Exploring the Relationship between Corporate Entrepreneurship and Firm Performance in Ghana Club 100 Elite Companies: The Mediating Effect of Entrepreneurial Orientation

This study examines the role of corporate entrepreneurship (CE) in transforming small businesses into corporate giants, particularly within the Ghana Club 100, contributing to national development by addressing challenges like unemployment and efficiency. Focusing on elite firms in Ghana, the research explores how CE—comprising innovation, risk-taking, and proactiveness—drives firm performance, sustainability, and competitiveness. Using primary data collected from 199 surveys targeting CEOs and managers, the study finds that CE significantly impacts firm performance (FP) both directly and indirectly through entrepreneurial orientation (EO). The measurement model demonstrates strong reliability and validity, with high factor loadings and robust goodness-of-fit indices. Path analyses show that CE influences FP directly (β = 0.28) and indirectly via EO (β = 0.31), with a total effect of 0.59. The study recommends prioritizing CE practices, fostering innovation, risk-taking, autonomy, and proactiveness to enhance organizational performance and responsiveness to market dynamics, thereby improving financial outcomes and customer satisfaction.