Enhancing the export activities of small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arsalan Safari ◽  
Ali Salman Saleh ◽  
Vanesa Balicevac Al Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Innovation Strategy ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This study aims to examine a conceptual integrated framework for small- and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) export performance that comprises all potential export determinants and inhibitors. This study also incorporates and examines the potential mediators of proactiveness (business strategy), innovativeness (innovation strategy) and export marketing strategy. Design/methodology/approach His research is based on the contingency theory, resource-based and market-based view, and it provides an integrated model about the research problem. The primary data are collected through direct survey amongst active SME exporters, and three main approaches of descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling are applied for data analysis. Findings The results show significant effects of various internal and external firms’ determinants on their export performance in Qatar. Two mediators, proactiveness (business strategy) and innovativeness (innovation strategy), have key roles in enhancing SMEs’ export as well. The final research findings have significant implications for understanding all key drivers of SME export in Qatar, and it helps policymakers, regulators and service providers to improve the current SME ecosystem and their services to SMEs. Finally, the results of this study can be extended to other emerging markets with similar economic and legal structures. Originality/value Many obstacles discourage SMEs to move internationally, especially in emerging markets. This study focuses on the capacity building to enhance SME export activities in an emerging market. Even though the latest literature in the area of export performance has focused on firms from emerging economies, studies in this area are still limited. Earlier research in this area has mostly focused solely on the determinants of export performance from either internal factors, external factors or both without using adequately potential mediating factors, which could affect export performance.

Key determinants of SMEs’ export performance: a resource-based view and contingency theory approach using potential mediators

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 635-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arsalan Safari ◽  
Ali Salman Saleh
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Contingency Theory ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Holistic Understanding

Purpose Various barriers discourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from entering or expanding their export activities in the international markets, especially SMEs in emerging markets. The purpose of this study is to look at capacity building to accelerate SMEs’ export performance. Design/methodology/approach This study draws on contingency theory and takes a resource-based and market-based view to provide a holistic understanding of the issue. This study uses primary data collected via extensive surveys from active SMEs in three main industrial regions in Vietnam to undertake confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling for quantitative analysis. Findings The results confirm and show the significant effects of various determinants on firms’ export performance. These research findings have scientific contribution and significant implications by understanding the effective internal and external export drivers and mediators in an emerging market and enhancing SMEs’ export performance. Practical implications This study helps SMEs to improve their export performance by systemizing their decision-making in export activities, improving main export drivers highlighted in this study and developing required training programs for their teams. The outcomes also helps policymakers and regulators to improve the current SME ecosystem in Vietnam through training programs, improving policies, facilitating trades, providing more government assistance etc. The results of this study can be extended to other emerging markets with a similar economic structure and legal system. Originality/value Given the need for more work on export performance, this paper develops and tests a holistic conceptual framework that accounts for all aspects of export drivers, and provides a more comprehensive model for examining SMEs’ export drivers. This theoretical framework also incorporates three potential mediators (i.e. innovation strategy, export marketing strategy and business strategy) to investigate the effect of internal and external factors on export performance, highlighting the importance of the mediating effects on SMEs in achieving growth and competing in the international arena.

Measuring the service gaps in the roles of quantity surveyors in the emerging market

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 1111-1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
AbdulLateef Olanrewaju
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
The Other ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Survey Questionnaires

