*7.2. Implications for Practice*

The use of Malay-based SMEs as a sample in this study provides evidence that the EO construct is valid and relevant in the organizational context of any type of SMEs as well as larger firms; in other words, the EO concept is not only for larger firms, as widely reported in the literature. The study comes up with five significant indicators of entrepreneurship orientation of Malay-owned SMEs. Government agencies such as Matrade, MARA, and other government agencies should create better awareness regarding the benefits of starting a revised thinking on orientation factors to improve entrepreneurs' businesses more profitable and risk-free. Arranging seminars or campaigns to make them educated on these issues would be a better one. Moreover, all government agencies should closely work with all SMEs in Malaysia and need to identify the problem and also need take necessary policies to rectify them.

It is also suggested to enhance the probability of performance in the SMEs sectors, the government should enforce handy, consistent, and standardized policies in all SMEs sectors and all other stakeholders in boosting these sectors.

#### **8. Conclusions**

In conclusion, it is interesting that the findings of this study which is used the PLS approach to test the relationships between EO and business performance and make it clear that EO significantly leads to the business performance of Malay-based SMEs in Malaysia. The PLS regression analysis shows that risk-taking, proactiveness, innovation, and achievement factors are the significant elements of entrepreneurship orientation. Nevertheless, one independent variable, i.e., autonomy, does not exhibit any relationship. The highest strength in the relationship was found in the achievement factor while the lowest was found in proactiveness. This investigation implies that EO is the main driver for SME performance; that all dimensions of EO are not compulsory to value or consider for business performance. This study purely gives us an idea about the assessment of EO on enhancing organizational performance in the SME sector. As the Malaysian government has emphasized the growth of small businesses, an understanding of the influence of entrepreneurship orientation on the business performance of SMEs is invaluable.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, S.S.A., M.M. and M.F.M.S.; methodology, S.S.A.; software, M.M.; validation, S.S.A., Z.K.M.M. and M.M.; resources, N.M.; writing—original draft preparation, S.S.A., M.E.A.-S., M.F.M.S. and N.M.; writing—review and editing, S.S.A., M.M. and M.E.A.-S.; project administration, S.S.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research was funded by the Graduate School of Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Grant Number GSB-2021-007 & GSB-2021-019. And APC was funded by the same grant.

**Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Not applicable.

**Data Availability Statement:** The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors (S.S.A) upon reasonable request.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
