The effect of entrepreneurship training on entrepreneurial orientation: Evidence from a regression discontinuity design on micro-sized businesses

• Published in: The international journal of management education 2021-03, Vol.19 (1), p.100267, Article 100267
• Main Authors: Al-Awlaqi, Mohammed Ali, Aamer, Ammar Mohamed, Habtoor, Nasser
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Entrepreneurial orientation; Entrepreneurship training; Miro-sized businesses; Quasi-experimental design; Regression discontinuity design
• ISSN: 1472-8117
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijme.2018.11.003

Within the literature of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship training, several studies have discussed the nature of entrepreneurship orientation, measurement, and importance. Others studied the relationship between entrepreneurship training and entrepreneurial intention. They discussed the ability of entrepreneurship training to encourage individuals starting their own business. Little has been done to study the relationship between entrepreneurship training and entrepreneurial orientation. Utilizing a quasi-experimental approach of the sharp regression discontinuity design as the most rigorous alternative to experimental schemes, we tested the relationship using a sample of 1330 micro-sized firms. After choosing the optimal test bandwidth, the regression discontinuity design assigned 342 observations to the control group and 382 observations to the treatment group. We found positive and significant causal relationships between entrepreneurship training and all three dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation. This study contributes to filling the gap in the entrepreneurship literature in two folds. First, it is the first study that addresses the effect of entrepreneurship training on entrepreneurial orientation as a viable business strategy. Second, it studied the causal relationship between entrepreneurship training and entrepreneurial orientation in micro-sized businesses as the most in need of such an entrepreneurial experience. Finally, Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. •Entrepreneurship training has positive causal effect on entrepreneurial orientation.•Entrepreneurship training has positive causal effect on innovativeness.•Entrepreneurship training has positive causal effect on risk taking.•Entrepreneurship training has positive causal effect on proactiveness.•Entrepreneurial orientation is better to be measured as a multidimensional construct.