Abstract

Throughout the past few decades, significance of entrepreneurial competencies has been amplified due to the strategic role take part by the entrepreneur of a business enterprise. Therefore, the aim of the study is to examine the impact of owner/managers entrepreneurial competencies on Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) of tea manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka and the relationship between background characteristics of owner/managers and entrepreneurial competencies. Primary data was collected in low country tea manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka. The sample includes 109 private sector tea factories. Entrepreneurial competencies were operationalized as opportunity, organizing, strategic, relationship, commitment and conceptual competencies. Data were analyzed by using multiple regression analysis. It was found that background characteristics of owner/managers have direct impact on entrepreneurial competencies. Further it implies that entrepreneurs strategic and commitment competencies have direct positive relationship with EO. When considering the dimensions of EO, innovativeness was greatly affected by owner/managers competencies whereas risk taking behavior was less affected by competencies. Hence, findings of the present study would be essential for owner/managers and strategy makers to enhance the EO of tea manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka towards global competition in the tea industry by knowing what competencies are crucial for EO.

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