Title: Strategic orientations, hypercompetitive environment, and entrepreneurial alertness of small firms: evidence from the central region of Mexico

Authors: Héctor Montiel-Campos

Addresses: School of Business and Economics, Universidad de las Americas Puebla, San Andres Cholula, Puebla, 72810, Mexico

Abstract: Entrepreneurial alertness (EA) is an essential concept in entrepreneurial opportunities research. However, there is relatively little empirical evidence on its precursors. This study examines entrepreneurial orientation (EO) as a precursor to EA in small firms and the moderating influence of market orientation (MO) on that relationship. The study hypothesises that a hypercompetitive environment moderates the complementary effects of EO and MO on EA. The theoretically developed research model is tested using the survey data of 135 small manufacturing firms from the central region of Mexico. The results support a positive influence of EO on the components of EA concerning scanning and search, as well as evaluation and judgment, and indicate that the influence is stronger when MO is included under the conditions of a hypercompetitive environment. Interestingly, EO and MO do not positively influence the association and connection component of EA unless a hypercompetitive environment is present.

Keywords: entrepreneurial orientation; market orientation; hypercompetitive environment; entrepreneurial alertness; small firms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2021.114242

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2021 Vol.42 No.4, pp.532 - 552

Received: 24 Sep 2018
Accepted: 23 Dec 2018
Published online: 15 Apr 2021 *

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