Entrepreneurial Orientation, Entrepreneurial Mindset and Performance of Women Owned SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This systematic literature review synthesizes evidence on the relationships among entrepreneurial orientation (EO), entrepreneurial mindset, and the performance of women owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. PRISMA 2020-guided searches of Google Scholar and SAGE Journals, supplemented by backward and forward citation searching, identified 330 records published between 2020 and 2025. After duplicate removal, screening, eligibility assessment, and reconciliation with the reference list, 58 traceable studies were retained. Two reviewers independently screened records, extracted
data, and resolved disagreements by consensus. A structured thematic synthesis coded EO dimensions, mindset constructs, financial and non-financial outcomes, mediators, moderators, and study context. The coding audit showed that 49 of 58 studies (84.5%) reported predominantly positive and statistically significant associations, six (10.3%) reported mixed or insignificant results, and three (5.2%) reported negative associations. Risk-taking produced mixed or context-dependent evidence in 17 studies (29.3%). Innovation capability, entrepreneurial competence, social capital, and internationalization were the most consistently
supported mediating mechanisms, while institutional quality, informality, gender norms, access to finance, networks, sector, and digital adoption shaped the strength of observed relationships. The review contributes an integrated, gender-sensitive framework that links firm-level EO, individual-level entrepreneurial mindset, capability-building mechanisms, and contextual conditions. It identifies priorities for longitudinal, comparative, and mixed-method research.