Alexandra França

Strategic Determinants of SME Export Performance: The Mediating Effect of Competitive Strategy

How to manage firms’ resources and capabilities to sustain competitive advantages remains an intriguing research inquiry of strategic management science. With its focus on the context of small firm internationalisation, this study assesses the important contribution of strategic determinants that influence export performance, considering the mediating effect of competitive strategy.

Key drivers of SMEs export performance: the mediating effect of competitive advantage

With its focus on the context of small firm internationalization, this paper aims to assess the important contribution of strategic determinants that influence export performance (EP), considering the mediating effect of competitive strategy.,Based on survey data from 247 Portuguese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) exporting textiles, members of the Portugal’s Textile Association (ATP), this research adopted a quantitative methodological approach, conducting an exploratory and transversal empirical study.,The paper finds suggest that entrepreneurial orientation (EO) has a positive and significant influence on differentiation and EP. Moreover, the results also highlight the role of intangible resources (IR) in the design of both differentiation and cost leadership strategies, which drives EP. Finally, absorptive capabilities (ACAPs) are highly related with EP.,The paper provides empirical evidence that EO, IR and ACAPs are predictors of competitive strategies and EP. Moreover, and alongside with firm’s resources, this study validates that competitive strategy does matters for small firm managers and the development of one type of competitive advantage is also a major performance enhancer.,This study provides fresh insights into entrepreneurship and strategic management literature, as it considers the importance of multiple factors to SMEs business growth. Moreover, this paper presents empirical evidences of the strategies that small firm managers should pursue and policy makers should support. Finally, this is an original study applied to the Portuguese textile industry.

Linking entrepreneurial orientation to brand reputation

The relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and firm performance has a broad scholarly acceptance. However, scant evidence is available on how EO influences other variables, namely intangible assets. In this vein and in light of the resource-based approach, we hypothesise a positive relationship between EO and brand reputation. Based on survey data from 42 Portuguese small and medium enterprises (SMEs), we find empirical support that globally EO has a positive and significant influence on brand reputation, and that the EOs dimension that most contribute is innovativeness. Overall, this study provides novel insights into EO and reputational resources literature.