Lebohang Masoabi, Winnie Sereeco, Ian Maseko
Abstract
Entrepreneurial characteristics are the specific knowledge, abilities, drives, morals, and attitudes that each person needs to effectively contribute to an organisation and develop personally. This study aims to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurial characteristics and the performance of SMEs. It is aimed at finding out the extent to which entrepreneurial characteristics helps SMEs performance. In an attempt to establish the thrust of this research, primary and secondary data were generated. Secondary data were sourced from articles textbook and journals and primary data was generated through self-administered questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized for data analysis with the aid of statistics package for social science. Descriptive data was analyzed using simple percentage table and regression analytical tools were to test the hypothesis In the descriptive survey study design, 200 business owners, managers, and shareholders were included in the sample. Snowball sampling, a technique used in probability sampling, was applied. 1 Tests for face validity and reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha) were carried out. The results suggest a significant association between various entrepreneurial abilities and the performance of SMEs, as well as an effect of some entrepreneurial skills on SMEs’ performance. The study suggests that in order to boost the performance of small and medium-sized businesses, managers, owners and shareholders of businesses should concentrate on developing their entrepreneurship abilities. Based on the findings from the study, it was recommended that Entrepreneurial characteristics should be enhanced as a means of nurturing SMEs performance and long- term growth and survival.