ABSTRACT
It is generally accepted that open and competitive markets are necessary to ensure economic growth and that the decision-making process of foreign investment involves 'an intricate structure of attitudes and opinion, social relationships both in and outside the firm, and the way such attitudes, opinions and social relationships are changing'. Therefore, the aim of the research is to explore the characteristics of Italian companies with increasing revenues during COVID-19 to explain if a higher level of innovation affects the survival/adaptability, as well as performance in terms of internationalisation. Based on a review of OECD data on business dynamism that highlights changes in economies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the hypothesis is tested with a survey of a sample of 100 Italian SMEs. The results confirm that innovation investments helped maximise revenues in the pandemic period, thanks to foreign investments.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study examines the impact of raising the ceiling value of Electronic Commerce Custom Declarations (ECCD) on Turkey's export performance processed via ECCD during the COVID-19 period. Design/methodology/approach: This paper examines the impact of the pandemic conditions on Cross-Border Electronic Commerce (ECCD) exports from Turkey to 47 countries over 42 months before and during the pandemic. An empirical analysis using the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) and Mean Group (MG), Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach was conducted to identify the factors affecting export flows. Findings: The findings suggest that raising the ceiling of the ECCD trade is a vital factor in increasing exports. and this result is robust after controlling for pandemic conditions. On the other hand, although the COVID-19 shock mitigates the export volume of ECCD in the short run, it changes by reversal and increases the export level in the long run. Additionally, the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Turkey have a significant and negative impact on export flows in the short run, while they have a positive and significant effect in the long run. Practical implications: The results of this study have practical implications for policymakers, emphasizing the potential and significance of Cross-Border E-Commerce (CBEC) trade. Originality/value: The study is a pioneering effort in the literature of CBEC to explore how changes in the upper limit on customs declarations can affect export flows, taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.
ABSTRACT
Globalization has made exports an important activity for several companies including the growing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This is observed in the wood craft SMEs which is one of the main pillars supporting the Balinese economy when the tourism sector experienced a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to note that innovation capability is a special asset for SME to increase exports, especially when the products have value and advantages. Therefore, this study analyzed value creation through the adoption of the Service-Dominant Logic (SDL) theory which was manifested in the aesthetic-utilitarian value variable. The study population includes all the 242 woodcraft SMEs in Bali while the samples were selected using the census method and the data obtained were analyzed through the partial least squares technique. The results showed that innovation capability has a positive effect on export performance, aesthetic-utilitarian value, and positional advantage. Moreover, aesthetic-utilitarian value and positional advantage were discovered to have a positive influence on export performance and also partially mediated the relationship between innovation capability and export performance. This implies SMEs need to develop high innovation capabilities to ensure their products are superior to those of their competitors. Furthermore, the value offered also needs to be unique and in line with customer needs. © 2023 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved. © 2023 by the authors;licensee Growing Science, Canada.
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PurposeThis study investigates to what extent strategic flexibility of international strategic alliances (ISAs) affects export performance of emerging market small and medium-sized enterprises (ESMEs) via international marketing capability in crises. It also examines whether these ESMEs' adoption of digital technology strengthens the impact of strategic flexibility of ISAs on international marketing capability.Design/methodology/approachBased on the international alliance and dynamic capability perspectives on strategic flexibility, the authors develop a conceptual model and empirically examine the mediation and moderation effects between strategic flexibility of ISAs, international marketing capability, export performance and adoption of digital technology. The authors collected survey data from 129 ESMEs located in Pakistan between May 2021 and August 2021 and tested the conceptual model with hierarchical-moderated regression analysis.FindingsThe findings suggest that strategic flexibility of ISAs positively impacts on export performance of ESMEs in crises. Moreover, the authors found that international marketing significantly mediates the relationship between strategic flexibility of ISAs and export performance of ESMEs. Also, the adoption of digital technologies significantly moderates the relationship between strategic flexibility of ISAs positively and international marketing capability.Originality/valueThe authors take strategic flexibility of ISAs in the context of the emerging market and how ESMEs enhance export performance in a time of crisis, which extends the prior ESMEs' international marketing strategy and crisis management literature. In particular, the authors show that strategic flexibility of ISAs is a vital dynamic capability to enhance export performance of ESMEs via international marketing capability and adoption of digital technologies.
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Purpose This article illustrates how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging market exporting firms can adopt differentiation strategies using composition-based capabilities, which, in turn, will enable them to strengthen their images and market shares, i.e. their strategic marketing performance in advanced markets. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on survey data obtained from 86 Pakistani firms exporting to advanced economies. Findings The study found that compositional collaboration capabilities positively influence the differentiation strategies and strategic marketing performance of emerging market exporting firms conducting business in advanced host markets. Furthermore, the findings indicate that differentiation strategies mediate the influence of compositional collaboration capabilities on the strategic marketing performance of these firms. Originality/value By taking a new compositional based theoretical perspective, this study examined the underexplored phenomenon of how emerging market firms can differentiate their offerings in advanced export markets in order to achieve a better strategic performance during external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that export growth is a strategic priority for many emerging markets, including Pakistan, due to their substantial trade deficits, this study provides important contributions from both the theoretical and practical perspectives.
ABSTRACT
Services export plays a significant role in the world economy and benefits businesses and countries. In the service sector, higher education service has become vital for countries’ economic sustainability. The flux of international students has created global business opportunities and trade networks. However, past studies have largely focused on exports within the manufacturing industry rather than service exports, particularly on the inward export service industry. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between business technology strategy, cultural sensitivity, and export performance in the higher education service industry. Data were collected from directors of international offices of 137 Malaysian higher education institutions. PLS-SEM was used for data analysis using the SmartPLS 3.2.8 software. The findings reveal that business technology strategy is positively related to cultural sensitivity and inward export performance. Furthermore, the study found that business technology strategy mediates the relationship between cultural sensitivity and inward export performance. The findings can help researchers in understanding factors that influence the inward export performance of higher education institutions. Since business technology strategy plays a mediating role in the inward export performance of higher education, this study recommends that Malaysian higher education institutions (HEIs) are equipped with the latest education-related technologies in order to increase their internationalization performance.
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Purpose - This study carried out an empirical study of the impact of sustainability - which has been gaining attention as challenges are arising in supply chains based on existing trade networks due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic - on SCM performance and financial performance of Korean SMEs. The study seeks to propose a measurement model to enhance the SCM performance and financial performance of Korean SMEs and to identify the relationship between sustainability, SCM performance and financial performance to suggest implications to SMEs, governments, and relevant organizations. Design/methodology - Our Analysis established hypotheses that economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and other factors related to sustainability have a positive impact on SCM performance and financial performance as well as SCM performance has a positive impact on financial performance, making empirical validations by utilizing Structural Equation Modeling based on data collected through survey from Korean SMEs. Findings - According to an empirical study, although environmental sustainability and economic sustainability among factors of sustainability had a positive influence on SCM performance, social sustainability did not have a statistically significant influence. Furthermore, it was learned that only economic sustainability had a positive influence on financial performance while SCM performance has a positive influence on financial performance. Originality/value - This empirical study explored the relationship between SCM performance and financial performance of Korean SMEs with a high tendency to depend on specific supply chains when the international trade network is in confusion and/or the global supply chain has collapsed. If Korean SMEs allocate management resources to the factors deducted from this study, they would be able to build more efficient supply chains and improve financial performance to improve sustainability.