Purpose – The opportunities that the emerging markets present to the players in the construction industry means that the players need to expand on the scope and size of their responsibilities and duties to the stakeholders. Each of the professionals now demands more specialised and sophisticated services from one another. The other players in the construction industry now require more emerging responsibilities and duties from the quantity surveyors. The purpose of this paper is to examine the roles that “modern” quantity surveyors play by measuring the gaps that exist in the services that the quantity surveyors provide. Design/methodology/approach – Primary data are collected through survey questionnaires. In total, 23 roles played by modern quantity surveyors are identified and addressed to the respondents to rank the rate at which quantity surveyors provide these “emerging” services. The collected data were analysed statistically. Findings – The results of the findings led to the conclusion that the quantity surveyors were not meeting the expectations of other players. Therefore, for competitiveness, quantity surveyors need to better meet demand expectations. Research limitations/implications – This findings of this research are constrained to the services or functions that the quantity provide in the construction industry. Practical implications – This knowledge is valuable to academic institutions that offer quantity surveying programmes, to practicing quantity surveyors, governments, and other players in the construction industry. It will allow quantity surveyors to reconcile supply and demand expectations. Originality/value – There is no known conclusive empirical study on services offered by quantity surveyors in any emerging markets. Therefore, the findings offer a fresh understanding on the services of quantity surveyors not only in Nigeria but elsewhere. While some of the services are common, others are peculiar to emerging markets.

Innovation capabilities for global R&D projects in subsidiaries

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisangela Lazarou Tarraço ◽  
Roberto Carlos Bernardes ◽  
Felipe Mendes Borini ◽  
Dennys Eduardo Rossetto
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Foreign Subsidiaries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Product And Process

Purpose Is the development of local innovation capabilities enough for foreign subsidiaries in emerging markets to be able to integrate into global R&D projects? The authors argue that it is not. The purpose of this paper is to show the central role of R&D capacities when it comes to inserting foreign subsidiaries in emerging markets into global R&D projects. Design/methodology/approach The study investigated 131 foreign multinational subsidiaries operating in Brazil. For each subsidiary, the authors surveyed two to five directors or C-level executives from innovation, R&D, engineering, product development and projects. the authors used structural equation modeling for analysis. Findings The results indicate that product and process innovations alone do not guarantee the insertion of the emerging market subsidiaries into global innovation projects. Such insertion depends on the subsidiary’s accumulation of R&D capacities. Practical implications The results reinforce the central issue of building product and process innovation capabilities as the first step toward a blueprint for global projects. However, the effort is not limited to these initiatives. Product and process innovation efforts need be reverted in headquarters’ eyes in order for subsidiaries to gain R&D center status. To achieve this, subsidiaries must align their technological innovations with multinational corporations’ innovation strategies. Originality/value In authors’ view, this study contributes to the literature in three main areas: the evolutionary process of innovation capability in subsidiaries, the reverse innovation debate and the discussion of subsidiaries’ initiatives.

Psychological empowerment and job satisfaction of accountants: the mediating effect of task performance

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish Varma ◽  
Gunjan Malhotra
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Psychological Empowerment ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This study aims to ascertain the mediating effect of task performance (TP) on the linkage between the psychological empowerment (PE) and job satisfaction (JS) of professional accountants. Design/methodology/approach Primary data was collected through a questionnaire-based survey of 132 professional accountants who were the units of analysis for the study. These accountants were domiciled in 11 Indian cities and worked in both service and manufacturing firms. The data was analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling method. Findings The study found that TP mediated the linkage between PE and JS, although, contrary to observations in developed economies, one of its sub-constructs – competence – displayed no such mediation capability. Counterintuitively, it was empirically observed that the accountants’ gender had no bearing on the mediating effect of TP. Originality/value The study makes three distinct contributions. First, it empirically confirms that the intrinsic motivation theory applies to accountants in the context of operations in emerging markets. Second, the paper contributes to the accounting behavioral literature by observing that competence, as a sub-dimension of the PE construct, does not significantly impact the JS level of accountants. Finally, the study also contributes to the development of sound business practices by confirming that gender differences do not impact the satisfaction levels of accountants in emerging markets.

