IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i17p12998-d1227805.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Post-Crisis Sustainable Performance of Manufacturing SMEs: The Roles of Positive Orientation, Financial Slack, and External Networks

Author

Listed:
  • Andrew Chan

    (Department of Management, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Francis Cheng

    (College of Business, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Shuk-Ling Cheng

    (Department of Management, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

Abstract

This paper examines the roles of positive orientation, financial slack, and external networks in the sustainability of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) following the global financial crisis in 2008–2009. The financial crisis is a good example of sudden, unexpected external disruption, in which a firm’s resilience as well as sustainability is seriously tested. Using a sample of 207 manufacturing SMEs in Hong Kong, we tested the simultaneous effects of positive orientation, financial slack, and external networks on post-crisis firm performance through strategic change. Our findings show that positive orientation and external networks play an enabling role in strategic change, which in turn leads to high performance. The enabling role of financial slack is, however, not supported. The study also shows that positive orientation, financial slack, and external networks play a buffering role, which has direct and positive effects on performance. The results provide academics and practitioners with a new perspective of the underlying mechanism that sustains the firm performance of SMEs under a financial crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Chan & Francis Cheng & Shuk-Ling Cheng, 2023. "Post-Crisis Sustainable Performance of Manufacturing SMEs: The Roles of Positive Orientation, Financial Slack, and External Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:17:p:12998-:d:1227805
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/17/12998/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/17/12998/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marko Peric & Vanja Vitezic, 2016. "Impact of global economic crisis on firm growth," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Danny Miller & Peter H. Friesen, 1983. "Strategy‐making and environment: The third link," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 4(3), pages 221-235, July.
    3. Younsuk Park & Jaeun Shin & Taejong Kim, 2010. "Firm size, age, industrial networking, and growth: a case of the Korean manufacturing industry," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 153-168, September.
    4. Xiaoni Li & Pere Segarra Roca & Eleni Papaoikonomou, 2011. "SMEs’ responses to the financial and economic crisis and policy implications: an analysis of agricultural and furniture sectors in Catalonia, Spain," Policy Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(4), pages 397-412.
    5. Fischer, Manfred M. & Varga, Attila, 2002. "Technological Innovation and Interfirm Cooperation. An exploratory analysis using survey data from manufacturing firms in the metropolitan region of Vienna," MPRA Paper 77808, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Yacine Belghitar & Andrea Moro & Nemanja Radić, 2022. "When the rainy day is the worst hurricane ever: the effects of governmental policies on SMEs during COVID-19," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 943-961, February.
    7. Chiara Acciarini & Paolo Boccardelli & Mario Vitale, 2021. "Resilient companies in the time of Covid-19 pandemic: a case study approach," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(3), pages 336-351, June.
    8. Armstrong, J. Scott & Overton, Terry S., 1977. "Estimating Nonresponse Bias in Mail Surveys," MPRA Paper 81694, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Ozgen, Eren & Baron, Robert A., 2007. "Social sources of information in opportunity recognition: Effects of mentors, industry networks, and professional forums," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 174-192, March.
    10. Linlin Zheng & Yashi Dong & Jineng Chen & Yuyi Li & Wenzhuo Li & Miaolian Su, 2022. "Impact of Crisis on Sustainable Business Model Innovation—The Role of Technology Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-28, September.
    11. Chowdhury, Shamsud D. & Lang, James R., 1996. "Turnaround in small firms: An assessment of efficiency strategies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 169-178, June.
    12. Jane W. Lu & Paul W. Beamish, 2001. "The internationalization and performance of SMEs," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(6‐7), pages 565-586, June.
    13. Ding, Amy Wenxuan & Li, Shibo, 2021. "National response strategies and marketing innovations during the COVID-19 pandemic," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 64(2), pages 295-306.
    14. Ling Jin & Jun Hyeok Choi & Saerona Kim & Kwanghee Cho, 2022. "Slack Resources, Corporate Performance, and COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-21, November.
    15. Choonwoo Lee & Kyungmook Lee & Johannes M. Pennings, 2001. "Internal capabilities, external networks, and performance: a study on technology‐based ventures," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(6‐7), pages 615-640, June.
    16. Caroline Flammer & Ioannis Ioannou, 2021. "Strategic management during the financial crisis: How firms adjust their strategic investments in response to credit market disruptions," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(7), pages 1275-1298, July.
    17. Marco Cucculelli & Valentina Peruzzi, 2020. "Post-crisis firm survival, business model changes, and learning: evidence from the Italian manufacturing industry," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 459-474, February.
    18. Justin Tan & Mike W. Peng, 2003. "Organizational slack and firm performance during economic transitions: two studies from an emerging economy," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(13), pages 1249-1263, December.
    19. Lianxi Zhou & Wei-ping Wu & Xueming Luo, 2007. "Internationalization and the performance of born-global SMEs: the mediating role of social networks," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(4), pages 673-690, July.
    20. Strandholm, Karen & Kumar, Kamalesh & Subramanian, Ram, 2004. "Examining the interrelationships among perceived environmental change, strategic response, managerial characteristics, and organizational performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(1), pages 58-68, January.
    21. Danny Miller, 1983. "The Correlates of Entrepreneurship in Three Types of Firms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(7), pages 770-791, July.
    22. Pearce, John II & Robbins, D. Keith, 1994. "Entrepreneurial recovery strategies of small market share manufacturers," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 91-108, March.
    23. Vincent L. Barker Iii & Irene M. Duhaime, 1997. "Strategic Change In The Turnaround Process: Theory And Empirical Evidence," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(1), pages 13-38, January.
