Entrepreneurial Mindset and SME Internationalisation: Empirical Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

PURPOSE: This study investigates the relationship between Entrepreneurial Mindset and SME Internationalisation in Uganda. We conceptualise entrepreneurial mindset along three dimensions of deliberative mindset, implemental mindset, and compulsive mindset, and each dimension is tested to see how it correlates with SME internationalisation. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study adopted a correlation and cross-sectional research design on a sample of 144 exporting SMEs. Hypotheses were tested using a Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis technique. FINDINGS: The findings reveal that among the three dimensions of entrepreneurial mindset, it is only the implemental mindset that is positively and significantly related to SME internationalisation. IMPLICATIONS: The findings imply that successful SME internationalisation in a developing country like Uganda can be achieved by managers and owners who have ideas that are more inclined to implement the pre-conceived international business ideas. LIMITATIONS: The findings are from exporting SMEs in Uganda, the extent to which they can be generalised to firms from other Sub-Saharan countries is not known. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Research examining the role of entrepreneurial mindset on SME internationalisation is limited and this paper contributes empirically to this area from a developing country context.