Social capital and business model innovation in SMEs: do organizational learning capabilities and entrepreneurial orientation really matter?

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-212
Author(s):  
Samar Hayat Khan ◽  
Abdul Majid ◽  
Muhammad Yasir ◽  
Asad Javed

PurposeThis research aims to concentrate on the important concern that how social capital (SC) influences business model innovation (BMI) in the course of the mediating role of organizational learning capabilities (OLC) and the moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation (EO). In the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), this study empirically tested a theoretical model of BMI to advocate a mechanism for the analysis of its significant determinants.Design/methodology/approachIn order to achieve the objective of the research, survey method was utilized, and data were collected from 521 CEOs, MDs and the owners of ICT sector SMEs. Correlation, causal step approach and regression analysis were used to test the proposed model.FindingsFinding of the research advocates that OLC mediate the relationship between SC and BMI. In addition, stronger EO augments the association between OLC and BMI.Practical implicationsThe study adds to the literature by providing insights regarding the impact of SC, OLC and EO on BMI of small firms.Originality/valueThis research enriches the existing knowledge by testing a mediating role of OLC between SC-BMI link and, therefore, makes an important addition to the existing knowledge in the context of SMEs by concentrating on the relationship between SC, OLC, BMI and EO.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1153-1183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarra Berraies ◽  
Rym Lajili ◽  
Rached Chtioui

PurposeThe objective of this research is to examine the mediating role of employees' well-being in the workplace in the relationship between the dimensions of social capital, namely structural, relational and cognitive social capital and knowledge sharing, as well as the moderating role of enterprise social networks between knowledge sharing and employees' well-being.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach was performed within a sample of 168 middle managers working in knowledge-intensive firms in Tunisia. The Partial Least Squares method was used to analyze the data collected.FindingsResults highlight the importance of the dimensions of social capital as a lever for boosting knowledge sharing. It also reveals that employees' well-being plays a mediating role in the link between structural and relational social capital and knowledge sharing. Moreover, findings show that while enterprise social networks use does not moderate the relationship between employees' well-being and knowledge sharing, it has a positive and significant effect on knowledge sharing.Originality/valueOn the basis of a socio-technical perspective of knowledge management, this research pioneers the examination of the mediating effect of employees' well-being in the link between dimensions of social capital and knowledge sharing and the moderating role of enterprise social networks use within knowledge-intensive firms. Findings of this study may help managers of knowledge-intensive firms in boosting knowledge sharing within organizations, in improving knowledge workers' well-being and thus in motivating and retaining these talented employees.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 829-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Okello Candiya Bongomin ◽  
John C. Munene ◽  
Joseph Mpeera Ntayi ◽  
Charles Akol Malinga

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to establish the mediating role of social capital in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Design/methodology/approach The current study used cross-sectional research design and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data for this study. The study applied structural equation modeling through bootstrap approach in AMOS to establish the mediating role of social capital in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion. Findings The results indicated that social capital significantly mediates the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Therefore, it can be deduced that social capital among the poor play an important role in promoting financial intermediation for improved financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Research limitations/implications Although the sample was large, it may not be generalized to other segments of the population. Data were collected from only poor households located in rural Uganda. Besides, the study was cross-sectional, thus, limiting efforts in investigating certain characteristics of the sample over time. Perhaps future studies could adopt the use of longitudinal research design. Practical implications Financial institutions such as banks should rely on social capital as a substitute for physical collateral in order to promote financial inclusion, especially among the poor in rural Uganda. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence on phenomenon not studied in rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa where the poor use social capital embedded in customs and norms for doing business. The results highlight the importance of social capital in mediating the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaynab Dadzie ◽  
Ahmed Agyapong ◽  
Abdulai Suglo

Purpose This study aims to examine the mediating role of internationalization in the relationship between the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and performance, empirical study of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in a developing nation. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a sample of 158 exporting SMEs based in the sub-Saharan developing economy, Ghana. The use of hierarchical regression (ordinary least square analysis) was used by the researcher to assess the suggested model of the study. Findings Largely supporting the conjectural predictions, the study indicates that EO positively and significantly influences performance; internationalization fully mediates the relationship between innovativeness and performance of export firms; internationalization fully mediates the relationship between risk-taking and performance of export firms; and finally, internationalization partially mediates the relationship between competitive aggressiveness and performance of export firms. Managers are, therefore, encouraged to strategically develop both their EO and internationalization, as the study has confirmed that EO has both a direct and indirect relationship with performance. Originality/value This study integrated a resource-based view of the firm and international entrepreneurship theory as a theoretical foundation. Theoretically, internationalization’s mediating role reveals the relevance of this construct in the linkage between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance. Furthermore, the study extends the entrepreneurial orientation concept to the international business literature by estimating and testing models of the mediating link between entrepreneurial orientation and performance. Moreover, the study seeks to broaden the knowledge of entrepreneurial orientation and its relationship with performance in small and medium businesses. The study further extends the limited studies on performance, driven by entrepreneurial orientation and internationalization in a developing nation (Ghanaian) context. This paper besides seeks to highlight the impact of entrepreneurial orientation on performance when channeled through internationalization. The study also reveals the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation to be important antecedents of internationalization, in attempts at unearthing the critical predictors of firm performance, especially those of international characteristics.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasimu Sendawula ◽  
Muhammed Ngoma ◽  
Juma Bananuka ◽  
Saadat Nakyejwe Lubowa Kimuli ◽  
Frank Kabuye

