THE EFFECT OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ON ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCIES AND BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

The study’s purpose is to examine the effect of experiential learning on business performance through the mediating role of entrepreneurial competencies. Quantitative research was conducted with 123 entrepreneurs in the business development phase, who were part of a business school’s experiential entrepreneurial program in South Africa. Multiple hierarchical regression analysis revealed that experiential learning led to mastery of entrepreneurial competencies that benefited business performance. Specific competencies played a role as mediators, such as opportunity recognition and market analysis. The findings also suggest that environmental factors such as access to finance shape the mediating role of entrepreneurial competencies on experiential learning and business performance. The study contributes to the entrepreneurship field by looking at experiential learning beyond entrepreneurial intentions to action. In addition, the study demonstrates that experiential learning and its outcomes are influenced by the stage of the business and intended learning outcomes. Therefore, researchers and practitioners should consider entrepreneurial competencies from a multi-dimensional perspective.