The Effect of Leadership on Entrepreneurial Orientation, Learning and Internationalisation Performance: A Case of Czech Firms

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the effect of leadership on entrepreneurial orientation, domestic and international learning and the internationalisation performance of Czech firms. An online survey was administered to executives working on Czech firms’ internationalisation projects. The findings show that leadership positively affects domestic and international learning, entrepreneurial orientation and internationalisation performance. However, neither domestic and international learning nor entrepreneurial orientation had an effect on Czech firms’ internationalisation performance. Furthermore, we found that entrepreneurial orientation moderates the relationship between international learning and performance and between leadership and performance. However, entrepreneurial orientation only moderates the relationship between domestic learning and performance when it has a higher value. Previous studies have primarily focused on developed and developing countries, and insights into Central and Eastern European contexts are relatively scarce. Consequently, the findings provide valuable insights for executives looking to expand their Czech firms into international markets.