DOES ENTREPRENEURIAL LEARNING EXPLAIN THE GRIT–SURVIVAL RELATIONSHIP? EVIDENCE FROM SMES IN NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA

Abstract

The high mortality rate of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies has intensified scholarly interest in identifying entrepreneur-level factors that promote business survival. While entrepreneurial grit has been recognized as an important determinant of entrepreneurial outcomes, limited attention has been given to understanding the mechanisms through which it influences entrepreneurial survival. Drawing on Grit Theory and Entrepreneurial Learning Theory, this study examines the direct effect of entrepreneurial grit on entrepreneurial survival and investigates the mediating role of entrepreneurial learning among SMEs in North-Central Nigeria. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Data were collected from 435 SME owner-managers selected from the North-Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria using a structured questionnaire. The hypotheses were tested using Hayes’ PROCESS Macro (Model 4) with 5,000 bootstrap samples. The results reveal that entrepreneurial grit significantly and positively influences entrepreneurial learning (b = 0.329, p < .001) and entrepreneurial survival (b = 0.491, p < .001). Entrepreneurial learning was also found to have a significant positive effect on entrepreneurial survival (b = 0.659, p < .001). Furthermore, bootstrap analysis confirmed a significant indirect effect of entrepreneurial grit on entrepreneurial survival through entrepreneurial learning (Effect = 0.217, 95% CI [0.152, 0.285]), indicating partial mediation. The findings suggest that entrepreneurial grit enhances entrepreneurial survival both directly and indirectly by fostering learning capabilities that improve entrepreneurs’ ability to adapt and respond to environmental challenges. The study contributes to entrepreneurship literature by extending Grit Theory beyond direct performance outcomes and demonstrating entrepreneurial learning as an important explanatory mechanism linking entrepreneurial grit to entrepreneurial survival. The findings also provide practical insights for policymakers and entrepreneurship support institutions seeking to strengthen SME resilience and sustainability in resource-constrained environments.