    24. Marko Peric & Vanja Vitezic, 2016. "Impact of global economic crisis on firm growth," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 1-12, January.
    25. Osiyevskyy, Oleksiy & Shirokova, Galina & Ritala, Paavo, 2020. "Exploration and exploitation in crisis environment: Implications for level and variability of firm performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 227-239.
    26. Kamala Arogyaswamy & Vincent L. Barker & Masoud Yasai‐Ardekani, 1995. "Firm Turnarounds: an Integrative Two‐Stage Model," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(4), pages 493-525, July.
    27. Heather A. Haveman & Michael V. Russo & Alan D. Meyer, 2001. "Organizational Environments in Flux: The Impact of Regulatory Punctuations on Organizational Domains, CEO Succession, and Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(3), pages 253-273, June.
    28. N. Venkatraman & John E. Prescott, 1990. "Environment‐strategy coalignment: An empirical test of its performance implications," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(1), pages 1-23, January.
    29. Ann-Christin Grözinger & Sven Wolff & Philipp Julian Ruf & Petra Moog, 2022. "The power of shared positivity: organizational psychological capital and firm performance during exogenous crises," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 689-716, February.
    30. Danny Miller, 1987. "The structural and environmental correlates of business strategy," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(1), pages 55-76, January.
    31. Jeffrey G. Covin & Dennis P. Slevin, 1989. "Strategic management of small firms in hostile and benign environments," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(1), pages 75-87, January.
    32. William P. Wan & Daphne W. Yiu, 2009. "From crisis to opportunity: environmental jolt, corporate acquisitions, and firm performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 791-801, July.
    33. Wei‐ping Wu, 2008. "Dimensions of Social Capital and Firm Competitiveness Improvement: The Mediating Role of Information Sharing," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(1), pages 122-146, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Osiyevskyy, Oleksiy & Shirokova, Galina & Ritala, Paavo, 2020. "Exploration and exploitation in crisis environment: Implications for level and variability of firm performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 227-239.
    2. Andreas Rauch & Johan Wiklund & G.T. Lumpkin & Michael Frese, 2009. "Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance: An Assessment of past Research and Suggestions for the Future," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(3), pages 761-787, May.
    3. Francisco Javier Forcadell & Fernando Úbeda, 2022. "Individual entrepreneurial orientation and performance: the mediating role of international entrepreneurship," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 875-900, June.
    4. Kalinic, Igor & Brouthers, Keith D., 2022. "Entrepreneurial orientation, export channel selection, and export performance of SMEs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1).
    5. Michael Sheppard, 2020. "The relationship between discretionary slack and growth in small firms," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 195-219, March.
    6. Ciravegna, Luciano & Majano, Sara B. & Zhan, Ge, 2014. "The inception of internationalization of small and medium enterprises: The role of activeness and networks," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(6), pages 1081-1089.
    7. Strobl, Andreas & Bauer, Florian & Matzler, Kurt, 2020. "The impact of industry-wide and target market environmental hostility on entrepreneurial leadership in mergers and acquisitions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(2).
    8. Bradley A. George & Louis Marino, 2011. "The Epistemology of Entrepreneurial Orientation: Conceptual Formation, Modeling, and Operationalization," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 989-1024, September.
    9. Xincheng Wang & Jide Sun & Longwei Tian & Wenjia Guo & Tianyu Gu, 2021. "Environmental dynamism and cooperative innovation: the moderating role of state ownership and institutional development," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(5), pages 1344-1375, October.
    10. Santos-Álvarez, Valle & García-Merino, Teresa, 2010. "The role of the entrepreneur in identifying international expansion as a strategic opportunity," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(6), pages 512-520.
    11. Jeffrey G. Covin & Kimberly M. Green & Dennis P. Slevin, 2006. "Strategic Process Effects on the Entrepreneurial Orientation–Sales Growth Rate Relationship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 30(1), pages 57-81, January.
    12. Keith D. Brouthers & George Nakos & Pavlos Dimitratos, 2015. "SME Entrepreneurial Orientation, International Performance, and the Moderating Role of Strategic Alliances," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(5), pages 1161-1187, September.
    13. Katharina Fellnhofer, 2019. "The Complementary Effects Of Firms’ And Team Leaders’ Entrepreneurial Orientation On Innovation Success And Performance," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(05), pages 1-32, June.
    14. Anna Vuorio & Lasse Torkkeli & Liisa-Maija Sainio, 2020. "Service innovation and internationalization in SMEs: antecedents and profitability outcomes," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 92-123, March.
    15. Zhongfeng Su & En Xie & Dong Wang & Yuan Li, 2011. "Entrepreneurial strategy making, resources, and firm performance: evidence from China," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 36(2), pages 235-247, February.
    16. Buccieri, Dominic & Javalgi, Raj G. & Cavusgil, Erin, 2020. "International new venture performance: Role of international entrepreneurial culture, ambidextrous innovation, and dynamic marketing capabilities," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(2).
    17. Rodrigo-Alarcón, Job & García-Villaverde, Pedro M. & Ruiz-Ortega, María J. & Parra-Requena, Gloria, 2018. "From social capital to entrepreneurial orientation: The mediating role of dynamic capabilities," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 195-209.
    18. Morgan P. Miles & Danny R. Arnold, 1991. "The Relationship between Marketing Orientation and Entrepreneurial Orientation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 15(4), pages 49-66, July.
    19. Bachmann, Jan-Thomas & Engelen, Andreas & Schwens, Christian, 2016. "Toward a Better Understanding of the Association Between Strategic Planning and Entrepreneurial Orientation — The Moderating Role of National Culture," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 297-315.
    20. Suk Bong Choi & Wang Ro Lee & Seung-Wan Kang, 2020. "Entrepreneurial Orientation, Resource Orchestration Capability, Environmental Dynamics and Firm Performance: A Test of Three-Way Interaction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-13, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:17:p:12998-:d:1227805. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.