Impact of network competence on firm's performances among Chinese and Indian entrepreneurs: A multigroup analysis

The aim of the current study was to analyse and compare the impact of network competence on four types of firms’ performances-perceived financial performance, perceived non-financial performance, perceived business growth and perceived performance relative to competitors-among Malaysian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) run by Chinese and Indian entrepreneurs. A total of 200 retailers and wholesale owners in Klang Valley, Malaysia participated in a face-to-face survey. The collected data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and multigroup analysis was performed to test the hypotheses developed. Findings revealed network competence to have a positive impact on all four types of firms’ performances among Chinese entrepreneurs. However, for Indian entrepreneurs, network competence was found to have a positive impact only on perceived financial performance and perceived performance relative to competitors. A significant difference was also found between Chinese and Indian entrepreneurs regarding the impact of network competence on perceived business growth

Entrepreneurial intentions among University’s students in Malaysia

The issue of employability is rising year by year, and Malaysia is also taking it as a serious challenge. The Malaysian government has carried out various initiatives to address the issue of employability; conversely, one of them was successfully promoting the development of entrepreneurship by increasing entrepreneurial courses for instance. The intention was to increase the entrepreneurial intentions amongst university's students to create job opportunities for themselves which could lead to a boost for a developing nation's economy as well. However, the government's initiatives did not succeed as they were expected. The main reason for it ending as a flopped plan was due to failing to identify an individual's intentions. Therefore, the primary purpose of this research is to inspect the Malaysian universities student's intention of being an entrepreneur because, without intention, they might not even consider the option of initiating their own business. This research adapted and integrated the two most common models of examining the entrepreneurial intention, i.e, Theory of Planned Behaviour ('TPB') by Ajzen and Shapero and Sokol's model of an Entrepreneurial Event ('SEE'). This is a quantitative study and a total of 160 students from different Malaysian universities were surveyed using non-probability sampling techniques and by a well-established instrument with the standardized questionnaire, to examine hypothesized relationships. SPSS was used for analyzing the demographic profile and SMART-PLS was utilized for testing the developed hypotheses. The results show that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control positively affect the perceived desirability as well as perceived feasibility. Moreover, perceived desirability and perceived feasibility are also positively associated with an entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, perceived desirability is found as a mediator for the relationship among predictors of entrepreneurial intention but perceived feasibility fails to mediate the association of subjective norm and entrepreneurial intention. By understanding the background of university student's intentions towards entrepreneurship, the Malaysian government and organizations can better present themselves in formulating better initiatives to stimulate and encourage youth to have entrepreneurial intentions in order to initiate their own business. This study also offers some useful managerial implications using the advanced technique of IPM to enhance the H1 H2 H3 H6 H5 H4 H7 H8 performance of critical factors that contribute towards entrepreneurial intentions

HRM practices for knowledge management and retail firms’ performances: a comparative study among Malay and Chinese firms

The current study examines the impact of human resource management (HRM) practices for knowledge management (KM) on perceived business performances among Malay and Chinese firms in Malaysia. Data were collected through a face-to-face survey with 200 owners of firms, comprising 100 Malay entrepreneurs and 100 Chinese entrepreneurs, operating in the retail sector of Klang Valley, Malaysia. Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Multi-Group Analysis (MGA). The results of PLSSEM revealed that HRM practices for KM have a direct and positive impact on the perceived financial performance, perceived non-financial performance, and perceived business growth of Malay and Chinese firms. However, non-significant impact of HRM practices for KM on perceived performance relative to competitors was found among Chinese firms. Results of MGA revealed significant differences between Malay and Chinese firms in relation to the impact of HRM practices for KM on perceived financial performance and perceived performance relative to competitors

Assessing perceived business success as a reflective-formative (Type II) second-order construct using PLS-SEM approach

