in Côte d’Ivoire

Author

Listed:
  • Ardjouman Diabate

    (School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China)

  • Hagan Sibiri

    (School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China)

  • Linyu Wang

    (School of Economics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China)

  • Liying Yu

    (School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China)

Abstract

In most countries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a key role in driving sustainable economic growth and job creation; hence, the need to investigate factors (e.g., entrepreneurial factors) that influence SMEs’ sustainable growth (SMESG). This study provides an insight into entrepreneurs’ abilities (EAs) that affect SMESG in Côte d’Ivoire (a middle-income economy located in the West African region) and an assessment of the extent to which entrepreneurial orientation (EO) influences the EA–SMESG relationship. By using data from 320 Ivorian SMEs, the results of hypothesis testing confirm an association between SMESG and each EA dimension (creativity, risk control, relationship, and opportunity detection ability), learning ability excepted. As for the moderating effect of EO, the innovativeness in entrepreneurship positively and significantly regulates the EA–SMESG relationship; proactiveness positively regulates the relationship between almost all EA dimensions and SMESG; and risk tendency regulates the relationship EA–SMESG for creativity and risk-control ability. Based on major findings, management implications are formulated in relation to promoting SMEs’ sustainable growth. For example, in light of the impact of EA on SMESG, development actors can increase the efficiency of Ivorian SMEs through actions aiming at strengthening the abilities of entrepreneurs and managers.

