*3.5. Achievements*

A motive or need for achievement is a desire to do well to achieve a sense of personal accomplishment [73]. Achievement orientation has been taken as one of the EO factors as individuals with a high need for achievement perform better with non-routine tasks and take responsibility for their performance [42]. McClelland [73] stated that owners with strong achievement orientation lead to growth and success in the business. According to Koop et al. [74], Rauch and Frese [75], and Spencer and Spencer [76] success of a firm depend on owners' achievement orientation. According to Krauss et al. [42], it is observed that achievement orientation has a significant relationship with the firm's performance. Miner et al. [77], in a longitudinal study, found their measure of achievement motivation to significantly predict firm performance (i.e., growth in number of employees, sales growth, and entrepreneur annual income).

**H5:** *Achievement orientation is positively related to business performance*.

#### **4. Research Design**

In this research, Malay-based SMEs were chosen to test the empirical model. Data analysis techniques, respondents' profiles, and measurements are discussed below.

#### *4.1. Survey Design and Sampling*

A cross-sectional approach was used to test the hypothetical relationships among Malay-based SMEs in Malaysia. To focus on SMEs, the respondents were found from MARA (Majlis Amanah Rakyat) and sent 1000 emails to obtain acceptance from SME owners. More than 50% of the Malaysian population are Malay. So, Malay people were chosen as the respondents for this study. The sample size was calculated using G-Power software with a 95% confidence level for the two-tailed test [78]. As per [79], with a power of 0.85 (power in behavioral and social science should be greater than 0.80) and an effect size of 0.20, a minimum sample size of 89 participants with five predictor variables was necessary for this study. Furthermore, Reinartz et al. [80] recommended that the sample size in the SEM study should be a minimum of 100 participants. Altogether 443 respondents agreed to participate in this research. Researchers personally visited the company and collected data from them. A total of 36 respondents were discarded due to at least one section missing response and finally, 407 cases were then accepted and analyzed. Data was collected within March to September 2021. Since the sample size issue is a potential source of problems, this study utilized a total of 407 samples. The targeted respondents were the owner of the SMEs as the owner makes all decisions in all aspects of business and this projecting EO should be clearer.

More than 50% of respondents were male compared to their female counterparts. Age groups between 41 and 50 are found to respond to our questionnaire and 66 of them are married. Out of 407 respondents, 237 of them involved in business for more than four years and they have less than 8 employees.

The equations of the research model are as follows:

$$\mathbf{Y} = \beta\_0 + \beta\_1 \mathbf{x}\_1 + \beta\_2 \mathbf{X}\_2 + \beta\_3 \mathbf{X}\_3 + \beta\_4 \mathbf{X}\_4 + \beta\_5 \mathbf{X}\_5 + \varepsilon\_i \tag{1}$$

where Y is the business performance (dependent variable); β<sup>0</sup> is the regression coefficient (constant); β1, β2, β<sup>3</sup> ... are the regression beta values; and X1 = autonomy orientation, X2 = risk taking orientation, X3 = proactiveness orientation, X4 = innovativeness orientation, X5 = achievement orientation, and <sup>i</sup> = error or residual (Equation (1)).
