Soft skills in action: Enhancing entrepreneurial growth through commitment and bricolage strategies

Limited resources have always been critical for the sustainability, growth, and development of micro and small enterprises. Understanding how the available limited resources can be best utilized during adverse conditions seems essential. Accordingly, this study attempts to understand key factors enhancing entrepreneurial bricolage (EB) among micro and small entrepreneurs, leading to better growth aspirations (GA). The study gathered a sample of 280 micro and small entrepreneurs from December 2024 to January 2025 through online and in-person visits to their business locations. Data were analyzed with the help of partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The study has reported that commitment (COM) and soft skills development (SSD) are positively and significantly correlated with EB, and EB positively and significantly influences GA. Furthermore, EB mediates the relationship between COM, SSD, and GA. However, COM reveals no direct connection with GA, but SSD reports a positive connection with GA. The study provides theoretical and practical implications for policymakers, stakeholders, and academic researchers. Acknowledgment This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [Grant No. KFU251164].