Orlando Lima Rua

Linking intangible resources and export performance: The role of entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capabilities

This research draws upon the resource-based view and the dynamic capabilities view’s premise that a firm’s resources and capabilities determine competitive advantage. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to develop and test a model entailing simultaneously the impact of intangible resources; and dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial orientation on export performance.,Therefore, the authors developed a study based on a survey of 265 Portuguese exporting companies. Data were submitted to a multivariate statistical analysis and a linear regression model was applied in order to predict the influence of the intangible resources on export performance. The structural equations model was used for this purpose.,The results show that export performance is directly impacted by dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial orientation. However, intangible resources do not have a significant direct impact on entrepreneurial orientation; they do have an indirect effect through the mediation of dynamic capabilities. These findings highlight the catalyst role of dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial orientation, leveraging the role of intangible resources as antecedents of export performance. These findings are valuable inputs for exporting managers and public entities.,While previous authors have attempted to analyse certain aspects of this process (linkage between intangible resources and export performance), this research developed a framework that combines these ones with entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capabilities.

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.

Intangible Resources, Absorptive Capabilities, Innovation and Export Performance: Exploring the Linkage

The main goal of this study is to analyse the influence of intangible resources and absorptive capabilities on export performance, considering the mediating effect of innovation. Based on survey data from 247 Portuguese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) findings suggest that: (1) Intangible resources has a positive influence on absorptive capabilities, innovation and on export performance; (2) Absorptive capabilities has a positive influence on innovation and on export performance; (3) Innovation has a positive influence on export performance; and (4) Innovation has a mediating effect on the relationship between intangible resources and export performance, the same does happens on the relationship between absorptive capabilities and export performance. This study provides novel insights into strategic management literature by trying to understand the SMEs business growth. Moreover, this paper presents further evidences of the strategies that small firm managers should pursue and policy makers should promote.

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.