The associations among market orientation, technology orientation, entrepreneurial orientation and organizational performance

Factors influencing small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) resilience during the COVID-19 outbreak

Purpose

This research paper highlights the economic impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to Coronavirus outbreaks. It proposes factors that influence the strengthening and survival of SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, resilience is reflected in the following aspects hope, problem resolution and persistence. This quantitative study analyses a purposive sample of 120 small and medium-sized firms in India. The study's primary data are the responses to questionnaires issued to respondents, analyzed and hypotheses formed and tested using the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique.

Findings

The study results show that all the variables significantly reduce the impact of COVID-19 on SMEs. The presented model is expected to help researchers, business modelers, analysts and real professionals with further studies in the SME context.

Originality/value

This new approach adds to the business resilience knowledge of SMEs and has practical implications for manufacturing organizations seeking to become robust during and after COVID-19.

A new strategic approach for R&D project portfolio selection using efficiency-uncertainty maps

Purpose

New business practices and the globalization of markets force firms to take innovation as the fundamental pillar of their competitive strategy. Research and Development (R&D) plays a vital role in innovation. As technology advances and product life cycles become shorter, firms rely on R&D as a strategy to invigorate innovation. R&D project portfolio selection is a complex and challenging task. Despite the management's efforts to implement the best project portfolio selection practices, many projects continue to fail or miss their target. The problem is that selecting R&D projects requires a deep understanding of strategic vision and technical capabilities. However, many decision-makers lack technological insight or strategic vision. This article aims to provide a method to capitalize on the expertise of R&D professionals to assist managers in making informed and effective decisions. It also provides a framework for aligning the portfolio of R&D projects with the organizational vision and mission.

Design/methodology/approach

This article proposes a new strategic approach for R&D project portfolio selection using efficiency-uncertainty maps.

Findings

The proposed strategy plane helps decision-makers align R&D project portfolios with their strategies to combine a strategic view and numerical analysis in this research. The proposed strategy plane consists of four areas: Exploitation Zone, Challenge Zone, Desperation Zone and Discretion Zone. Mapping the project into this strategic plane would help decision-makers align their project portfolio according to the corporate perspectives.

Originality/value

The new approach combines the efficiency and uncertainty dimensions in portfolio selection into an integrated framework that: (i) provides a complete representation of the stochastic decision-making processes, (ii) models the endogenous uncertainty inherent in the project selection process and (iii) proposes a computationally practical and visually unique solution procedure for classifying desirable and undesirable R&D projects.

Reviewing the relationship between organizational performance, dynamic capabilities and strategic behavior

Current business challenges mean that understanding elements that can affect organizational performance represents a differential factor in maintaining competitiveness. In this context, the objective of this article is to conduct a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of the relationship between dynamic capabilities, strategic behavior, and organizational performance. For this, A three-stage SLR protocol was used: (i) planning, (ii) conduct, and (iii) knowledge development. A total of 118 articles covering the publication period of 2006–2021 were included, which evidenced: (i) the grouping of words into three classes: “Knowledge Management,” “Measurement Instrument,” and “Organizational Environment”; (ii) the methodological framework; (iii) directions for future research. The findings reinforce the importance of the theoretical, methodological, and empirical relationship between the three constructs. Furthermore, the results indicate the relationship between the set of terms selected in each class, highlighting the strong connection between dynamic capabilities and competitive intensity. The main findings of the research show that organizations can expand or modify their processes by building and using dynamic capabilities as institutional factors, shaping strategic behavior to advance better performance.

Impact of organizational characteristics on employees' entrepreneurial orientation with mediating role of knowledge process capabilities and moderating role of psychological factors in the era of COVID-19

Purpose

The study aims to investigate the impact of organizational characteristics and knowledge process capabilities on the entrepreneurial orientation among the manufacturing industry employees in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Additionally, this study has examined the mediating role of knowledge process capabilities in the relationship between organizational characteristics and entrepreneurial orientation among those employees and the moderating effect of psychological factors on the relationship between organizational characteristics and entrepreneurial orientation.

Design methodology and approach

The study has employed the survey-based methodology and data are collected with the aid of self-administered questionnaires. This study utilized the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to establish the validity and reliability of the measurement model and test the relationships. The response rate of the current study is 64.66%.

