TY - JOUR
T1 - The relationship between social interactions, trust, business network, external knowledge access and performance
T2 - a study of SMEs in Ghana
AU - Boateng, Henry
AU - Ampong, George Oppong Appiagyei
AU - Adam, Diyawu Rahman
AU - Ofori, Kwame Simpe
AU - Hinson, Robert Ebo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.
PY - 2022/10/24
Y1 - 2022/10/24
N2 - Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of social interaction ties, trust and business networks in the acquisition of foreign business knowledge and foreign institutional knowledge. It also assesses the effect of these types of knowledge on small and medium enterprises’ (SME) export performance. Furthermore, this study determines the moderating role of absorptive capacity in the relationship between foreign business knowledge, foreign institutional knowledge and export performance. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a survey research design using data from nontraditional SME exporters in Ghana. There were 257 respondents who were employees (managers/owners) of SMEs in Ghana. The model was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings: Social interaction ties, trust and business networks have a significant effect on the acquisition of foreign business knowledge and foreign institutional knowledge. Furthermore, foreign business knowledge and foreign institutional knowledge have a significant positive effect on export performance. The path between foreign business knowledge and export performance is also moderated by absorptive capacity. However, the moderating role of absorptive capacity in the relationship between foreign institutional knowledge and export performance is not significant. Originality: This study uses social capital to explain how SMEs acquire foreign business knowledge and foreign institutional knowledge, and how both affect SMEs’ export performance. Furthermore, it tests the moderating role of absorptive capacity in the relationship between foreign business knowledge, foreign institutional knowledge and export performance.
AB - Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of social interaction ties, trust and business networks in the acquisition of foreign business knowledge and foreign institutional knowledge. It also assesses the effect of these types of knowledge on small and medium enterprises’ (SME) export performance. Furthermore, this study determines the moderating role of absorptive capacity in the relationship between foreign business knowledge, foreign institutional knowledge and export performance. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a survey research design using data from nontraditional SME exporters in Ghana. There were 257 respondents who were employees (managers/owners) of SMEs in Ghana. The model was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings: Social interaction ties, trust and business networks have a significant effect on the acquisition of foreign business knowledge and foreign institutional knowledge. Furthermore, foreign business knowledge and foreign institutional knowledge have a significant positive effect on export performance. The path between foreign business knowledge and export performance is also moderated by absorptive capacity. However, the moderating role of absorptive capacity in the relationship between foreign institutional knowledge and export performance is not significant. Originality: This study uses social capital to explain how SMEs acquire foreign business knowledge and foreign institutional knowledge, and how both affect SMEs’ export performance. Furthermore, it tests the moderating role of absorptive capacity in the relationship between foreign business knowledge, foreign institutional knowledge and export performance.
KW - Export performance
KW - Foreign business knowledge
KW - Foreign institutional knowledge
KW - SMEs
KW - Social capital
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097954054&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/VJIKMS-05-2020-0088
DO - 10.1108/VJIKMS-05-2020-0088
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85097954054
SN - 2059-5891
VL - 52
SP - 633
EP - 649
JO - VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems
JF - VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems
IS - 5
ER -