Social capital, entrepreneurial skills, and business performance among rural micro-enterprises in times of crisis

The unprecedented COVID-19 crisis has adversely affected enterprise performance, which led to inequalities, particularly for rural micro-entrepreneurs. Therefore, ensuring business survival through social capital and entrepreneurial skills as coping strategies the micro-entrepreneurs is important sustain their livelihoods. Both can enhance rate during a crisis, but there limited knowledge on how performance of micro, Small Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) be improved. This study examined linkages between skills, (knowledge, experience), crisis. Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) Triangle Village was selected proxy population, sampling frame 543 obtained from Local District Office. A total 150 questionnaires were distributed in systematic random order based minimum sample size 85 calculated using G*Power statistical tool. final 134 usable samples analyzed Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). results ascertained that direct positive effect significant (? = 0.521, t 8.060, p < 0.001) had specific indirect 0.520, LCL 0.378, UCL 0.651, 0.001). also reported full mediating capital-enterprise relationship. proposes practices develop adaptive entrepreneurs adapt challenges.