The influence of experience and deliberate learning on SME export performance

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 860-879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicitas Evangelista ◽  
Lancy Mac

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the relative importance of deliberate learning, learning from experience and relevant learning co-variates in pursuing market learning, and to assess the impact of market learning on export performance in smaller firms. Design/methodology/approach A theoretical model was initially developed and subsequently tested using survey data. The standard two step approach of first testing the measurement model and then estimating the structural model was adopted. Findings The results provide concrete evidence that among SMEs, deliberate learning has a greater impact on export market learning as compared to experience accumulation, and that market learning has a significant effect on export performance. The results also show that absorptive capacity and commitment to learning are significant co-variates of market learning. Originality/value This paper focuses on the role of deliberate learning vis-a-vis learning by experience in achieving foreign market learning and export performance in smaller firms. It addresses a major limitation of organisational learning studies which tend to focus mainly on experiential learning and organisational learning in large organisations.

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 631-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim M. Awad ◽  
Alaa A. Amro

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to map the cluster in the leather and shoes sector for improving the competitiveness of the firms. Toward this end, the study is organized to examine the impact of clustering on competitiveness improvement. The influence of competitive elements and performance (Porter’s diamond) and balanced score card was utilized. Design/methodology/approach A random sample of 131 respondents was chosen during the period from May 2016 to July 2016. A structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was applied to investigate the research model. This approach was chosen because of its ability to test casual relationships between constructs with multiple measurement items. Researchers proposed a two-stage model-building process for applying SEM. The measurement model was first examined for instrument validation, followed by an analysis of the structural model for testing associations hypothesized by the research model. Findings The main findings show that there is a unidirectional causal relationship between improvements of performance and achieve competitiveness and also reveal that the Palestinian shoes and leather cluster sector is vital and strong, and conclude that clustering can achieve competitiveness for small- and medium-sized enterprises. Research limitations/implications Future research can examine the relationship between clustering and innovation. The effect of clustering using other clustering models other than Porter’s model is advised to be used for future research. Practical implications The relationships among clustering and competitiveness may provide a practical clue to both, policymakers and researchers on how cluster enhances economic firms such as a skilled workforce, research, development capacity, and infrastructure. This is likely to create assets such as trust, synergy, collaboration and cooperation for improved competitiveness. Originality/value The findings of this study provide background information that can simultaneously be used to analyze relationships among factors of innovation, customer’s satisfaction, internal business and financial performance. This study also identified several essential factors in successful firms, and discussed the implications of these factors for developing organizational strategies to encourage and foster competitiveness.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 532-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aydin Kayabasi ◽  
Thandiwe Mtetwa

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between marketing effectiveness, marketing capabilities, export market orientation and export performance. Design/methodology/approach The research analyses whether export market orientation, marketing effectiveness and marketing capabilities are antecedents of export performance with structural equation modelling. Data to test the model were obtained through a structured survey of 443 export companies operating in the Aegean region of Turkey. After explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, the structural model was tested. Findings The findings suggest that export market orientation has a significant impact on marketing capabilities and marketing effectiveness, and that marketing effectiveness has a significant impact on export performance. This indicates that export market orientation is central to the development of marketing capabilities, while marketing effectiveness contributes to explaining export performance. Research limitations/implications There are several limitations of the research. The first significant limitation is that the variables had various sub-dimensions. The second limitation is about sampling of the research that it is not specific to a particular sector. Practical implications This paper provides useful insights to exporters on market orientation, focal dimensions of marketing effectiveness and marketing capabilities that would help them enhance their export performance. Originality/value Using the resource-based view, this paper contributes to the explanation for export performance by assessing the role of export market orientation behaviour on marketing capabilities and marketing effectiveness.


Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Imane Beqqali Hassani ◽  
Razane Chroqui ◽  
Chafik Okar ◽  
Mohamed Talea ◽  
Ahmed Ouiddad

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of corporate culture (CC) and hedonic motivation (HM) on the adoption of an information system (IS) inside a Moroccan company. To do so, the authors have combined and merged the “unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2” along with the “Nguyen and Aoyama’s model” that covers the subject of CC. Later, the authors tested the research model within a Moroccan company. Design/methodology/approach In the present work, the authors used a quantitative analysis approach. Survey data were collected through oral interviews and analysis was performed based on the “partial least square” method, over a 94 sample of direct IS users. Findings The findings of the present investigation demonstrate the reliability and the validity of the established measurement model. Concerning the structural model, results support all hypotheses but with different effect size. The conclusion that can be extracted from this study is that CC and HM are important factors in the adoption process within the Moroccan firm. Originality/value This study enhances the understanding of the major factors affecting the adoption of an IS in a developing country. While several studies on adoption have been conducted, this study’s originality and contribution lays in the examination of the rarely evaluated factors: HM and CC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 240-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahar Hosseinikhah Choshaly ◽  
Marva Mirabolghasemi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of Libqual+™ dimension (affect of services, information control and Library as a place) on user satisfaction at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using a sample of 100 students and it was analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS. The measurement model was analyzed using composite reliability, convergent and discriminate validity while the structural model was used to predict the relationships between variables. Findings The results indicated that services, information control and library as a place have a significant and positive impact on the overall satisfaction of library users, with affect of services being the most important predictor of library user satisfaction. Practical implications Overall, users are satisfied with the services provided by the UKM library. Results from this study will help librarians to make better decisions in providing effective services and fulfilling the library’s vision and mission. Originality/value The study provides insight into the UKM University how to use LibQual+™ dimension to improve user’s satisfaction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 13-15

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings This research paper concentrates on the impact of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on strategic choices when entering a foreign market. On balance the results reveal that combining all three EO trait dimensions – innovativeness, risk taking, and proactiveness – creates the best probability of success when entering a product into a new foreign market by deploying either an explorative or an exploitative product marketing strategy. Although a riskier explorative strategy is the most promising option for building longer-term competitive advantage, blending this with elements of a more conservative but growth-lacking exploitative strategy can yield synergistic benefits. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Malca ◽  
Jean Pierre Bolaños ◽  
Jorge Luis Rubio Donet ◽  
Francisco Acedo

PurposeThe objective of this research is to analyse the joint impact of export proactivity and coordination capacity as mediators on the relationship between export market orientation (EMO) and export performance and the relational norms and export continuity as EMO's antecedents.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses structural equation modelling for the analysis of 127 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the agri-export sector in Peru.FindingsThe research demonstrates the mediating role of export proactivity between EMO and export performance and the impact of relational norms as an antecedent of EMO as well as that of export continuity in export performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe cross-sectional study design has certain limitations; thus, longitudinal research is necessary to analyse the evolution of the impact of these variables. Future research should also consider new variables, such as absorptive capacity and institutional distance, in relation to EMO and export performance in emerging markets.Originality/valueThis research paper provides a perspective that is an alternative to the traditional literature related to EMO since coordination capacity and export proactivity have been used as EMO's antecedents. However, in emerging countries, such as Peru, exports are based on comparative advantages. Under this context, it is necessary to analyse export proactivity and coordination capacity as mediators of the relationship between EMO and export performance and the relational norms and export continuity as EMO's antecedents.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 323-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikas Chauhan ◽  
Rambalak Yadav ◽  
Vipin Choudhary

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand consumers’ intention to adopt internet banking. The study adopted the technology acceptance model with additional constructs (i.e. consumer innate innovativeness (II), domain-specific innovativeness (DSI) and perceived security risk (PR)).Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected through a questionnaire-based survey (487 usable responses) from Indian consumers. A two-step SEM approach (i.e. measurement model and structural model) was used to analyze the data.FindingsThe findings show the significant positive influence of perceived usefulness, ease of use, attitude, II and DSI on consumer’s intention to adopt internet banking. The PR was found to have a significant negative influence on consumers’ intention to adopt internet banking, and DSI was found to negatively influence PR.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to users of a particular region of India. Furthermore, the study limits itself in determining consumers’ intention only, not actual usage.Originality/valueThe study is a preliminary attempt to examine consumer’s intention to adopt internet banking in India by analyzing innovativeness and perceived risk.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadi Boğaç Kanadlı ◽  
Pingying Zhang ◽  
Nada K. Kakabadse