Findings

The study findings have shown mixed results as one of the organizational characteristics, namely, resource and time availability is an insignificant determinate of entrepreneurial orientation among the manufacturing industry employees in Punjab province of Pakistan. Whereas management support, rewards, work discretion, and knowledge process capabilities appear as significant determinates of employees' entrepreneurial orientation. The results indicated that knowledge process capabilities have a mediating role in the relationship between organizational characteristics and employees' entrepreneurial orientation. Moreover, psychological factors, namely, propensity to take risk and locus of control have a significant moderating role on the relationship of management support, rewards, and work discretion with employees' entrepreneurial orientation.

Practical implications

The empirical insights on the study are valuable for policymakers and managers in manufacturing sectors of developing countries, such as Pakistan, to enrich their work performance through the understanding impact of organizational characteristics and knowledge process capabilities on the entrepreneurial orientation with moderating role of psychological factors.

Originality and value

Studies on the mediating impact of knowledge process capabilities on the linkage between organizational characteristics and entrepreneurial orientation with the moderating role of psychological factors remain limited. This study is one of the earliest studies that investigate these inter-relationships.

Analyzing the mechanism of strategic orientation towards digitization and organizational performance settings enduring employee resistance to innovation and performance capabilities

Resistance to innovation is a behavioral barrier to implementing innovation in any organization. It is associated with employees’ demotivation to adopt new technologies. Strategic orientation toward digitalization is a new dimension in shaping innovative organizational performance. It is also evident from past studies that certain employees’ capabilities are associated with organizations’ strategic orientation when undergoing digitalization. This study examines the relationship between these factors and achieving innovative organizational performance. First, it looks at how strategic orientation toward digitalization relates to digital capabilities, which include digital knowledge and innovation. This study also examines how capabilities affect strategic orientation toward digitalization and innovative organizational performance. Moreover, the negatively regulating role of resistance to innovation as a moderator is also tested between capabilities and innovative organizational performance in this research. The authors discovered a connection between strategic orientation towards digitalization and innovative organizational performance in their research. A Likert scale with five points was used to quantify the responses, and the points ranged from 1 to 5 on the scale, with one being strongly disagreed and five strongly agreed. The findings of the study also show that digital knowledge capability and innovation capability have a substantial impact on innovative organizational performance. The research also discovered that employees’ resistance to innovation exerts a sizeable moderating influence on the connection between digital knowledge competence and innovation capability within the innovative organizational performance. The study’s results show that businesses must have a strategic focus on digitalization if they want to improve their ability to come up with new ideas and their digital knowledge skills, which are both critical for the growth of the entrepreneurial system. The model that has been proposed is available to entrepreneurs so that they can apply it in their businesses to advance the entrepreneurial system appropriately. The authors present a theoretical model for entrepreneurial systems based on the strategic orientation towards the digitalization approach. This model is something that entrepreneurs could utilize to improve the performance of their organizations as a whole. In addition, the employee’s resistance to innovation is used as a moderator in the model, which is another innovative method. The research contributes new and essential information to the existing literature on innovative organizational performance.

Modelling the significance of strategic orientation for competitive advantage and economic sustainability: the use of hybrid SEM-neural network analysis

Economic sustainability involves the development of an organisation that meets its future needs through an integrated policy, planning, and social learning process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of competitive advantage in the relationship between strategic orientation and economic sustainability under unpredictable circumstances. This study collected quantitative data from a total of 284 halal small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from Indonesia through structured interviews. Data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Moreover, this study adopted artificial neural network (ANN) analysis for a model-free estimation using non-linear, multilayer, and parallel regression. The results revealed statistically significant and positive effect of strategic orientation on economic sustainability. Additionally, this study found that competitive advantage expanded the effect of strategic orientation on economic sustainability. Findings of ANN analysis confirm high prediction accuracy of the model. Findings of the sensitivity analysis highlighted the importance of innovation, network and technological orientation, and the positive effect of competitive advantage on halal SMEs economic sustainability. In order to achieve long-term economic sustainability, halal SMEs should therefore focus on innovation capacity, vertical and horizontal networking and adoption of the latest technologies. The uniqueness of this study focused on the strategic orientation and value of competitive advantage of halal SMEs towards economic sustainability. Additionally, this study was the first to develop hybrid SEM-neural network analysis to apply sensitivity analysis for the evaluation of the contribution of each exogenous predictor towards the endogenous construct.