Suggested Citation

  • Ardjouman Diabate & Hagan Sibiri & Linyu Wang & Liying Yu, 2019. "Assessing SMEs’ Sustainable Growth through Entrepreneurs’ Ability and Entrepreneurial Orientation: An Insight into SMEs in Côte d’Ivoire," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-26, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:7149-:d:297644
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/24/7149/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/24/7149/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Frédéric Delmar & Johan Wiklund, 2008. "The Effect of Small Business Managers’ Growth Motivation on Firm Growth: A Longitudinal Study," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 32(3), pages 437-457, May.
    2. Danny Miller & Peter H. Friesen, 1983. "Strategy‐making and environment: The third link," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 4(3), pages 221-235, July.
    3. Surroca Aguilar, Jorge & Tribo Gine, José Antonio & Berrone, Pascual Alberto, 2005. "The influence of blockholders on R and D investments intensity : evidence from Spain," DEE - Working Papers. Business Economics. WB wb054611, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Departamento de Economía de la Empresa.
    4. Maher Al-Mahrouq, 2010. "Success Factors of Small and Medium Enterprises: The Case of Jordan," Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, vol. 13(2), pages 89-106, November.
    5. Marco Caliendo & Frank Fossen & Alexander Kritikos, 2014. "Personality characteristics and the decisions to become and stay self-employed," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 787-814, April.
    6. Lene Foss & Colette Henry & Helene Ahl & Geir H. Mikalsen, 2019. "Women’s entrepreneurship policy research: a 30-year review of the evidence," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 409-429, August.
    7. Cooper, Arnold C., 1993. "Challenges in predicting new firm performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 241-253, May.
    8. Lumpkin, G. T. & Dess, Gregory G., 2001. "Linking two dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation to firm performance: The moderating role of environment and industry life cycle," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 429-451, September.
    9. Li, Hongbin & Meng, Lingsheng & Wang, Qian & Zhou, Li-An, 2008. "Political connections, financing and firm performance: Evidence from Chinese private firms," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 283-299, October.
    10. Scott Shane, 2000. "Prior Knowledge and the Discovery of Entrepreneurial Opportunities," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 11(4), pages 448-469, August.
    11. Adriaan Van Stel & David Storey, 2004. "The Link between Firm Births and Job Creation: Is there a Upas Tree Effect?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(8), pages 893-909.
    12. Wiklund, Johan & Shepherd, Dean, 2005. "Entrepreneurial orientation and small business performance: a configurational approach," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 71-91, January.
    13. Evaldo Guimarães Barbosa & Cristiana De Castro Moraes, 2003. "Determinants Of The Firm’S Capital Structure - The Case Of The Very Small Enterprises," Finance 0302001, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 06 Oct 2003.
    14. Ingrid Le Roux & Kenneth M K Bengesi, 2014. "Dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation and small and medium enterprise performance in emerging economies," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(4), pages 606-624, July.
    15. Jeffrey G. Covin & Dennis P. Slevin, 1991. "A Conceptual Model of Entrepreneurship as Firm Behavior," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 16(1), pages 7-26, October.
    16. Nerine Mary George & Vinit Parida & Tom Lahti & Joakim Wincent, 2016. "A systematic literature review of entrepreneurial opportunity recognition: insights on influencing factors," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 309-350, June.
    17. Wang-Jin Yoo & Hyun Ho Choo & Sang Jin Lee, 2018. "A Study on the Sustainable Growth of SMEs: The Mediating Role of Organizational Metacognition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, August.
    18. Andreas Rauch & Johan Wiklund & G.T. Lumpkin & Michael Frese, 2009. "Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance: An Assessment of past Research and Suggestions for the Future," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(3), pages 761-787, May.
    19. Sleuwaegen, Leo & Goedhuys, Micheline, 2002. "Growth of firms in developing countries, evidence from Cote d'Ivoire," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 117-135, June.
    20. Henry Mintzberg & James A. Waters, 1985. "Of strategies, deliberate and emergent," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(3), pages 257-272, July.
    21. Danny Miller, 1983. "The Correlates of Entrepreneurship in Three Types of Firms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(7), pages 770-791, July.
    22. Jerez-Gomez, Pilar & Cespedes-Lorente, Jose & Valle-Cabrera, Ramon, 2005. "Organizational learning capability: a proposal of measurement," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 58(6), pages 715-725, June.
    23. Maher Al-Mahrouq, 2010. "SUCCESS FACTORS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMEs): THE CASE OF JORDAN," Anadolu University Journal of Social Sciences, Anadolu University, vol. 10(1), pages 1-16, January.
    24. Binam Ghimire & Rodrigue Abo, 2013. "An Empirical Investigation of Ivorian SMEs Access to Bank Finance: Constraining Factors at Demand-Level," Journal of Finance and Investment Analysis, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 2(4), pages 1-3.
    25. Henry Kaiser, 1974. "An index of factorial simplicity," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 39(1), pages 31-36, March.
    26. Coad, Alex & Segarra, Agustí & Teruel, Mercedes, 2016. "Innovation and firm growth: Does firm age play a role?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 387-400.
    27. Dziallas, Marisa & Blind, Knut, 2019. "Innovation indicators throughout the innovation process: An extensive literature analysis," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 80, pages 3-29.
    28. Abimbola Windapo, 2018. "Entrepreneurial Factors Affecting the Sustainable Growth and Success of a South African Construction Company," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-11, April.
    29. KOUADIO, Hugues, 2015. "Constraints of SME in West Africa: the case of Côte d'Ivoire after the crisis," MPRA Paper 79055, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    30. Andrzej Lis & Agata Sudolska, 2015. "Absorptive Capacity and Its Role for the Company Growth and Competitive Advantage: The Case of Frauenthal Automotive Toruń Company," Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, Fundacja Upowszechniająca Wiedzę i Naukę "Cognitione", vol. 11(4), pages 63-91.
    31. Haque, Adnan ul & Faizan, Riffat & Cockrill, Antje, 2017. "The Relationship between Female Representation at Strategic Level and Firm's Competitiveness: Evidences from Cargo Logistic Firms of Pakistan and Canada," MPRA Paper 80031, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 24 Apr 2017.
    32. Yu-Ming Zhai & Wan-Qin Sun & Sang-Bing Tsai & Zhen Wang & Yu Zhao & Quan Chen, 2018. "An Empirical Study on Entrepreneurial Orientation, Absorptive Capacity, and SMEs’ Innovation Performance: A Sustainable Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-14, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Khanyisa Mabasa & Opeoluwa Akinradewo & Clinton Aigbavboa & Olusegun Oguntona, 2023. "Contributions of Construction Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises towards the Sustainable Growth of Zambia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Annuridya Rosyidta Pratiwi Octasylva & Lilik Noor Yuliati & Hartoyo Hartoyo & Agus W. Soehadi, 2022. "Innovativeness as the Key to MSMEs’ Performances," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-14, May.

