Interaction Effect of Entrepreneurial Orientation Dimensions on SMEs Export Performance

The present study aims to reveal the main and interactive effects of dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on the export performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Particularly, this study investigates the moderating roles of proactiveness and risk-taking on the relationship between innovativeness and export performance. Correlational and hierarchical regression analyses were performed on data collected from 109 exporting SMEs in Turkiye. The findings of the study indicate that the interactive effect of innovativeness and proactiveness has no significant effect on export performance, while the interactive effect of innovativeness and risk-taking has a significant effect on export performance. In particular, the finding reveals that innovation and performance are positively and significantly related at moderate and low levels of risk-taking, while not significant in high levels of risk-taking. By analyzing the effects of dimensions of EO on export performance both individually and jointly, this study has contributed to a better understanding of the relationship between EO and performance in SMEs, and how and under what conditions innovativeness is related to export performance. Based on the findings, several theoretical and practical implications are discussed.