NVIRONMENTAL SCANNING INTENSITY AND THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION OF SMES IN OSUN STATE OF NIGERIA: IMPLICATION FOR STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the influence of environmental scanning intensity on the entrepreneurial orientation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Osun State, Nigeria, highlighting the implications for strategic management practices. Design/Method/Approach: A survey research design was employed, utilizing stratified random sampling to collect data from 670 SMEs. A structured questionnaire assessed environmental scanning practices and entrepreneurial orientation. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed using regression analysis to test the hypotheses. Findings: The results indicate a positive significant effect of environmental scanning intensity on the entrepreneurial orientation of SMEs (β = 0.289, p < 0.05), suggesting that increased scanning enhances proactiveness, risk-taking, and innovativeness among these enterprises. Implications: This study underscores the necessity for SMEs to prioritize environmental scanning as a strategic tool to improve their competitive edge and sustainability in a challenging economic environment. Originality/Value: This research fills a gap in existing literature by empirically linking environmental scanning practices to entrepreneurial orientation in the context of Nigerian SMEs, providing a foundation for future studies on strategic management in emerging economies. Keywords: Environmental Scanning, Entrepreneurial orientation, SMEs, Strategic Management, Osun State