A model of mobile payment usage among Arab consumers

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 1213-1234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reem Ramadan ◽  
Jawdat Aita
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Mobile Payment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of perceived satisfaction with mobile payment applications based on use experience, and subsequent stated expectations on brand loyalty and future use behavior using a theory-based research integrative model of factors that influence Arabs’ intentions to use mobile payment application(s). Design/methodology/approach A conceptual model was developed using the mixed research method approach. The focus group approach was used for the qualitative study and structural equation modeling for the quantitative study. Primary data were collected online. Participants were 305 Arab consumers from nine countries in the Middle East. Findings Satisfaction with the quality of mobile payment application(s) increased use experience and enhanced consumers’ expectations, which in turn positively affected loyalty and purchase intentions. Research limitations/implications The study encompassed mobile payment application(s) in nine countries rather than focusing on one market, or on one product type and business. The paper did not perform a comparative study between sampled Arab countries, but rather it sees all countries and respondents just as Arabs. Practical implications Service providers should build mobile application(s) based on the features of usability, availability, reliability, adaptability, accessibility, responsiveness and security. Originality/value This study is one of the first studies that empirically examines mobile payment consumer’s usage behavior from nine countries of the Arab world where there is scarce research on the topic in the region.

“Standing out” and “fitting in”: understanding inspiration value of masstige in an emerging market context

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish Das ◽  
Victor Saha ◽  
M.S. Balaji
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Purchase Intentions ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Differential Effects ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose This study aims to investigate the role of middle-class consumers’ need for uniqueness (CNFU), consumer susceptibility to interpersonal influence (CSII), inspiration and behavioral intentions toward masstige products. Specifically, this study examines the differential effects of CNFU dimensions, the underlying mechanism of consumer inspiration and the moderating role of CSII in the purchase intentions toward masstige products. Design/methodology/approach Two studies were carried out to test the proposed relationships. Study 1 examines the differential effect of CNFU dimensions and the mediating role of consumer inspiration for data collected from Tier 1 cities in India. Study 2 replicated Study 1 findings for the jewelry masstige products and tested the moderating role of CSII for data collected from Tier 2 cities. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The study findings confirm the differential effects of CNFU dimensions on inspiration and its mediating role in masstige products’ purchase intentions. Furthermore, the study found that CSII moderates the effect of CNFU dimensions on inspiration toward masstige (jewelry) purchase intentions. Status does not determine masstige purchase intention. Research limitations/implications The present study was carried out in the emerging market of India. Future studies should replicate the study findings in other emerging markets. Practical implications The study findings have important implications for marketers of masstige brands in developing effective marketing strategies in the emerging markets. Originality/value The study is among the few studies to investigate the differential role of CNFU dimensions and inspiration for masstige brands in an emerging market context.

Mobile money usage and continuance intention among micro enterprises in an emerging market – the mediating role of agent credibility

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raphael Odoom ◽  
John Paul Kosiba
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Continuance Intention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mobile Money ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Micro Enterprises

Purpose Currently, mobile payments have become pervasive in electronic commerce and are steadily increasing in many regions worldwide. In the literature, however, its continued usage among consumers is deemed equivocal, particularly among small businesses. This study uses the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to examine mobile money continuance intention among micro enterprises in an emerging/less-developed economy. This study aims to explore the mediating role of agent credibility on this relationship, given that these agents are contingent actors between service providers and mobile money users. Design/methodology/approach After a preliminary qualitative enquiry, quantitative data collected from 584 micro enterprises were tested from the UTAUT perspective, using structural equation modelling. Findings Findings from the study establish the applicability of the UTAUT in explaining the antecedents, motivations and continuance intention of mobile money usage among micro enterprises. Further, beyond their direct effects, the UTAUT conditions have indirect effects on the continuance intention through their effect on perceived agent credibility. Originality/value The findings provide evidence to issues of research and managerial interest, offering insightful implications to the academic and practitioner communities, respectively.