This paper describes the process of validating “business success”as a reflective-formative construct using the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLSSEM) approach. This second-order latent variable has been operationalized with four dimensions, namely perceived financial performance, perceived non-financial performance, perceived business growth and perceived performance relative to competitors. These dimensions do not share a common theme and are distinctly different. Moreover, business success is a phenomenon that occurs with the presence of these constructs. In other words, it is formed by these constructs, thus, it should be measured as a Type II reflective-formative second-order construct. This paper has established the reflective-formative relationship among first-order and second-order constructs. We recommend considering and measuring business success as a reflective-formative second-order latent variable because the misspecification at second-order construct could cause drastic changes in R 2 values and in the values of path coefficients

A conceptual study on contingent impact of external integration on innovation SME business success relationship

It is widely acknowledged in the existing studies that innovation has the critical role in firms’ performances. Moreover, it has been acknowledged that innovative activities are the main sources of growth, survivability, and success for SMEs firms. In the setting of entrepreneurship, earlier studies have claimed that innovation is the integrated element of entrepreneurship. However, the existing studies have also revealed inconsistent findings regarding the impacts of innovation on firm’s performances under various contexts. Thus, this study claims that there should be a moderator to facilitate the relationship between innovations and firm’s performances. Therefore, this study has introduced the external integration as a moderator to improve the relationship between types of innovations and firm’s performances. The main objective of the study is to identify the relationship between various types of innovations including process innovation, product innovation, marketing innovation, and organizational innovations and business success operationalized with four dimensions including perceived financial performance, perceived non-financial performance, perceived business growth, and perceived performance relative to competitors) under the moderating role of external integration. Three theories namely Strategic Contingency Theory (SCT), Resource Dependence Theory (RDT), and Resource Based View (RBV) have been integrated to develop the proposed theoretical framework. The recent literature has been taken to gather the information about the variables that helped current study to develop a theoretical frame work and then eight propositions have been developed based on proposed theoretical framework. The external integration as a moderator between innovations and business success is the main theoretical contribution of this study. Furthermore, limitations have been stated at the end and recommendations have been made for future research

A Study on the Factors Influencing Social Entrepreneurial Intention Among Undergraduates

This paper provides an insight on factors affecting the social entrepreneurial intention among undergraduates in Malaysia. Specifically, this paper emphasizes on external factors in influencing the Malaysian undergraduates' intention on becoming a social entrepreneur. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was used as an underpinning theory to support the proposed conceptual model. Quantitative research method was used in this study. The sample consisted of 600 respondents, which comprises of undergraduates of Malaysian private universities. Likert scale questionnaire were distributed to the respondents to complete. The collected data were analysed using SPSS software and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Based on the research findings within this paper, some of the external factors greatly affect an undergraduate's intention on becoming a social entrepreneur in the future. The stated external factors are opportunity recognition and access to finance. However, the other factor, social capital, was found that it did not influence an undergraduate's intention to become a social entrepreneur

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

Purpose 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/approach: The 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. Findings: Although 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/value: The 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

Composition-based view of the firm as a promising approach to studying small businesses

Paper aims Extant Literature based on the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm suggests that it can be used to study organizations of all types and sizes. In essence, the RBV argues that firms that possess rare, non-imitable, valuable, unique, and non-substitutable resources will outperform firms that do not possess such resources. This study questions the applicability of this assumption to smaller businesses, which are likely to have common resources readily available in the market rather than rare, non-imitable, non-substitutable, unique, or valuable resources. The purpose of this study is to discuss whether the composition-based view (CBV) of the firm offers a more promising approach than the RBV to studying small businesses. Originality This study is one of the first to tentatively suggest a change in theoretical approach when studying small businesses. Research method A structured critical review approach is taken. Main findings The findings reveal that the CBV offers a more promising and appropriate theoretical framework than the RBV for research on small businesses, whereas the RBV is better suited to research on larger firms. Implications for theory and practice Future studies can use RBV and CBV to study large and small businesses, respectively.Systematic review</p