Purpose: The study empirically analyzes the moderating role of government support policy on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, technology orientation, and performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in northeast Nigeria.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper adopts quantitative survey method using structured questionnaires, data were collected from 240 SME owner-managers in northeast Nigeria. The data collected was analyzed using Partial Least Squares PLS-SEM.  Findings: The findings of the study indicate a significant positive relationship between EO, TO and Performance of SMEs. Additionally, the outcomes of the study authenticate that government support policy moderates the relationship between EO, TO and performance of SMEs in Nigeria. Implications/Originality/Value: The study has practical implication for the government, policy makers, regulators, SMEs owner-managers and other stakeholders to recognize government support as it affects SMEs performance. The study further adds to the frontier of knowledge on the importance of GSPs in strengthening the relationship between the variables and SMEs performance. This is the first study that focuses on testing the moderating role of government support policy on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, technology orientation and SMEs performance in Nigeria,

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a significant social and economic role in both developed and developing nations. Despite the relevance and important of SMEs, the literature indicates there are very few studies that attempted to investigate the factors that influence the performance of SMEs in Nigeria, particularly the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO), contemporary marketing (CM) and government support policyand the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The study used structured questionnaires; data was collected from 240 SMEs in northeast Nigeria. The findings of the study indicate a significant positive relationship between EO and CM on the Performance of SMEs. In addition, the results of the study validate that government support policy moderates the relationship between EO and CM on the performance of SMEs in Nigeria. The study implications for policy makers, government, regulators and SMEs owner-managers is to look at government support policy as it affects SMEs performance by providing conducive environment for business operation.

No abstract

This paper discusses factors influencing the performance of SMEs in Nigeria using the quantitative approach. The study used a survey method; it administered 40 questionnaires to SME owner-managers randomly selected in Kano, Nigeria. Four elements were identified and used as determining factors of SMEs performance, these are: entrepreneurial orientation, technology orientation and contemporary marketing as independent variables and government support policies (GSPs) as a moderating variable. Validity and reliabilty of the instruments were scrutinized by professionals in the field of management and their observations were used in modifying the items of the quetionnaire. Similarly, to present the results of the pilot test, the data was analysed using PLS-SEM 2.0 and the findings confirmed the validity and reliability of the instruments adapted for the study. Theoretically, the paper established a new insight on the role of government on the relationship between the determinants and SMEs performance. The study has practical implication for government, policy makers, regulators, SMEs owner-managers and other stakeholders to recognize government support as it affects SMEs performance. The study further adds to the frontier of knowledge on the importance of GSPs in strengthening the relationship between the variables and SMEs performance.