Purpose Board diversity has been a hotly debated topic in the field of corporate governance. The paper examines the role of board chairperson and its moderating effect on the relationship between job-related diversity and boards’ strategic tasks performance. The purpose of this paper is to add on our body of knowledge about the impact of job-related diversity on boards’ strategic tasks performance. Design/methodology/approach The paper applies the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique to examine survey responses from chief executive officers (CEOs). Both the measurement model and structural model have obtained good results, supporting the appropriateness of using the SEM approach. Findings The findings suggest that there is a positive association between job-related diversity and boards’ strategic tasks performance, which is moderated by a chairperson’s leadership efficacy and the option of a former-CEO as board chair. Practical implications To achieve the intended effect of job-related diversity in boards, policymakers need to be mindful about the importance of the board chairperson. Board chairperson’s characteristics such as leadership efficacy and a former-CEO experience would amplify the positive effect of diversity. Originality/value This research paper contributes to the literature on board diversity, board leadership and strategic management of firms. Findings validated researchers’ concern about the negligence of examining moderating factors in board diversity research. Moreover, results echo the concern that board leadership research should shift the attention from structural aspects to the behavioral issues. Finally, this study is the first to show the positive influence of a board chairperson in disseminating benefits of a diverse board.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 453-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Isabel Torres ◽  
Silvana Santos Ferraz ◽  
Helena Santos-Rodrigues

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically test the relations among different knowledge management (KM) factors, such as human capital (HC), processes and information systems (IS) on organizational sustainable competitive advantage (CA), within the SMEs context. Design/methodology/approach Structured questionnaires were distributed to CEOs and managers of Portuguese organizations through an electronic survey. Partial least squares software was utilized to analyze the data. Findings The measurement model results identify and validate the dimensions of HC, processes and IS representing the KM construct. The structural model results demonstrate that HC and processes have a direct and significant impact on organizational CA, on the customer and financial dimensions, respectively. IS indirectly and significantly influence organizational CA, mediated by HC and processes. Research limitations/implications The sample size includes mostly service business and SMEs. Other organizations sectors, such as industry, should be analyzed in order to develop a comparative cross-sectorial study. Practical implications This study establishes suggestions for managers to make legitimate decisions concerning investments on knowledge assets and organizational capabilities that can foster business growth and sustainable CA within a SMEs context. Originality/value The authors propose a mediation mechanism showing that the relationship between IS and sustainable CA is not direct, but it is mediated by HC and processes. This mechanism points out some critical issues for the strategic knowledge and intellectual capital assets, as a source of organizational CA.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Ruiz-Mafe ◽  
Enrique Bigné-Alcañiz ◽  
Rafael Currás-Pérez

PurposeThis paper analyses the interrelationships between emotions, the cognitive information cues of online reviews and intention to follow the advice obtained from digital platforms, paying special attention to the moderating effect of the sequencing of review valence.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from 830 Spanish Tripadvisor users. In a two-step approach, a measurement model was estimated and a structural model analysed to test the proposed hypotheses. SmartPLS 3.0 software was used. The moderating effect of sequencing of reviews is tested.FindingsThe data analysis showed a bias effect of review sequence on the impact of online information cues and emotions on intention to follow advice obtained from Tripadvisor. When the online reviews of a restaurant begin with positive commentaries, their perceived persuasiveness is a stronger driver of the pleasure and arousal elicited by online reviews than when they begin with negative reviews. On the other hand, the perceived helpfulness of online reviews only triggers arousal when the user reads negative, followed by positive, comments. The impact of pleasure on intention to follow the advice provided in an online travel community is higher with positive-negative than with negative-positive sequences.Originality/valueWhile researchers have demonstrated the benefits of customer reviews on company sales, a largely uninvestigated issue is the interplay between emotions and cognitive information cues in the processing of online reviews. This is one of the first studies to examine the moderating effect of conflicting reviews on the impact of emotions and cognitive information cues on consumer intention to follow the advice obtained from digital services.


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