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Entrepreneurial competencies and SMEs’ growth: the mediating role of network competence

Entrepreneurial competencies and SMEs’ growth: the mediating role of network competence The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, to examine the influence of two dimensions of entrepreneurial competencies, namely, strategic competency and ethical competency on the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs); and second, to explore the role of network competence as a mediator among these understudied variables.Design/methodology/approachThe data for this study were collected from wholesale and retail-based SMEs in Malaysia through a standard structured questionnaire. PLS–SEM approach was utilised to analyse the data.FindingsAlthough the findings did not reveal a direct effect of strategic and ethical competencies of entrepreneurs on SMEs’ growth, these competences, however, were found to be influential in driving their growth when network competence was used as a mediator.Originality/valueThe existence of a mediation effect between strategic and ethical competencies and SMEs’ growth via network competence has provided insights which add new knowledge to the extant entrepreneurship and SMEs’ performance literature. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration Emerald Publishing

Entrepreneurial competencies and SMEs’ growth: the mediating role of network competence

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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
1757-4323
DOI
10.1108/apjba-05-2018-0084
Publisher site
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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, to examine the influence of two dimensions of entrepreneurial competencies, namely, strategic competency and ethical competency on the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs); and second, to explore the role of network competence as a mediator among these understudied variables.Design/methodology/approachThe data for this study were collected from wholesale and retail-based SMEs in Malaysia through a standard structured questionnaire. PLS–SEM approach was utilised to analyse the data.FindingsAlthough the findings did not reveal a direct effect of strategic and ethical competencies of entrepreneurs on SMEs’ growth, these competences, however, were found to be influential in driving their growth when network competence was used as a mediator.Originality/valueThe existence of a mediation effect between strategic and ethical competencies and SMEs’ growth via network competence has provided insights which add new knowledge to the extant entrepreneurship and SMEs’ performance literature.

Journal

Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration – Emerald Publishing

Published: Feb 18, 2019

Keywords: Network competence; Entrepreneurial competencies; Ethical competence; SMEs’ growth; Strategic competence

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