The Purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of entrepreneurial
orientation (EO) on innovation performance (IP) in Egyptian manufacturing small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It examines how the three EO dimensions
(innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking) affect product, process, and
marketing innovation, and explores whether firm characteristics moderate these
relationships.
A structured questionnaire was developed, refined through a pilot study, and
distributed to a sampling frame of 953 manufacturing firms in Qalyubia
Governorate using stratified random sampling, supplemented by snowball techniques
and online distribution. A total of 110 responses were received stratified random. The
final dataset comprised 70 valid responses from senior executives. The target
respondents were senior executives such as CEOs, founders, and managers to ensure
the accuracy and relevance of the data.
The results demonstrate that EO significantly enhances IP in Egyptian
manufacturing SMEs. Innovativeness emerged as the strongest driver for product and
marketing innovation, while risk-taking proved most critical for process innovation.
Significant differences in EO and innovation perceptions were found based on firm
size and experience, though no variations were detected across managerial positions.
Keywords: Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO), Innovation Performance (IP), Egyptian
Manufacturing SMEs