Abu H. Ayob

Insights into public export promotion programs in an emerging economy: The case of Malaysian SMEs

This study evaluates the impact of public export promotion programs (EPPs) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Three indicators, level of awareness, frequency of use, and perception of usefulness, were examined according to a firms export status. The global evaluation suggests that exporters are more frequent users of EPPs and perceive them to be more useful than non-exporters. Nonetheless, both groups demonstrate higher levels of awareness, are frequent users, and perceive the programs relating to export info/knowledge are more usefulness than programs relating to financial assistance. Further analysis also reveals that the frequency of use and the perception of usefulness for most programs are positively related to export experience, but not to export turnover. This study offers insights into the effectiveness of export programs for encouraging export initiation and expansion in an emerging economy.

The historical path of evaluation as reflected in the content of Evaluation and Program Planning

This paper examines the intellectual structure of evaluation by means of citation analysis. By using various article attributes and citation counts in Google Scholar and (Social) Science Citation Index Web of Science, we analyze all articles published in Evaluation and Program Planning from 2000 until 2012. We identify and discuss the characteristics and development of the field as reflected in the history of those citations.

Diversity, Trust and Social Entrepreneurship

ABSTRACT Social entrepreneurship (SE) differs from conventional entrepreneurship insofar as it emphasizes social outcomes ahead of economic returns. Research on the institutional effects on the former, however, has neglected to address specifically the impact of diversity, although it has been extensively studied in relation to the latter. This paper examines the effects of ethnic and religious heterogeneity, and trust as a moderator, on SE in 22 countries. The results suggest that an increase in ethnic diversity within countries leads to a higher engagement in SE. Also it is found that inter-religious trust attenuates the negative relationship between religious diversity and SE.

Financial Influences on Export Status of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in an Emerging Economy

The purpose of this study is to understand financial and behavioural influences on the export status of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an emerging economy. In particular, we tested the direct effects of perceived costs, internal financial resources and external capital constraint on the export status of SMEs. We also tested the moderating effect of cost sensitivity on two types of perceived export costs. Survey data was collected from 356 SMEs in Malaysia and analysed using logistic regression. The results show that exporters perceive higher ongoing costs but lower initiation costs of exporting. They also perceive higher internal financial resources, fewer constraints in accessing external capital and are more sensitive towards costs compared to non-exporters. Furthermore, we found that cost sensitivity moderates the relationship between perceived costs and export status.

The role of competitive strategies on export market selection by SMEs in an emerging economy

The study examines the relationship between competitive strategies and export market selection by small and medium-sized exporters in an emerging economy. Drawing from the literature on comparative advantages of exporters from developing countries and demand characteristics in export markets, hypotheses are constructed on how cost leadership, differentiation and focus strategies are associated with exports to developed and developing countries. Survey data from 214 manufacturing SME exporters in Malaysia is used to empirically examine the relationships using ordinary least squares regression. The results suggest that cost strategies are positively associated with exports to developed countries but not developing countries. Differentiation strategies show the opposite effect, cost strategies and focus strategies are negatively associated with exports to both types of markets. This study contributes by demonstrating that competitive strategies act as a firm-level factor influencing export market selection. Implications and limitations of the study are presented.

Do Competitive Advantages in the Local Market Encourage Firms to Export

Trade liberalization offers exporting opportunities for firms around the world. However, little is known if firms export as a strategy for leveraging their competitive advantages in the local market into the international level. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of competitive advantages in the local market on the export intention of manufacturing-based small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in an emerging economy. In particular, we test hypotheses on generic competitive advantages of cost, differentiation, focus, and integrated advantages on a sample of 140 SMEs in Malaysia. Using OLS regression, the results depict that differentiation, focus and integrated differentiation-focus advantages encourage firms to export. However, cost advantage does not significantly affect the export intention, while integrated cost-focus advantage holds firms back from going abroad. This study contributes by defining the types of competitive advantages in the local market that encourage domestic firms in developing countries to initiate exporting.