Marketing strategies for highly volatile emerging markets: an empirical study from Pakistani cellular industry

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ammar Javed ◽  
Zia Khan
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Purchase Intentions ◽  
Marketing Strategies ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Brand Love ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Moderating Role

PurposeThis study aims to highlight important marketing strategies within the context of a highly competitive emerging market with few points of difference because of service homogeneity. Drawing upon the social identity and self-expansion theories, this research explores the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and discounts and packages offers (DPO) as determinants of purchase intentions. The understudied mediating role of brand love is investigated in the CSR–purchase intentions and DPO–purchase intentions relationships, with relationship age as a moderating variable for the two relationships.Design/methodology/approachData from 359 valid responses from customers of cellular service firms in Pakistan were analyzed using partial least squares-based structural equation modeling.FindingsThe findings show that brand love partially (albeit a weaker relationship) mediates the CSR–purchase intentions relationship. Brand love also partially (albeit a stronger relationship) mediates the DPO–purchase intentions relationship. The moderating role of relationship age is not established.Practical implicationsCellular firms in emerging markets experience high volatility. Therefore, understanding of the volatile behavior alongside devising strategies is of the utmost importance. This research shows that customers continue their business with the firms they love. Interestingly, the non-significance of relationship age as a moderator for both CSR–purchase intentions and DPO–purchase intentions indicates that garnering customers' purchase intentions with respect to relationship age will be very difficult for cellular firms under fierce competition. CSR and DPO should be strategically used to increase brand love to boost purchase intentions.Originality/valueThis study makes two important contributions to the literature of emerging markets. The first contribution of this research is the proposal and validation of brand love as a mediating variable in CSR–purchase intentions and DPO–purchase intentions relationships. Evaluation of the moderating role of relationship age in CSR–purchase intentions and DPO–purchase intentions relationships is the second contribution.

Ballarpur Industries Ltd: aligning marketing strategy in a turbulent environment

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Joffi Thomas ◽  
Ashok Pratap Arora ◽  
Rajen K. Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Marketing Strategy ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Paper Industry ◽  
Sustainable Competitive Advantage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Companies ◽  
The Impact

Subject area Transforming a production-oriented firm into a marketing-oriented firm; aligning marketing strategy of local companies in globalizing emerging markets; creating sustainable competitive advantage. Student level/applicability Post graduate management courses in marketing management, strategic marketing, international marketing, business strategy. Case overview This case is about how the leader in the Indian paper industry, Ballarpur Industries Ltd (BILT), is proactively transforming a production-oriented firm to a marketing-oriented firm to compete in the globalizing emerging market scenario, in the wake of economic liberalisation. It requires the participants to evaluate the impact of marketing initiatives made, and align BILT's marketing strategy to leverage it's strengths and help create sustainable competitive advantage. Expected learning outcomes To understand the need for local companies in emerging markets to proactively align marketing strategy to build competitive advantage in the globalizing industry. Supplementary materials Teaching notes.

Internationalisation commitment of emerging market firms

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constanza Bianchi ◽  
Jorge Carneiro ◽  
Rumintha Wickramasekera
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Institutional Environments ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Emerging Market Firms

Purpose Enhancing firm commitment towards internationalisation is an important step towards ensuring successful international performance. However, there is limited research on this topic for emerging market firms. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence the internationalisation commitment of emerging market firms located in two Latin American countries with different institutional environments. Design/methodology/approach This study proposes and tests a conceptual model that includes drivers and barriers of internationalisation commitment. Data were collected from Chilean and Brazilian firms. The model uses confirmatory factor analysis to develop the underlying multi-item constructs and structural equation modelling to test the model. Findings The results show that managers’ perceptions of firm resources and capabilities are significant drivers of internationalisation commitment in both countries. In addition, perceptions of internal firm-specific barriers, such as a manager’s lack of international experience and knowledge, are negatively related to internationalisation commitment in Chile, but not in Brazil. Finally, external environmental barriers are negatively related to internationalisation commitment in Brazil, but not in Chile. Practical implications The context for the study is Chile and Brazil. Both are important emerging markets in Latin America, with a strong focus on firm internationalisation. The research design is cross-sectional and so does not allow for any causal claims to be made. The findings have important implications for internationalisation efforts of managers and export promotion agencies of emerging markets with different institutional environments. Originality/value This research contributes to the relatively scant but increasing number of empirical studies which investigate emerging market internationalisation in Latin America.

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