Trust, Commitment and Competitive Advantage in SMEs Export Performance

Md Daud  Ismail; Syed Shah  Alam; Roshayati bt Abdul  Hamid

Md Daud Ismail Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Syed Shah Alam Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Roshayati bt Abdul Hamid Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Keywords: Competitive Advantage, Commitment, Export Performance, Inter-organizational Relationship, Trust, SMEs

Abstract

The entry of small businesses into international markets has intensified. However, despite the growing presence of small businesses in international markets, studies into their international behavior, particularly regarding the effect of international relationships on international outcomes, remain limited. This study investigates the cross-border relationships of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by examining the effects of the dimensions of the key relationship on the competitive advantage and performance of SMEs in export markets. These dimensions include trust and commitment. Results indicate that trust is significantly related to commitment and export performance. Commitment is positively related to competitive advantage but not to export performance. Trust affects competitive advantage through commitment. The effect of commitment on export performance is mediated by competitive advantage. The methodology and results are presented. The conclusion, implications, and limitations of this study are also discussed.

Author Biographies

Md Daud Ismail, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Scopus Author ID: 55930343500.

An Associate Professor at School of Management Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. He earned his Ph.D. (2011) in International Business, from Monash University, Australia; his MBA (2001) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia; and his Bachelor Degree (1996) in Business [Economics], from Oklahoma City University, USA. His research area are Entrepreneurship, Export Performance, Internationalization, Learning Organization, Small and Medium Enterprises. He has 16 articles published at national and international journals (from 2006-2016). He has written several papers that were presented at seminars and conferences.

Author contact detail: School of Management, Faculty of Economic and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Telephone (Office): +6 03 89214935/5747; e-mai: mddaud@ukm.edu.my.

Syed Shah Alam, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Scopus Author ID: Author ID: 26532406300 (https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=26532406300)

Associate Professor at School of Managmenet Faculty of Economic and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. He earned his Ph.D. (2005) in Electronic Commerce, from Multimedia University Malaysia. He earned his M. Com. (1988) in Management, and M.Com. (1987) in Marketing, and his M.Com. (1995) in Finance and Banking, from Rajshahi University, Bangladesh. His field of specialization are Marketing Research/Business Research, Marketing Management, International Marketing, Business Communication, Internet Marketing, and Electronic Commerce. He published more than 70 papers into international journals, and attended more than 15 international conferences. He has written four books published by Pearson and McGraw Hill -Kuala Lumpur-Malaysia, and University Publishing Center, UiTM, Shah (in 2009-2010).

Author contact detail: School of Management, Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor; phone: 03-8921 3724 (Office), 019-2614919 (cellular phone); e-mail: shahalam@ ukm.edu.my.

Roshayati bt Abdul Hamid, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Senior Lecturer at School of Management, Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. She earned her D.B.A. (2013) and M.B.A. (2006) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Her interest study area are Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Organizational Behavior, Business Research, Business Communication. She has publication 18 articles at some journals and proceedings from 2009-2016.

Author contact detail: School of Management, Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor; phone: (603) 89215932 and 017 2125506 (mobile); e-mail: wanrose@ukm.edu.my.

References

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