The Impact of Knowledge Management Process and Intellectual Capital on Entrepreneurial Orientation and Innovation

Innovation is considered to be a dominant cause for sustainable business success. Knowledge management and intellectual capital are powerful tools to promote innovation in the organization. Therefore, this study aims to explore the influence of knowledge management process and intellectual capital on innovation with the mediating effect of entrepreneurial orientation and moderating role of leader education level. Data were collected from a sample of 393 IT firms listed in the Pakistan Software Houses Association and applied a partial least squares structural educational modeling (SEM) technique. The results show that the knowledge management process and intellectual capital have a positive effect on innovation. Moreover, the study confirms that entrepreneurial orientation partially mediates the relationship between knowledge management and intellectual capital on innovation. Furthermore, the moderation effect of a leader’s education was confirmed for the knowledge management-innovation relationship whereas, the moderation effect of the leader’s education on intellectual capital and innovation relationship was insignificant. Recommendations for practitioners and future research directions were also discussed.

Strategic orientations and firm performance: the role of information technology adoption capability

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the multiple entrepreneurial, technology and marketing orientations effects on education service firm performance (FP) and the mediating role of information technology (IT) adoption capability.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical research based on 535 education service small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia and Singapore. Various validity and reliability tests were carried on before the actual analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results conclude that IT adoption capability is crucial for entrepreneurial and technology orientation (TO) to produce higher FP. This finding supports that IT capability is effective at helping firms implement their strategic orientations (SOs). In addition, market orientation (MO) influence on FP is more direct than other orientations under investigation.

Practical implications

This study suggests that SOs, particularly entrepreneurial and technology, enable managers to improve FP via the development of IT adoption capability. The result shows that firms with multiple SOs would be able to respond to market challenges, utilize new technology and become more innovative, which eventually yields higher performance.

Originality/value

This study extends the understanding of multiple SOs influence on FP using the mechanism of IT adoption capability.

Eco-market orientation in the logistics industry: a conveyor belt for achieving organizational outcomes via green logistics practices

Purpose

The compounding impacts of climate change has mobilised unstinting endeavours of researchers, ecologists and corporate leaders to explore new ways for the logistics industry to manage environmental problems, improve social outcomes and gain competitive advantage. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediation roles of inbound green logistics practices and outbound green logistics practices between eco-market orientation, green value competitiveness and social sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

By employing explanatory research design, with questionnaire-based survey, data for the study was collected from Ghanaian logistics firms. The data is analysed using the partial least square structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results indicate that eco-market orientation has a significant positive impact on green value competitiveness. However, eco-market orientation was found to have an insignificant impact on social sustainability. The results further confirmed the notion that eco-market orientation substantially strengthens the implementation of inbound green logistics practices and outbound green logistics practices. Specifically, the mediation analysis confirmed that inbound green logistics practices and outbound green logistics practices serve as indirect mechanisms through which eco-market orientation significantly influences green value competitiveness and social sustainability.

Originality/value

Compared to previous literature, this is a pioneer study that develops an explanatory research framework under the lenses of the natural resource-based theory, stakeholder theory and resource advantage theory in illuminating how inbound green logistics practices and outbound green logistics practices act as mediation mechanisms between eco-market orientation and green value competitiveness and eco-market orientation and social sustainability.

Entrepreneurs' Felt Responsibility for Constructive Change and Entrepreneurial Performance: A Moderated Mediation Model of Technology Action and Market Orientation

Drawing on self-determination theory, we examine the mechanism through which entrepreneurs' felt responsibility for constructive change affects entrepreneurial performance and how market orientation affects the influencing mechanism. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 424 entrepreneurs in China. The results show that entrepreneurs' felt responsibility for constructive change is positively related to technology action and entrepreneurial performance, and technology action mediates the relationship between entrepreneurs' felt responsibility for constructive change and entrepreneurial performance. In addition, market orientation moderates the relationship between technology action and entrepreneurial performance such that the relationship is stronger when the market orientation is higher. Our findings suggest that when entrepreneur feel responsible for constructive change, they tend to take technology actions to achieve their goals and improve the long-term development of ventures. It is also important for entrepreneurs to hold a market orientation, which helps them be aware of changes in customer needs rather than blindly focusing on the use of the latest technologies. Our study is pioneering in exploring entrepreneurs' felt responsibility for constructive change in the entrepreneurial context, advancing the research on entrepreneurship psychology.

