ENTREPRENEURS' PASSION, PERSISTENCE AND PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN BENUE STATE

Abstract

The poor performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria has
necessitated research studies to explore factors that can contribute to their performance. This study therefore, assesses the effects of entrepreneurs' passion and persistence on the performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Benue State. Specifically, the study sought to on the one hand assess the effect of harmonious and obsessive passion on the persistence and performance of SMEs in Benue State and also the mediating role of persistence on this proposed relationship.
Using a sample of 154 and employing hierarchical regression analysis, the study found
a significant positive relationship between harmonious passion and performance of SMEs and a negative relationship was found between obsessive passion and performance of SMEs. Furthermore, the study established that persistence partially mediates the relationship between harmonious and obsessive passion and performance of SMEs in Benue State. Focus should therefore, be on building harmonious passion in business owners or managers so that the performance of SMEs in Nigeria could be improved.