Effects of entrepreneurship and innovation skills of SMEs on performance

This research was conducted to examine the effects of entrepreneurial ability and innovation ability of SMEs on business performance. The questionnaire form prepared for the purpose was applied to 121 SME managers operating in Aksaray in 2023 who voluntarily accepted to participate in the research. The data obtained were analyzed in computer environment through SPSS 22.0 statistical program. As a result of the research, it was determined that entrepreneurial ability and innovation ability have a statistically significant effect on the business performance of SMEs, but innovation ability plays a more decisive role in business performance than entrepreneurial ability. Among the innovation capabilities, it was found that marketing innovation capability and product innovation capability contributed significantly to the increase in business performance, while process innovation capability and organizational innovation capability did not contribute to business performance. On the other hand, the number of employees as a determinant of entrepreneurship ability, innovation ability and business performance of SMEs has also emerged as significant at the end a result of the research. As the number of employees in SMEs increases, entrepreneurial ability, innovation ability and business performance are found to increase significantly. Keywords: Entrepreneurial Capability, Innovation Capability, Business Performance, SME