Enhancing Value Co-Creation Through the Lens of DART Model, Innovation, and Digital Technology: An Integrative Supply Chain Resilient Model

The global supply chain process has been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, firms search for factors that influence supply chain resilience and improve firm operational performance. The current research develops an integrated resilient supply chain model that combines factors underpinned DART model, innovation, digital technology, and value co-creation to investigate supply chain resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research framework was empirically tested with a data set of 329 responses from employees working in logistics firms. the study find that supply chain resilience is determined by value co-creation, the DART model, innovation, and digital technology. The factors underpinning the DART model, including dialogue, access, risk assessment, and transparency, have positively impacted value co-creation. The structural model shows that dialogue has a positive impact on developing value co-creation between manufacturing firms and stakeholders, Empirical investigation revealed that value co-creation in supply chain operations is estimated by dialogue, access, risk assessment, transparency, innovation, and digital technology and revealed substantial variance R^2 71.9% in measuring value co-creation. This research is significant as it develops a resilient supply chain model with the combination of the DART model, innovation, digital technology, and value co-creation and investigates supply chain resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although current research contributes to theory, practice, and method, disclosing research limitations opens numerous avenues for future researchers. This study does not claim to include all factors that impact the value co-creation process in supply chain operations. For instance, other factors, such as IT infrastructure, commitment, and integrative quality, may positively influence value co-creation. Second, supply chain resilience is determined by value co-creation and network capability. Therefore, the research encourages academicians and policymakers to investigate the supply chain resilience phenomenon with other market-oriented facts. future researchers are suggested to investigate the current research model in longitudinal method

Toward the measurement of market orientation: scale development and validation

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the dimensionality of the market orientation (MO) scale.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a firm-level study. A purposive sample of 400 firms (with 2–3 key informants from each firm) has been taken to study the MO of the firms. The psychometric testing of the MO scale was done using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The results have shown that the dimensionality of MO exhibits a different pattern across the sample. The four factors delineated dimensions explain more than 62% of the variance in the data set and are found to be the valuable and versatile measure of MO. Overall, the results provide enough evidence of the validity, reliability and generalizability of the MO scale. The results of SEM indicate a satisfactory nomological validity of the scale.

Originality/value

The study develops a valid measure of MO with a major focus on market intelligence. The study proposes MO as a function of customer orientation, competitor orientation, inter-functional coordination and market intelligence which was largely ignored in the marketing literature.

The role of entrepreneurial orientation, organizational learning capability and service innovation in organizational performance

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationships between Entrepreneurial Orientation, Organizational Learning Capability, Service Innovation and Organizational Performance. To this end, it was sought to analyze the mediating role of organizational learning capability and service innovation within entrepreneurial orientation and organizational performance relationship in knowledge-intensive organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted of 159 architecture and urbanism companies from Santa Catarina, Brazil. The study opted to use managers as key informants since they are the ones that have general information about the organization and are a valuable source for assessing the different variables of the organization. For data analysis, the PLS-PM algorithm (Partial Least Squares Path Modeling) was used.

Findings

Results showed that entrepreneurial orientation is a strong driver of service innovation and organizational performance. Organizational learning capability acts as a facilitator of innovation and has a positive influence on organizational performance. Another theoretical contribution of this study to organizational learning capability is the confirmation of its mediation in service innovation and organizational performance. Management needs to make its organization more proactive and creative, continually promoting new ideas. Architecture and urbanism organizations should pay more attention to maintaining and promoting entrepreneurial orientation permanently. The trend toward both proactivity and risk-taking can be an inherent advantage of these knowledge-intensive business services.

Originality/value

Few studies have explored the mediating role of organizational learning capability and service innovations in organizational performance. In particular, the combined effects of entrepreneurial orientation and organizational learning capability have been neglected by the knowledge-intensive organizations literature. The study is justified by providing a more complete view of the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and the performance of knowledge-intensive organizations, highlighting the role of organizational learning capability and performance in service innovation.

Embracing the employee orientation: does customer relationship matter in brand building?

Purpose

The study aims to explore the themes responsible for employee orientation and further their role in building strong customer relationships in telecom and organized retail outlets in emerging markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing the qualitative approach, a total of 31 in-depth interviews with customer relationship management (CRM) officers of telecom and organized outlets were carried out. Data were analysed using NVIVO-12 plus and ATLAS tools.

Findings

The analysis extracted 13 unique themes namely training and development, communication skills, convincing skills, interpersonal skills, knowledge management, grievance handling, organisation's culture development, service climate, adaptive behaviour, customer retention skills, customer profiling, trust and commitment, and suitability of employees. The results claimed that these themes can assist in building strong customer relationships. However, the extent of the significance of themes may vary for telecom and organized retail outlets.

