Investigating the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on the SMEs Performance by analyzing the mediating role of competitive Advantage

Small and medium businesses are the most important component of any economy So that, in developed countries such as the United States generating about ۹۷% of government revenue through such businesses. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on the SMEs Performance by analyzing the mediating role of competitive advantage. The present study is in the category of descriptive-survey research. in terms of practical purpose and in terms of data collection. The statistical population of this study is small and medium business managers in Khuzestan province. Due to the unlimited population, the samples were selected using the available sampling method. The sample size was obtained using the Cochran's formula ۳۸۵. The data of this study were using a standard questionnaire whose validity (content validity) and reliability (more than ۰.۷) were at the desired level; Are collected and then analyzed using structural equation modeling based on the partial least squares approach. The findings of this study included the confirmation of all hypotheses. Also, the findings of this study showed that in explaining the performance structure of small and medium businesses; In terms of importance and performance, two structures of entrepreneurial orientation (with relative importance of ۰.۸۳۳ and performance coefficient of (۵۶.۱۴۳) and competitive advantage (with relative importance of ۰.۷۱۸ and performance coefficient of (۰.۵۹۹) have high relative importance and relatively strong performance.

Keywords:

competitive advantage , entrepreneurial orientation , SMEs Performance