Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development: Moderating Role of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Competence of SMEs Managers in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

There is an increasing pursuit of innovative concepts in sustainable development and social entrepreneurship that extend beyond mere economic growth to include global social impact, enterprise development, and environmental sustainability. Despite the rising acknowledgment of its importance, the divide between the theoretical and practical aspects of social and sustainable entrepreneurship remains unaddressed. This research aims to bridge that gap by investigating the effects of social entrepreneurship on enterprise development, as well as the moderating influence of sustainable entrepreneurial competence among SME managers in the Lagos metropolis. A cross-sectional survey design was utilized to gather data from 362 participants selected from a pool of 400 social entrepreneurs and managers through a convenience sampling procedure. A structured questionnaire, incorporating validated scales for social entrepreneurship, enterprise development, and sustainable entrepreneurial competence, was employed for data collection. Using regression analysis, three hypotheses were tested. The results indicated that social entrepreneurship dimensions collectively exert a significant influence on social enterprise development, with the governance dimension demonstrating the most substantial effect. Furthermore, sustainable entrepreneurial competence significantly impacts social enterprise development; however, it does not serve as a significant moderating factor in the relationship between social entrepreneurship and social enterprise development. The study positions its findings within the context of the TBL theory and highlights recommendations to enhance SME managers' sustainable entrepreneurship competence and promote social enterprise development.

Key Words: Enterprise Development; SMEs Managers; Social Entrepreneurship; Sustainable Development; Sustainable Entrepreneurial competence