Do resilience and networking matter in individual entrepreneurial orientation, marketing sensing capability, and business performance? Evidence from India

A productive Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) ecosystem is essential for the overall advancement of any economy. Extant literature on individual entrepreneurial orientation (Ind.EO) and business performance suggests a dearth of research focusing on understanding the underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions affecting the relationship of Ind.EO and business performance from an agentic metacognitive perspective. This study aims to address this gap by exploring how market sensing capability mediates the link between Ind.EO and MSME performance. Additionally, it examines the moderating effects of resilience and networking on this indirect relationship. The study surveyed 250 MSME firms located in western India. Results from moderated-mediation analyses indicate that marketing sensing capability partially mediated the Ind.EO and performance association. The indirect connection of Ind.EO and business performance through market sensing capability was influenced by high levels of moderators (resilience & networking). However, we observed a counterintuitive finding. The moderating effects were not significant at low levels of resilience and networking. The research concludes by delving into theoretical implications and practical insights for practitioners and policymakers.