Research limitations/implications

The findings have vital implications for frontline employees to drive customer value as they directly involve with customers. Findings further suggest that hiring of employees according to their location and catchment area of outlets are utmost important.

Originality/value

Employee orientation is an indispensable determinant in building a sustainable relationship with customers through uniqueness and consistency in meeting customers' expectations. This is a first attempt to explore the various unique themes responsible for employee orientation and the imperative role of such themes in maintaining long-lasting customer relationships.

Transformational leadership and organizational performance of Omani SMEs: the role of market orientation

Purpose

This study proposed and tested a model on the relationship between transformational leadership (TL) and organizational performance (OP) with a possible intervening effect of market orientation (MO) at Omani small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

The study followed a quantitative research design and the deductive approach. Data were collected from 259 employees working in Omani SMEs and were analyzed using structural equation modeling SEM AMOS V24.

Findings

The findings supported positive direct effects of transformational leadership on Omani SMEs' business performance and market orientation. The results also supported the effect of market orientation on business performance. Further analysis showed that market orientation partly mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and business performance.

Practical implications

The results motivate Omani SMEs' leaders to use intangible capabilities (i.e., market orientation practices) to improve the different aspects of organizational performance. It also suggests that developing SMEs leaders' transformational skills on envisioning the future, adopting open communication styles, motivating employees and stimulating their creativity influences Omani SMEs' performance.

Originality/value

Due to the mixed results regarding the TL–OP relationship and the recommendations for further exploring this relationship, this study contributes to theory and practice. It is among the few studies to explore the mediating role of MO between TL and OP in a developing country's SMEs environment.

Correlation between business innovation environment (BIE) and entrepreneurial orientation dimension (EOD) on financial performance of manufacturing SMEs in Ghana

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to provide comprehensive overview, and exposure of the correlation between entrepreneurial orientation dimension (EOD) and business innovation environment (BIE) on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) financial performance in the Ghanaian manufacturing SMEs sector that enhances knowledge and contextualization in marketing and entrepreneurship literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Anchored on resource-based view theory, 520 manufacturing SMEs companies were conveniently drawn from Association of Ghana Industry, through National Board for Small Scale Industries, using structural equation modelling techniques to analyse the hypotheses.

Findings

This study revealed that three entrepreneurial orientation dimensions EOD: risk-taking, innovations and pro-activeness have positive significant impact on financial performance manufacturing of SMEs. BIE also has positive impact on financial performance of manufacturing of SMEs and BIE moderates SMEs financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

This is a country-specific manufacturing SMEs sector, which means that the findings cannot be used to justify other SMEs in Ghana and SMEs in different country. However, the study was limited to only three EODs: risk-taking, innovations, pro-activeness and Ghanaian manufacturing BIE of SMEs. More countries and other SMEs are needed to expand the field of research in EODs and BIE.

Practical implications

It provides an insight into BIE which is important for marketers, entrepreneurs, regulatory bodies, SMEs owners-managers, directors, government and NGO to strengthening and reshaping their BIE in manufacturing SMEs sector policies, conducts and laws.

Originality/value

This paper fills knowledge and contextual gap in entrepreneurship and marketing literature by presenting comprehensive overview of BIE and EOD research that enhances the on-going discussion in the marketing and entrepreneurship manufacturing SMEs context and proposing priorities for future research streams within an emerging economy.

Dynamic capabilities: antecedents and implications for firms' performance

Purpose

This paper aims to explore a new causal link between learning, market and entrepreneurial orientations and firms' performance by introducing dynamic capabilities and competitive advantages as mediator variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The mediating role of dynamic capabilities and competitive advantages is tested using a sample of 1,190 Portuguese firms, and structural equation models.

Findings

It is shown that dynamic capabilities mediate the relationship between the three orientations–learning, market and entrepreneurial–and competitive advantages of differentiation and cost leadership, and both competitive advantages lead to firm's performance. It is also shown that learning orientation is an antecedent of market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation.

Practical implications

This research shows that firm's performance depends on the capacity of firms to learn, innovate, be proactive, take risks and collect the best market data. Indeed, by optimizing the internal management and knowledge dissemination, firms will develop a set of capabilities and competitive advantages that lead to an appropriate response to market challenges.

Originality/value

This study tests the relationship between strategic orientations and firm's performance by taking the mediating effects of dynamic capabilities and competitive advantages into account. This research was conducted in Portugal.

