• East Asian Journal of Business Economics (EAJBE)
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.17-26
• /
• 2022

Purpose - In this paper, we aim to analyze to what extent entrepreneurial orientation (EO) can help overcome Korean SMEs' liabilities of foreignness in overseas markets. In this end, we examined three sub-dimensions of EO (proactiveness, innovativeness, risk-taking) and examine their individual effects on NPD performance of exporting SMEs. Research design, data, and methodology - We collected survey questionnaires from Korean exporting SMEs that are certified with Inno-biz by the Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 26 and AMOS to create an integrated model. Result - As a result of the analysis, we found that proactiveness and innovativeness dimension of EO have positive effect on new product performance of exporting SMEs. Furthermore, technological uncertainty has negative moderating effect between innovativeness and new product performance of SMEs. Conclusion - While proactive attitude and innovativeness of EO positively affected the performance of new products of SMEs, the tendency to take risks and pursue opportunities with bold behaviors did not have a positive effect on NPD performance in foreign nations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Operations and Management Science Society Conference
• /
• 2008.10a
• /
• pp.464-486
• /
• 2008

Purpose. Electronic intermediaries (e-intermediaries) are gaining significance in international marketing with the rapid development of e-commerce. The goal of this study is to explain empirically what leads to a higher use of this relatively new exportation alternative. Relying on a resource-based view as our research foundation, we focus on information technology (IT) and non-IT factors as possible determinants. Further, this study brings arguments offered by transaction cost theorists to explain the other non-IT determinants. Methodology/Approach. Data are collected from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the electronic industry in Korea and the U.S to ensure generalizability. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression is utilized to analyze the data. Findings. This study raises new issues regarding a relatively new type of exporting channel, e-intermediary. Exporting is regarded as the most appropriate strategy for SMEs in international commerce. A number of SMEs stay away from exporting due to limited resources or lack of knowledge regarding foreign markets. The findings in this study should help SMEs use e-intermediaries more widely by developing appropriate IT-related resources (IT-related human and relationship assets) and dealing with non-IT factors (international competence, environmental uncertainty, and duration of relationship) effectively. Originality/Value/Contribution. This study illustrates the significant role of e-intermediaries, which may help SMEs to penetrate the global market effectively. Finding relevant sources in the global e-marketplace is a challenge for non-experienced users like SMEs. This study proposes e-intermediaries as an effective alternative for them. Another contribution of this study is to show how the use of indirect exporting channels, e-intermediaries, decrease costs in exporting transactions. This study suggests an e-intermediary as a hybrid exporting channel to balance risk and profit.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2022

The paper aims to examine the impact of exports on the growth of Vietnamese manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by exploring the information of 36,053 enterprises across 24 manufacturing sectors from the Vietnam Annual Enterprise Survey (VAES) in the period 2014-2019. To deal with the problem of variable variance, autocorrelation, and endogeneity of the model, the paper uses the OLS regression method with a strong standard error method and system GMM. Export participation by SMEs is positively associated with business growth in terms of sales and total assets, according to the findings. The GMM estimate shows that the rate of sales growth among exporters is 36.5 percent greater than that of non-exporting enterprises in the case of the sales growth measure. Exporters' average total asset growth rate is 19% greater than the rate estimated for non-exporting businesses. The study's findings indicate the need of adopting policies that promote SMEs in transition economies like Vietnam to engage in exporting activities. Furthermore, the findings show that financial assistance and suitable ownership would enable SMEs to take advantage of export opportunities to increase sales and total assets.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.107-120
• /
• 2015

This study compares own-brand exporting SMEs' utilization of various government-run exporting service programs that provided support in searching for overseas distributors, in overseas market research, and in marketing support. Researchers measure how important firms found each of these components of the program, as well as firms' satisfaction with these services, based on the type of product exported (industrial vs. consumer goods) and the level of economic development of the host countries (developed, newly industrialized, and developing.) A total of 245 own-brand exporting SMEs were surveyed and analyzed in this study. Results indicated that KOTRA was the most frequently used organization by the sample SMEs, regardless of the product type and the economic level of host countries. Industrial-goods exporting SMEs found support in searching for overseas distributors more important than consumer-goods exporting SMEs. SMEs exporting to developed countries considered overseas market research and marketing support and searching for overseas distributor programs more important than SMEs exporting to NIE or developing countries. In addition, industrial-goods exporting SMEs were more satisfied with the overseas market research and marketing support and searching for overseas distributor programs than consumer-goods exporting SMEs. However, there were no differences in satisfaction among firms based on the level of economic development of host countries. Several cases of significant correlations between the importance of and satisfaction with the utilization of government exporting service programs were found.

• International Commerce and Information Review
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.435-462
• /
• 2011

Increased attention has worldwide been given to exporting SMEs pursuing the rapid internationalization from their inception. In spite of the limited resources, exporting SMEs have entered in global markets successfully and then improve their internationalization performance. Nevertheless, there is little empirical research regarding internationalization in exporting SMEs, Using a survey of 317 exporting SMEs, this study designated organizational, entrepreneurial, environmental, and technological characteristics as determinants of internationalization performance as well as investigates empirically the relationships among the determinants of internationalization performance, export Support programs of the government, and internationalization performance. According to the results of the study, firstly, R&D capacity, globalization-orientation, international market environment, and technological characteristics (e.g. technological capacity and imitation) have significant effects on international performances. Finally, it is found that export support programs moderated the relationships between market information management, R&D capacity, management capacity, international market information, and technological capacity, and internationalization performance. Above results indicate that if exporting SMEs would not use export support programs effectively, they could not improve internationalization performance. As well, several implications for researchers and practitioners, limitation of this study and future direction were suggested.

