The impact of knowledge inertia and organizational learning on entrepreneurial behavior: An application of Osmaniye Organized Industrial area

Applying the concept of inertia to individual behaviors explains that; both individuals and managers have a tendency to reuse their past knowledge and experience frequently while making decisions and solving problems in order to avoid risks and saving time. As a result of that, competitors and outsiders can easily predict the behaviors of managers and problem solving strategies of the enterprise in general. That is to say, inertia will jeopardize the reaction potential of the firm to environmental changes and diminishes its adaption to adjust its operations to dynamic market condition. Knowledge is the key to hinder the effects of inertia in organizations. Learning potential of the firm determines the level of acquiring and effectively using the organizational knowledge. Thus, besides knowledge, individual and organizational learning is another key component to invalidate the impact of inertia. Managers and decision makers who terminates the resistance to change and impair the impacts of knowledge inertia through organizational and individual learning then take the advantage of environmental opportunities and improve the firms' innovation capacity. Entrepreneurial behaviors - rational and manageable risk taking and maximizing the benefit from environmental opportunities - lead to diminish the organizational fragility and facilitate the adaption of firm to altering conditions rapidly. In this perspective, this study aims to investigate the impact of knowledge inertia and organizational behavior on entrepreneurial behaviors in Osmaniye Organized Industrial Area. The necessary data has been collected from manufacturing companies through questionnaire. According to findings of the study, current situation is depicted and inferences are made. Key Words: Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Behavior, Knowledge, Knowledge Inertia, Organizational Learning.