Entrepreneurial Competencies and Sustainable Business Practices of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Southeast Nigeria

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@article{1708459,
      author = {Ibeh G. O., Prof. O. G. Agbo, Dr. S. M. Okebaram },
      title = {Entrepreneurial Competencies and Sustainable Business Practices of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Southeast Nigeria},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2025},
      volume = {8},
      number = {11},
      pages = {928-939},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1708459.pdf},
      abstract = {This study focused on the effects of entrepreneurial competencies on the sustainable business practices of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Nigeria. Two specific objectives guided the study, to determine the influence of business mindset competency on adaptation to changing market and environmental conditions of selected SMEs in South East, Nigeria. The study made use of both primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data was gathered through a well-structured questionnaire entitled; ?Entrepreneurial competencies and sustainable business practices of SMEs in Southeast Nigeria.? The population of the study involved all the management staff and employees of the ten (10) selected leading technopreneurs SMEs firms within the Southeast region of Nigeria which was 632 staff. The study combined both purposive sampling techniques and random sampling techniques. The study adopted face and content validity techniques in validating the research instrument. The study used Ordinary Least Square Regression analysis to analyze the study objective with the aid of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Findings revealed that; at 5% level (Sig < .05) of significance, business mindset competency had a positive and significant effect on the adaptation to changing market and environmental conditions of selected SMEs firms in Southeast, Nigeria.  The study concluded that entrepreneurial competencies positively and significantly affects sustainable business practices of SMEs in Southeast Nigeria. Therefore, the study recommended that entrepreneurs need to cultivate a growth-oriented, proactive business mindset within their organizations and to encourage creative thinking, resilience, and adaptability, ensuring that employees at all levels are equipped to respond effectively to market and environmental changes. },
      keywords = {Entrepreneurial competencies, sustainable business practices, SMEs.},
      month = {May},
  }