Deconstructing entrepreneurial orientation dimensions in emerging economies

Abstract

This article builds on the Lumpkin and Dess’ (1996) conceptualization of EO and examines it in an emerging economy context. Owing to the substitution for formal institutional mechanisms by informal institutional constraints fostered through networking, we argue that EO for emerging economies includes networking as a salient dimension, in addition to the original five dimensions. Analysis of data, collected from 188 new ventures in India, suggests the dimensions that are valuable in securing superior firm performance in emerging economies. Contributions are, thus, made to the rarely studied Lumpkin and Dess’ (1996) conceptualization of EO and the understanding of the phenomena in emerging economies. Additionally, empirical evidence is presented that encourages further scrutiny into the candidacy of networking as a dimension of EO.