MOTIVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND THE PERFORMANCE OF SMEs IN VIETNAM
Abstract
This study presents an exploratory investigation of SME entrepreneurs in Vietnam to understand the relationship between their motivation for entrepreneurship, the Entrepreneurial Orientation and their firm's perceived performance. A survey of 306 Vietnamese entrepreneurs was conducted in face-to-face interviews. LISREL path analysis was used to test the hypotheses related to a conceptual model. The findings of this research show that SME owners in Vietnam are more motivated by challenge and achievement than the necessity for a career and economic security. The motivation of Vietnamese entrepreneurs is positively correlated to the Entrepreneurial Orientation. Vietnamese SME owners emphasize a short-term approach based on Net Profit rather than Business Growth. The findings indicate the development of an emerging entrepreneurial culture in Vietnam similar to that of other entrepreneurial countries.