    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. Ardjouman Diabate & Brou Mathias Allate & Dongping Wei & Liying Yu, 2019. "Do Firm and Entrepreneur Characteristics Play a Role in SMEs’ Sustainable Growth in a Middle-Income Economy like Côte d’Ivoire?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Lavlu Mozumdar & Valentina C. Materia & Geoffrey Hagelaar & Mohammad Amirul Islam & Gerben van der Velde & S. W. F. (Onno) Omta, 2022. "Contextuality of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance: The Case of Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 8(1), pages 94-120, January.
    3. Rodrigo-Alarcón, Job & García-Villaverde, Pedro M. & Ruiz-Ortega, María J. & Parra-Requena, Gloria, 2018. "From social capital to entrepreneurial orientation: The mediating role of dynamic capabilities," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 195-209.
    4. William Wales & Erik Monsen & Alexander McKelvie, 2011. "The Organizational Pervasiveness of Entrepreneurial Orientation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 895-923, September.
    5. Hernández-Perlines, Felipe & Covin, Jeffrey G. & Ribeiro-Soriano, Domingo E., 2021. "Entrepreneurial orientation, concern for socioemotional wealth preservation, and family firm performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 197-208.
    6. Erik Lundmark & Anna Krzeminska & Dean A. Shepherd, 2019. "Images of Entrepreneurship: Exploring Root Metaphors and Expanding Upon Them," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(1), pages 138-170, January.
    7. Engelen, Andreas & Kube, Harald & Schmidt, Susanne & Flatten, Tessa Christina, 2014. "Entrepreneurial orientation in turbulent environments: The moderating role of absorptive capacity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(8), pages 1353-1369.
    8. Nikiforou, Argyro Iro & Lioukas, Spyros & Voudouris, Irini, 2020. "Network structure and firm-level entrepreneurial behavior: The role of market and technological knowledge networks," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 129-138.
    9. D’Angelo, Alfredo & Presutti, Manuela, 2019. "SMEs international growth: The moderating role of experience on entrepreneurial and learning orientations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 613-624.
    10. Katharina Fellnhofer & Kaisu Puumalainen & Helena Sjögrén, 0. "Entrepreneurial orientation in work groups – effects of individuals and group characteristics," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-37.
    11. Bradley A. George & Louis Marino, 2011. "The Epistemology of Entrepreneurial Orientation: Conceptual Formation, Modeling, and Operationalization," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 989-1024, September.
    12. Vishal Gupta & Alka Gupta, 2015. "Relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance in large organizations over time," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 7-27, March.
    13. Katharina Fellnhofer & Kaisu Puumalainen & Helena Sjögrén, 2017. "Entrepreneurial orientation in work groups – effects of individuals and group characteristics," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 427-463, June.
    14. Lin Wang & Murad Ali & Hyun Jeong Kim & Sareum Lee & Felipe Hernández Perlines, 2021. "Individual entrepreneurial orientation, value congruence, and individual outcomes: Does the institutional entrepreneurial environment matter?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2293-2312, July.
    15. Gabriel Linton, 2019. "Innovativeness, risk-taking, and proactiveness in startups: a case study and conceptual development," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 9(1), pages 1-21, December.
    16. Elena Patricia Mojica-Carrillo & Gonzalo Maldonado-Guzmán & Sandra Yesenia Pinzón-Castro & Angie Lorena Riaño-Castillo, 2021. "Effects of Entrepreneurial Orientation on Performance and Growth: Are Microenterprises and Small Firms Equal?," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 11(4), pages 1-2.
    17. Joseph Amankwah‐Amoah & Albert Danso & Samuel Adomako, 2019. "Entrepreneurial orientation, environmental sustainability and new venture performance: Does stakeholder integration matter?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 79-87, January.
    18. Jelle Schepers & Wim Voordeckers & Tensie Steijvers & Eddy Laveren, 2014. "The entrepreneurial orientation–performance relationship in private family firms: the moderating role of socioemotional wealth," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 39-55, June.
    19. Shih-Kai Lin & Hung-Chang Chung, 2023. "The Relationship Between Entrepreneurial Orientation and Firm Performance From the perspective of MASEM: The Mediation Effect of Market Orientation and the Moderated Mediation Effect of Environmental ," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    20. José Luis Esparza-Aguilar & Argentina Soto-Maciel & Ma. Isabel De la Garza-Ramos, 2016. "Entrepreneurial orientation in Mexican family businesses," Journal of Economic and Financial Studies (JEFS), LAR Center Press, vol. 4(6), pages 29-39, December.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:7149-:d:297644. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.