Abstract

Purpose: This study discusses the creative industry phenomenon which has different business characteristics both from resources and production processes to distribution. The study intends to analyze the effect of entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation on business performance by using absorptive capacity as a mediator. Research design, data, and methodology: Using the quantitative method, data were collected from 97 respondents, who are managers or owners of creative industry businesses in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Data analyzed used Partial Least Square - Structural Equation Model. Results: The results of this study reveal that entrepreneurial orientation has no significant effect on business performance and has indirectly a trough absorptive capacity. Market orientation has a significant effect on business performance and indirectly through absorptive capacity. Another result is that absorptive capacity has a significant effect on business performance. Conclusions: When absorptive capability stresses the assimilation and exploitation of knowledge and market intelligence that has been learned to boost business performance improvements, market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation offer knowledge and experience to business processes including the creation of value distribution in the creative industries.