The influence of an entrepreneur's socio‐cultural characteristics on the entrepreneurial orientation of small firms

Abstract

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the relationship between Turkish ethnic entrepreneurs' socio‐cultural characteristics (namely education, experience and religion) and the entrepreneurial orientation of their firms.Design/methodology/approachThe study collected data through 139 face‐to‐face structured interviews with Turkish ethnic entrepreneurs in London, UK.FindingsThe study illustrates that educational attainment of an entrepreneur makes a positive impact on a firm's entrepreneurial orientation. Educational attainment equips business owners with the skills and reflective mindsets of understanding customers and responding to their needs. Previous business experience of the entrepreneur also impacts positively upon a firm's entrepreneurial orientation, while religion of the entrepreneur does not have a significant impact on the firm's entrepreneurial orientation.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper reports findings based on Turkish ethnic entrepreneurs in London. Therefore, care should be taken in making generalisations from the sample.Practical implicationsThis paper identifies those socio‐cultural attributes that entrepreneurs can capitalise on in order to enhance the entrepreneurial orientation of their firms.Originality/valueThe paper fills in a glaring gap by providing empirical evidence about the relationship between socio‐cultural characteristics of entrepreneurs and their small firms' entrepreneurial orientation.