Governance Mechanisms Drive SME Export Performance Via Competitive Advantage

This paper provides novel empirical evidence that scrutinises how control systems and trust, as governance mechanisms, contribute to SME export performance when they use international business networks. Drawing on the arguments about a positive relationship between them, we propose of an integrative...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Vélez Elorza, María Luisa, Sánchez Vázquez, José Manuel, Flórez, Raquel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Cádiz
Repositorio:RODIN. Repositorio de Objetos de Docencia e Investigación de la Universidad de Cádiz
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:rodin_______::a7be1c427863ce742d5e785994185809
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10498/32856
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Governance Mechanisms
SME
Export Performance
Competitive Advantage
Descripción
Sumario:This paper provides novel empirical evidence that scrutinises how control systems and trust, as governance mechanisms, contribute to SME export performance when they use international business networks. Drawing on the arguments about a positive relationship between them, we propose of an integrative model about their direct and indirect effect on performance through competitive advantage. This model is tested using a sample of 193 Spanish export ventures. The results single out mutual trust as a source of competitive advantage and a key driver of export performance. Besides, having output controls in place increases trust, and indirectly impacts export performance through trust mediation. These findings claim that trust is an exclusive, inimitable resource that allows SMEs to effectively orchestrate their relationship with their intermediaries and the role of output controls as an essential mechanism to build trust and support trust´s effect on performance.