Purpose - This study aims to examine the causes of SME’ disinclination towards subcontracting in public sector markets. Previous studies have revealed that UK SMEs are reluctant to do business with the public sector through the subcontracting route, but the reasons for this lack of enthusiasm have not been widely researched.
Design/methodology/approach- Drawing on semi-structured interviews with SMEs competing for public contracts in North West England, a qualitative study was performed, from which several themes emerged.
Findings- The findings were synthesised into a framework underpinned by attribution theory, to portray situationally and dispositionally caused factors which were used to interpret SMEs behaviour.
Originality- The paper contributes in a unique way to an emerging discourse on how subcontracting can facilitate the access of SMEs to government procurement spending. It adds to knowledge regarding the explanatory power of attribution theory– from its base in social psychology