Strategic orientations, firm performance and the moderating effect of absorptive capacity

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to study the moderating effect of absorptive capacity, defined as the set of organizational routines and processes through which companies acquire, assimilate, transform and exploit knowledge to produce a dynamic organizational capacity (Zahra and George, 2002), in three strategic orientations: market orientation; technology orientation and entrepreneurial orientation and their positive relationship in the performance of the medium and large Mexican manufacturing firms. Likewise, it is determined whether these three combined SOs influence firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was collected from 171 medium and large-sized Mexican manufacturing firms. The proposed hypotheses are tested using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

Despite the importance of knowledge for the development of firms, the results indicate that the moderating effect of absorptive capacity is only present in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance. That is, firms cannot take advantage of knowledge simultaneously between the three strategic orientations. For their part, market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation exert a positive influence on firm performance.

Practical implications

The main practical implication for the manufacturing industry is that they must develop mechanisms to detect what kind of knowledge affects each strategic orientation, in this way it can make the absorptive capacity influence the relationships between SO and FP.

Originality/value

The main contribution consists of studying the moderating effect of the absorptive capacity on the relationship between three strategic orientations and firm performance, and not concentrating solely on the simultaneous use of these strategies as is commonly done.

Building a yardstick–a benchmark framework for assessing higher education management institutions

Purpose

Higher education management institutions play a vibrant role in imparting managerial skills to the students to face the corporate world. Performance evaluation of such institutions is mandate to ensure the outcome quality. To establish this, the present research explored the critical performance indicators of management institutions using the balanced scorecard (BSC) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This research explored the critical performance indicators of public, private and standalone management institutions in India. Data were collected from the representative sample of all the stakeholders in those management institutions. A specific vision was created and a systematic procedure was employed to arrive at the objectives, measures and metrics of the scorecard specific to the vision. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to perform analysis on the collected data. For the objectives and measures that evolved from confirmatory factor analysis, metrics were formulated based on the expert opinion.

Findings

The study resulted in 16 objectives, 46 measures and 54 metrics encompassing all the four perspectives of BSC. This paper has contributed a concrete, concise, comprehensive and context specific framework.

Research limitations/implications

The nature of the BSC framework paves the way for continuous assessment and eventually helps the institutions to attain sustainable growth. This research contributes to the literature of balanced scorecard and also to the performance assessment of the management institutions.

Originality/value

BSC-based benchmarking is a unique contribution to the academia of management education to precisely measure the performance of institutions. The model comprehensively includes the indicators from all the perspectives of stakeholders in terms of objectives, measures and metrics, thus proposing a holistic assessment.

Social capital and individual entrepreneurial orientation: innovativeness, proactivity, and risk-taking in an emerging economy

Purpose

This paper investigates if and how entrepreneurs' social capital influences their individual entrepreneurial orientation attributes (innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking).

Design/methodology/approach

The research method adopted is an exploratory multiple case study. The case chosen is that of an emerging and under-examined entrepreneur, the religious entrepreneur. The study investigates 20 pastors responsible for small enterprise-churches in Brazil.

Findings

Social capital influences individual entrepreneurial orientation, being characterized by a relative paradox. The networks must be dense enough to stimulate entrepreneurs' individual entrepreneurial orientation but not be so dense as to harm innovativeness, proactivity and risk-taking. Further, data show that individual entrepreneurial orientation influences social capital.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation relates to the semi-structured interviews' restricted use. A second limitation is associated with the recognition of churches only as productive enterprises.

Practical implications

This article suggests the significance of incorporating both themes in entrepreneurial education and training programs. It also stresses the appropriateness of religious entrepreneurship as an empirical research field for business scholars.

Originality/value

The contributions are fivefold. First, the authors build exploratory theoretical propositions on the influence of social capital on individual entrepreneurial orientation. Second, they highlight the significance of dense networks for individual entrepreneurial orientation, expanding the literature that supports the relevance of cohesive networks solely to the construct's organizational dimension. Third, the authors suggest that a relative paradox may characterize individual entrepreneurial orientation. Fourth, the authors suggest the existence of recursion between both constructs. Finally, this study is one of the first to examine social capital and individual entrepreneurial orientation, considering innovativeness, proactivity, and risk-taking, which represents a neglected field in benchmarking studies.

