Date of Award

Summer 1998

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Department

Management

First Advisor

Timothy Barnett

Abstract

The objective of this dissertation was to empirically assess the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) to firm performance relationship and the potential influence of organizational culture (OC). Specifically, OC was examined as a potential predictor of the degree of EO and as a potential moderator of the EO to performance relationship. Firm performance was assessed with the weighted average performance scale and 1997 year ending return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE).

The sample frame consisted of a national sample of bank presidents. The mailing list was purchased from Thomson Financial Publishing. A self-report questionnaire was mailed to a stratified random sample of 2,100 potential respondents. A total of 535 completed and usable questionnaires were returned. This represented a response rate of approximately 26 percent. Hypotheses positing an association between the degree of EO and performance and an association between OC and the degree of EO were tested. OC as a potential moderator of the EO to performance relationship was also tested. Multiple regression, multivariate analysis of variance, and moderated multiple regression were used in statistical analyses.

Statistical analysis revealed that (1) No significant relationships exist between EO and any of the three performance measures. (2) After controlling for bank size and age, three of the four OC types were found to significantly influence the degree of EO. (3) OC type did not moderate the effects of EO on firm financial performance.

The managerial and theoretical implications of the findings of this dissertation were discussed along with contributions made to the extant knowledge in management. Finally, suggestions for future research were presented.

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