TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATIONIN THE FINE-DINING RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IN PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the effect of time management strategies on the entrepreneurial orientation of fine-dining restaurants in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The study was anchored on Goal-Setting Theory and Social Cognitive Theory, which emphasize planning, self-regulation, and goal-directed behavior as drivers of entrepreneurial outcomes. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted, targeting owners, managers, and supervisors of registered finedining restaurants. The population of the study comprised 150 managerial staff, from which a sample size of 108 respondents was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination table. A total of 101 valid responses were used for data analysis. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Time Management Strategies and Entrepreneurial Orientation Questionnaire (TMSEOQ). The instrument was validated through expert review, while reliability was established using Cronbach’s Alpha, yielding a coefficient of 0.82. Descriptive statistics were employed to address the research questions, while simple and multiple regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that time management strategies had a significant positive relationship with autonomy, competitive aggressiveness, and overall entrepreneurial orientation of fine-dining restaurants. The study concluded that effective time management enhances managerial independence, strengthens competitive actions, and promotes entrepreneurial behavior in the hospitality industry. The study recommended that restaurant operators, industry stakeholders, and policymakers prioritize time management training to improve entrepreneurial performance and sustainability of fine-dining restaurants in Rivers State