Influence of Knowledge Management Practices on Entrepreneurial and Organizational Performance: A Mediated-Moderation Model

This study aims to identify the influence of knowledge management practices on the entrepreneurial and organizational performance with the mediating effect of dynamic capabilities and moderating role of opportunity recognition. Data were gathered from 486 entrepreneurs and applied a structural equation model to test the hypotheses. We found that knowledge management practices have a positive and significant influence on dynamic capabilities, as well as have a significant impact on entrepreneurial and organizational performance. Moreover, results indicated that dynamic capabilities partially mediate in the relationship between knowledge management practices on entrepreneurial and organizational performance. Furthermore, the relationship between knowledge management practices with entrepreneurial and organizational performance strengthening by opportunity recognition. Further, implications and limitations were discussed in the paper.

Human capital readiness and global market orientation in Indonesian Micro-, Small- and-Medium-sized Enterprises business performance

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether human capital readiness affects business performance, and if so, whether the effect is mediated by global market orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative study employing partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses. Using a survey method, the data were collected using both online and offline questionnaires. As many as 433 owners/managers of micro-, small- and-medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the East Java Province of Indonesia participated in this study. A mediating research framework was developed to investigate the mediating role of global marketing orientation on the human capital readiness–business performance relationship.

Findings

The results show that human capital readiness has a direct and positive effect on business performance. Further analysis reveals that global market orientation partially mediates the effect of human capital readiness on business performance.

Research limitations/implications

First, this study focuses on the MSMEs in the East Java Province of Indonesia. Caution needs to be taken if the results are generalized to other regions. Second, it employed a survey method that is commonly criticized as having the potential to be biased.

Practical implications

The findings provide a more comprehensive understanding of owners/managers of human capital readiness and how it should be improved to better execute global market orientation strategies to achieve the desired business performance.

Social implications

Because MSMEs play a crucial role in society, this study provides a general model to improve the welfare of society by enhancing the MSMEs' business performance. By understanding its antecedents, namely, human capital readiness and the global market orientation, improvements can be made.

Originality/value

Human capital readiness has been rarely examined in previous studies. This is the only study applying the constructs of human capital readiness, global market orientation and business performance to the Indonesian MSME research setting.

Strategic Orientations and Absorptive Capacity on Economic and Environmental Sustainability: A Study among the Batik Small and Medium Enterprises in Malaysia

This research intended to evaluate the effects of innovation orientation (INO), customer orientation (CSO), supplier orientation (SPO), network orientation (NWO), and absorptive capacity (ABC) on economic and environmental sustainability among the Batik small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and collected quantitative data using self-reported adopted scales from 213 randomly selected Batik SMEs from Kelantan and Terengganu, Malaysia. The results revealed that INO, CSO, and ABC had a positive and significant effect on the economic sustainability (ECS) of the Batik SMEs in Malaysia. The effects of SPO and NWO on ECS were positive but not statistically significant. It was found that ECS significantly and positively affected the environmental sustainability (ENS) of the Batik SMEs in Malaysia. Besides that, ECS mediated the effects of CSO and ABC on the ENS of the Batik SMEs in Malaysia. Furthermore, important performance matrix analysis revealed that the most important factors for ENS were Batik SMEs’ ECS, absorptive capacity, and INO. For the performance of ENS, the most important factors were CSO, SPO, and NWO. The Batik SMEs and entrepreneurial development programs and policies should focus on innovation and CSO as well as improving ABC to sustain in today’s competitive business environment.

Orchestrating internal and external resources to achieve agility and performance: the centrality of market orientation

Purpose

This study examines the collaborative impact of networking capability and balanced agile project management (APM) on firm performance through the mediating role of market orientation and business process agility of medium and large telecommunication technology providers in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

Research data were collected from the executive management of telecommunication technology providers in Indonesia via a questionnaire survey to obtain 150 valid questionnaires for analysis. This study analyzed the overall model fit and causal relationship using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The results indicate that market orientation fully mediates the link between networking capability-business process agility and balanced APM-business process agility. Furthermore, business process agility mediates the relationship between market orientation and firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on a cross-sectional nature and might fail to capture the dynamic of the studied variables over an extended period.

Originality/value

The study extends the knowledge that dynamic capabilities, represented by networking capability and balanced APM, must be framed by market orientation to create customer value and improve bargaining position. However, market orientation alone is not enough in a highly dynamic business environment. Organization also requires business process agility, responsiveness and adaptability to timely address customers' needs and requirements.

