Industry-Versus Firm-specific Effects on Performance:: Contrasting SMEs and Large-sized Firms

Abstract

The present study contrasts the impact of industry- and firm-specific factors on the profitability of business firms using survey and census data on a sample of Greek manufacturing firms. Industry effects are represented using industry concentration, product differentiation, and stage of life cycle. Firm factors include assets and dynamic capabilities. These assets are related to marketing, production, technology, and finance. While dynamic capabilities are related to the managerial processes of coordination/integration, learning, and the capacity to change. The results obtained provide strong evidence that firm factors exert a much stronger impact than industry, in both SMEs and large enterprises. The results also offer important insights on the differential impact of specific determinants of profitability between SMEs and large firms.Industry effects Firm-specific effects Firm profitability Firm size