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to establish the mediation role of organizational learning in the relationship between business networking and internationalization of manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using evidence from Uganda.Design/methodology/approachThis study is cross sectional and correlational. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 96 manufacturing SMEs. Data were analyzed through correlation coefficients, hierarchical regression and mediation analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and MedGraph - Excel Version.FindingsFindings indicate that organizational learning partially mediates the relationship between business networking and internationalization of SMEs. Results further reveal that business networking and organizational learning significantly predict internationalization of SMEs.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the already existing literature on internationalization of SMEs as it provides initial empirical evidence on the mediating role of organizational learning in the relationship between business networking and internationalization of SMEs using evidence from a developing country – Uganda.


2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 728-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele Filieri ◽  
Salma Alguezaui

Purpose – This paper aims to address the gap that, to date, no systematic review has been carried out on the role that structural social capital (SC) plays for knowledge transfer and innovation at the interpersonal, inter-unit and inter-firm levels. Individuals and organisations are becoming increasingly involved in collaboration networks to share knowledge and generate innovation. SC theory has been adopted in several areas of study to explain how individuals, groups and organisations manage relationships to generate innovation. Design/methodology/approach – This review covers studies of SC in organisational behaviour, strategy and management over a period of 20 years. Findings – The literature review shows that knowledge types and knowledge transfer processes are the missing links in the relationship between structural SC and innovation. Moreover, the paper demonstrates that seemingly opposite configurations of SC are complementary to each other (structural holes vs dense networks; strong vs weak ties) and that contextual factors should be considered when discussing the effects of SC on knowledge transfer and innovation. In addition, it is the balance of different configurations of SC which enables an individual or a company to explore, access, assimilate and combine different knowledge types, which will lead to improved innovation outcomes. Originality/value – This review facilitates understanding of the role of SC for knowledge transfer processes and the mediating role of knowledge transfer processes and knowledge types in the relationship between structural SC and innovation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-175
Author(s):  
Ramatu Abdulkareem Abubakar

While a considerable amount of research has consistently established significant positive relations between entrepreneurial orientation and small and medium enterprises’ performance, there is a paucity of research examining the fundamental processes behind this relationship. To address this theoretical gap in the literature, this study examined the mediating role of organizational learning in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and SME performance. Based on survey data collected from 193 SMEs, located in Kano metropolis, findings suggested that entrepreneurial orientation was significantly associated with SME performance. Furthermore, the results indicated that the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and SME performance was mediated by organizational learning. The implications of the results for explaining the performance of SMEs are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samar Hayat Khan ◽  
Abdul Majid ◽  
Muhammad Yasir

PurposeThis research was carried out with the purpose to empirically test the model to explain the procedures concerned with the translation of social capital (SC) into strategic renewal (SR) of SMEs in developing economy like Pakistan. This procedure involves the mediating role of firms' strategic agility (SA) as well as the contingent effects of firms' absorptive capacity (AC).Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a cross-sectional design to evaluate the hypothesized model. To validate the moderated mediation model, data was collected from 519 CEOs, owners, finance managers and managing directors of 123 manufacturing units dealing in agricultural machinery (32 units), automobile accessories (16 units), pharmaceutical instrument (11 units), electrical equipment (25 units), IT related accessories (21 units) and garments (18 units).FindingsThe findings of the study confirm a positive association between SC on SR. Moreover, results also validate the mediating role of SA in the relationship between SC and SR. In addition, the moderating role of AC is also confirmed and presented this construct as a catalyst in the relationship between SC and SR.Practical implicationsThis research provides new endeavors for strategic management and strategic entrepreneurship literature by focusing on distinctive resources such as SC with its different facets. Therefore, it provides a new dimension and a roadmap that will be beneficial to the achievement of the objectives of SR.Originality/valueThe findings of this research have contributed to the streams of strategic management perspective by emphasizing upon the mediating mechanism how SC can be transformed into SR of SMEs through SA. Findings of the research also contribute to understand the moderating role of AC, and how its association with SC and SA augments the effects on SR of firms.


Technovation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 102325
Author(s):  
José Luis Ferreras-Méndez ◽  
Julia Olmos-Peñuela ◽  
Andrés Salas-Vallina ◽  
Joaquín Alegre

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