The Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation on the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Networks and Firm Productivity of Small Enterprises

Abstract

The paper attempts to examine the relationship between entrepreneurial networks and firm productivity and to investigate the moderated role of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) between the influences of entrepreneurial networks on firm productivity. In this study the entrepreneurial orientation refers to the behaviour that influences the process, decision making styles and practices of a firm’s management and employees that leads to superior firm performance. The various dimensions of networks have been studied, and their relationship with industrial outcome like productivity has been examined. This study was based on primary data collected from the Small manufacturing industry, through a structured questionnaire in Assam, India. The analysis was done with the help of hierarchical regression model for data analysis and hypotheses testing. Research results showed that entrepreneurial orientation moderated the relationship between networks and firm productivity.