The impact of knowledge management capabilities on innovation in entrepreneurial companies in Jordan

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to identify and clarify the important variables in knowledge management capabilities that affect product/service innovation in entrepreneurial companies in Jordan.

Design/methodology/approach

A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was designed for measuring knowledge-based (infrastructural and dynamic) capabilities and product/service innovation in entrepreneurial companies in Jordan that specialized in information and communication technology. A questionnaire was distributed to 297 individuals in 40 companies, and only 202 questionnaires were completely filled and returned by the entrepreneurs at King Hussein Business Park and Al Hassan Business Park. Structural equation modeling was applied to statistically test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The research findings showed that knowledge-based infrastructural capabilities are a prerequisite for knowledge-based dynamic capabilities. On the other hand, knowledge combination capabilities have a statistically significant mediating effect between knowledge based infrastructural capabilities and product/service innovation.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature by studying and investigating the key variables in knowledge management that affect product/service innovation and by providing a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge management capabilities and innovation in entrepreneurial companies. This research provides academicians with a framework for better understanding of the different factors of knowledge management capabilities and how they affect product/service innovation.

A systematic review of responsiveness to develop future research agenda: a TCCM and bibliometric analysis

Purpose

This paper aims to epistemologically extend and explore the present theories from prior research conducted in the area of responsiveness. Furthermore, it determines to benchmark the prominent theories, characteristics, context and methodologies (TCCM) used in the domain since its inception to advance the science and practice of marketing and logistics discipline.

Design/methodology/approach

A seven-step methodology (SSM) has been introduced to create a comprehensive dataset. Based upon the selection criteria of high-ranked journals and language, the research studies have been retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, Business Source Complete and journal homepage to avoid the error of exclusion. Moreover, the dataset has been compiled using manual and electronic searches without any limitation of time.

Findings

The search for a suitable dataset retrieved 642 documents by identifying “1969” as the beginning year of research in the subject domain. The analysis found that responsiveness has been prominently studied in the manufacturing industry. The results also advocate responsiveness as the vital antecedent to performance and satisfaction. Frameworks have been proposed with significant propositions for future empirical testing and theory inventiveness by researchers.

Originality/value

The study pioneers its utility for retailers to recognize the firms' inherent abilities and strengths, which can be promoted to create responsiveness more than ever. The analysis results can act as the compelling force to understand the driving power of various factors influencing responsiveness.

Does technology orientation predict firm performance through firm innovativeness?

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of technology orientation (TO) on firm performance (FP). This study also aims to identify the mediating role of firm innovativeness (FI) in the relation between TO and FP.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative approach has been adopted for analyzing the impact of TO on FP in software houses located in two big cities of Pakistan. Mean, standard deviation, correlation and regression analysis were used.

Findings

Results proved that of TO predicts FP and FI mediate the relationship between TO and FP.

Practical implications

This study used cross-sectional further studies may be conducted using longitudinal research design for achieving in-depth insights.

Social implications

Software houses should focus on TO and innovativeness for improving their performance.

Originality/value

This research guides the way to improve performance TO and innovativeness of software houses based on the empirical results.

Effect of entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation and total quality management on performance

Purpose

This study aims to examine the joint effect of entrepreneurial orientation (EO), market orientation (MO), total quality management (TQM) and organisational performance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA's) small and medium enterprise (SME) sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used a quantitative research design. A total of 393 questionnaires were distributed to and collected from owners/managers of SMEs in KSA to acquire requisite data for examining the hypothesised model of the study. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to analyse the research data.

Findings

The results indicate that EO, MO and TQM are positively and significantly related to the organisational performance of SMEs. In addition, the findings reveal that TQM has contributed the most to the enhancement of organisational development, which is followed by EO and finally, MO.

Practical implications

Developing economies consider SMEs as an approach to generate new jobs and enhance economic growth. The results provide owners/managers, practitioners and academicians with an enhanced understanding of the relationship and effects of EO, MO and TQM on organisational performance, particularly in the SME sector. Thus, owners/managers are guided to develop improved and further effective decisions for the implementation of TQM practices with strong EO and MO. Consequently, firms realise superior performance and continuously compete within their market.

Originality/value

From the perspective of developing countries, this study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence regarding the effects of EO, MO, TQM and SMEs' performance. This study is the first to empirically examine the SME sector within the KSA's economy regarding the new orientation among decision makers in terms of increasing the significance of non-oil activities. This study also confirms the usability of resource-based view theory and strategic orientations variables in the KSA SMEs.