Studying the influences of learning orientation and firm size on entrepreneurial orientation - firm performance relationship in Saudi context

摘要

The purpose of this paper is to study the direct influence of Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on learning orientation (LO), considering the latter as the mediating variable in the relationship between EO and firm performance (FP). The paper aims also to study the influence of firm size in the EO-FP and LO-FP relationships as a potential moderator variable. The study was developed using a sample of 230 Saudi firms and its hypotheses were tested using hierarchical regression analysis. The findings revealed a significant relationship between EO and LO and a mediating role of LO on the EO-FP relationship. Likewise, the findings indicate that firm size significantly moderates only the LO-FP relationship. However, the results reveal a negative but non-significant influence of the interaction variable between EO and firm size on FP. Finally, being as one of the few empirical studies on the subject line, this study highlights certain implications for future entrepreneurship research.