Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Sustainability among Youth-Owned Enterprises in Senegal
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Abstract
Youth entrepreneurship has become a strategic priority for economic development and employment generation in Senegal; however, many youth-owned enterprises struggle to achieve long-term sustainability. This study examines the influence of Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) on Business Sustainability among youth-owned enterprises in Senegal using a quantitative research design. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among youth entrepreneurs aged 18–35 years across multiple business sectors. Data were collected through structured questionnaires using a five-point Likert scale and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis. The findings reveal that Entrepreneurial Orientation significantly and positively influences Business Sustainability (R² = 0.610, p < 0.001), indicating that EO explains 61% of the variance in sustainability outcomes. All five EO dimensions—innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy—demonstrate significant positive effects. Among them, proactiveness emerges as the strongest predictor, followed by autonomy and innovativeness. The results suggest that youth-owned enterprises that anticipate market changes, exercise independent strategic decision-making, and pursue innovative practices are more likely to achieve long-term viability. This study contributes to entrepreneurship literature by extending EO research to sustainability outcomes within a West African youth context. The findings provide practical implications for policymakers and entrepreneurship development programs seeking to strengthen youth enterprise resilience and sustainable economic participation in Senegal.
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