Impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation Factors on Survival Criteria of Construction Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises in Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose: This study determines the impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) factors, autonomy, on the survival criteria of construction Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (CMSMEs) in Nigeria. Design/Methodology/Approach: A structured questionnaire was administered to management staff of registered CMSMEs in Abuja, drawn from a SMEDAN population of 5,690; a minimum sample of 361 was set using the Krejcie and Morgan table, 411 questionnaires were administered to purposively selected management staff to allow for non-response, and 408 valid responses (99.3%) were used. Five multiple regression models were estimated, one for each survival criterion. Research Limitation: The cross-sectional, Abuja-focused sample, purposive selection of respondents and self-reported data limit generalisability. Findings: EO factors explained 50.1% of variance in profitability (competitive aggressiveness, pro-activeness and networking significant and positive); 97.1% in rate of return (all six factors significant, pro-activeness strongest positive, others negative); only 2.3% in performance, where the model was not significant overall; 6.1% in management return (autonomy and competitive aggressiveness positive, pro-activeness and networking negative); and 47.5% in turnover (pro-activeness, risk-taking and innovation positive, autonomy negative). EO's effect on survival is therefore criterion-specific rather than uniform. Practical Implication: CMSME managers should tailor EO-strategy investment to the specific survival outcome pursued: pro-activeness for rate of return, turnover and profitability; competitive aggressiveness and networking for profitability; and autonomy and competitive aggressiveness for management return. Social Implication: Better-targeted EO strategies are expected to reduce CMSME failure rates, preserving jobs and economic contribution within Nigeria's construction sector. Originality/Value: The study also proposes a five-criterion survival framework for construction MSMEs that separates owner-level management return from firm-level financial and operational outcomes.