• Korea Trade Review
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.175-203
• /
• 2017

This study examined the casual relationships among SMEs' market orientation, brand orientation, firm capabilities-technology and marketing capabilities, competitive advantage and financial performance in export markets based on the resource-based view. The data were collected from 286 cases of exporting SMEs. The results of path analysis indicated that market orientation of exporting SMEs increased technology and marketing capabilities. Market orientation directly increased both competitive advantage and financial performance in export markets. Brand orientation influenced technological capability and had indirect effects on both competitive advantage and financial performance through the firm capabilities. Based on the results, managerial implications and future research directions for exporting SMEs were provided.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.18 no.12
• /
• pp.15-29
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Due to an ever more interconnected global commercial environment, the role of SMEs from emerging markets has attracted considerable attention in business literature of late. Reinforced by strategic management theory, this study builds on aspects such as entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capabilities to construct and test a framework that focuses on exploring their associations with export performance. Research design, data and methodology: To contribute further towards a deeper understanding of these markets, the current study empirically tests a model using data collected from 225 exporting firms located throughout South Africa. Results: The results from the data analysis show that entrepreneurial orientation contributes significantly towards improving the performance of South African SMEs. Additionally, this study integrates three dynamic capabilities in the strategy-performance relationship to test their interacting effects on the correlation between entrepreneurial orientation and export performance. Further findings advocate support for relationship-based capabilities playing a moderating role between entrepreneurial orientation and the exporting performance of small and medium firms emanating from emerging markets. Conclusions: Findings provide substance to the argument that entrepreneurship, as a strategy-making process, leads to export performance in emerging nations. Especially, this study provides several suggestions as to how small and medium-sized organizations can develop their exporting performance based on the research findings.

• International Commerce and Information Review
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.341-366
• /
• 2013

The term, Mittelstand, has no exact english translation for the definition, but, today, Mittelstand refers to small and medium-sized enterprises(SME), mostly family-owned firms in Germany. The Mittelstand is called the backbone of the German economy because it drove the economic miracle after World War II. During the global recession and the euro zone's debt crisis in recent years, in which european businesses have faced the near-collapse of competitiveness particularly in manufacturing, the German exports are booming and exceeded exports of China in 2012. Most importantly, the Germany economic performance has been widely attributed to the strength of the Mittelstand. Many of countries, even some leading public companies are seeking to emulate the success of the Mittelstand. Investors evaluate that many of Germany's investable "hidden champions" are Mittelstand companies. The purpose of this study is to present some of answers to the following questions: Firstly, what makes the German Mittelstand so successful? Secondly, what does the success of the German Mittelstand mean for the Korean SMEs in global competitiveness? Thirdly, what Korean government has to do improve the global competitiveness of the Korean SMEs? Some discussions in this study mention the managerial implications for Korean exporting SMEs particularly in manufacturing. Several factors that account for the success of the German Mittelstand are technological excellence and the tradition of family-owned management, concentration on niche market and globalization, and institutional supports. There are some of important lessons to be learned from the German Mittelstand. If the purposes of Korean SMEs want to remain in the sustainable competitive advantage and withstand unforeseen economic turbulences in the future, they must be able to meet the followings: 1) Technology that meets the global standard or exceeding it 2) Competitiveness in price in the global market 3) Active involvement in the globalization process, utilizing various entry modes Innovative products at globally competitive price are a crucial point for Korean exporting SMEs to achieve their competitive edge over others in the target markets abroad. It is time for Korean SMEs to cultivate a core competence in manufacturing in order to position Korea as a global manufacturing hub with SMEs leading.

• Korea Trade Review
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.101-114
• /
• 2019

E-business enables SMEs to reduce transaction costs and maintain export competitiveness in rapidly changing overseas markets. It is required to raise the entrepreneurial awareness of e-business of exporting SMEs. This study examines the characteristics of enterprises that play an important role in the introduction and utilization of e-business by domestic export SMEs. It explores the mechanisms that search and exploit these opportunities in an entrepreneurial way, and examines the process leading to export performance. We conducted a survey for empirical analysis and analyzed the data from 316 companies using e-business in Korea. As a result, both the international entrepreneurial orientation and the IT competence tended to be significant for the perception of e-business entrepreneurs and showed a different pattern in terms of size of influence. In addition, cooperation and operation among e-business entrepreneurs' perceptions have a direct impact on the export performance of SMEs.

• Journal of Korea Trade
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.39-55
• /
• 2022

Purpose - This study empirically examines the effect of the Korean government export promotion program (EPP) on small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) export performance using firm-level data. Unlike most previous studies that investigated some specific samples of firms, this study analyzes a vast amount of SME data of the Korean Small and Medium Business Administration over the period 2005 to 2008. Design/methodology - An endogeneity problem arises when a firm's probability of being selected is correlated with the likelihood of successfully implementing EPPs. To control for the endogeneity of the EPPs in a relatively short-period sample, we employ 2-Stage Residual Inclusion (2SRI) RE-Tobit and bivariate Tobit procedure. Findings - Analyses show that Korean government EPPs have positive significant effects on SME exports. Empirical results also show that SME export activities are significantly encouraged by R&D investment and capital intensity, but not obviously by labor productivity. Originality/value - This study provides evidence that SME capital intensity, R&D investment, and the number of workers are significant determinants to SME exporting activities, whereas per worker labor cost and employee education are not. These results imply that even for SMEs, firm size is a major factor in promoting exporting activities.