IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/rnd/arjebs/v9y2017i3p232-240.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Relationship between Learning Orientation and the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Evelyn Motsepe
  • Olawale Fatoki

Abstract

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are an important vehicle in income re-distribution, poverty alleviation, employment creation and contribute to the gross domestic product of South Africa. However, SMEs in South Africa suffer from a weak level of performance and a high failure rate. The main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of learning orientation on the performance of SMEs. A quantitative approach was used, while a self-administered questionnaire was also employed during data collection process. A three- section questionnaire covering demographic information, learning orientation variables and performance variables was prepared and distributed randomly to a selected sample of 390 SME owners in Msukaligwa Local Municipality in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. A total of 181 questionnaires were returned. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, correlation and regression analysis were used for data analysis. The Cronbach’s alpha was used to measure reliability. The results of the study revealed a significant positive relationship between learning orientation and the performance of SMEs. Recommendations to improve the learning orientation of SMEs are suggested.

Suggested Citation

  • Evelyn Motsepe & Olawale Fatoki, 2017. "The Relationship between Learning Orientation and the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in South Africa," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 9(3), pages 232-240.
    • Handle: RePEc:rnd:arjebs:v:9:y:2017:i:3:p:232-240
    DOI: 10.22610/jebs.v9i3(J).1762
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ojs.amhinternational.com/index.php/jebs/article/view/1762/1460
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://ojs.amhinternational.com/index.php/jebs/article/view/1762
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22610/jebs.v9i3(J).1762?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Engin Deniz Eris & Omur Neczan Timurcanday Ozmen, 2012. "The Effect of Market Orientation, Learning Orientation and Innovativeness on Firm Performance: A Research from Turkish Logistics Sector," International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research (IJBESAR), International Hellenic University (IHU), Kavala Campus, Greece (formerly Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology - EMaTTech), vol. 5(1), pages 77-108, April.
    2. Lages, Luis Filipe & Silva, Graça & Styles, Chris & Pereira, Zulema Lopes, 2009. "The NEP Scale: A measure of network export performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 344-356, August.
    3. Masaaki Kotabe & Denise Dunlap-Hinkler & Ronaldo Parente & Harsh A Mishra, 2007. "Determinants of cross-national knowledge transfer and its effect on firm innovation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(2), pages 259-282, March.
    4. G. Tomas M. Hult & David J. Ketchen & Mathias Arrfelt, 2007. "Strategic supply chain management: Improving performance through a culture of competitiveness and knowledge development," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(10), pages 1035-1052, October.
    5. Patrick M. Kreiser, 2011. "Entrepreneurial Orientation and Organizational Learning: The Impact of Network Range and Network Closure," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 1025-1050, September.
    6. Paul E. Bierly III & Paula S. Daly, 2007. "Alternative Knowledge Strategies, Competitive Environment, and Organizational Performance in Small Manufacturing Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 31(4), pages 493-516, July.
    7. Erlend Nybakk, 2012. "Learning Orientation, Innovativeness And Financial Performance In Traditional Manufacturing Firms: A Higher-Order Structural Equation Model," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 16(05), pages 1-28.
    8. Kafouros, Mario I. & Buckley, Peter J. & Clegg, Jeremy, 2012. "The effects of global knowledge reservoirs on the productivity of multinational enterprises: The role of international depth and breadth," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(5), pages 848-861.
    9. Gnyawali, Devi R. & Singal, Manisha & Mu, Shaohua Carolyn, 2009. "Knowledge ties among subsidiaries in MNCs: A multi-level conceptual model," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 387-400, December.
    10. Yuan Lu & Lianxi Zhou & Garry Bruton & Weiwen Li, 2010. "Capabilities as a mediator linking resources and the international performance of entrepreneurial firms in an emerging economy," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(3), pages 419-436, April.
    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. Tippmann, Esther & Sharkey Scott, Pamela & Mangematin, Vincent, 2014. "Subsidiary managers’ knowledge mobilizations: Unpacking emergent knowledge flows," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 431-443.
    2. Ângelo Miguel R. Cabral & Fernando Manuel P. O. Carvalho & José António Vasconcelos Ferreira, 2020. "International Performance of SMEs’ International Strategic Groups," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-24, September.
    3. Ratnawati & Budi Eko Soetjipto & F. Danardana Murwani & Hari Wahyono, 2018. "The Role of SMEs’ Innovation and Learning Orientation in Mediating the Effect of CSR Programme on SMEs’ Performance and Competitive Advantage," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 19(3_suppl), pages 21-38, June.
    4. Esther Tippmann & Pamela Sharkey Scott & Vincent Mangematin, 2014. "Subsidiary managers’ knowledge mobilizations: Unpacking emergent knowledge flows," Post-Print hal-00864324, HAL.
    5. Riviere, Monica & Suder, Gabriele, 2016. "Perspectives on strategic internationalization: Developing capabilities for renewal," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 847-858.
    6. Wu, Jie & Wang, Chengqi & Hong, Junjie & Piperopoulos, Panagiotis & Zhuo, Shuaihe, 2016. "Internationalization and innovation performance of emerging market enterprises: The role of host-country institutional development," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(2), pages 251-263.
    7. Chong Wu & Fang Huang & Caihong Huang & Huiming Zhang, 2018. "Entry Mode, Market Selection, and Innovation Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-24, November.
    8. repec:hal:gemwpa:hal-00864324 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Lamin, Anna & Dunlap, Denise, 2011. "Complex technological capabilities in emerging economy firms: The role of organizational relationships," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 211-228, September.
    10. Kafouros, Mario & Wang, Chengqi & Mavroudi, Eva & Hong, Junjie & Katsikeas, Constantine S., 2018. "Geographic dispersion and co-location in global R&D portfolios: Consequences for firm performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(7), pages 1243-1255.
    11. Shufeng Simon Xiao & Yong Kyu Lew & Byung Il Park, 2020. "International Network Searching, Learning, and Explorative Capability: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises from China," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 597-621, August.
    12. Agnieszka Żur, 2015. "Opportunity Identification and Creation as Factors of Firm Internationalisation," Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, Centre for Strategic and International Entrepreneurship at the Cracow University of Economics., vol. 3(2), pages 25-39.
    13. 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.
    14. Buckley, Peter J. & Cross, Adam & De Mattos, Claudio, 2015. "The principle of congruity in the analysis of international business cooperation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(6), pages 1048-1060.
    15. Christine M. Chan & Jialin Du, 2021. "The dynamic process of pro-market reforms and foreign affiliate performance: When to seek local, subnational, or global help?," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(9), pages 1854-1870, December.
    16. Carolina Rojas-Córdova & Amanda J. Williamson & Julio A. Pertuze & Gustavo Calvo, 2023. "Why one strategy does not fit all: a systematic review on exploration–exploitation in different organizational archetypes," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 2251-2295, October.
    17. Fuan Li & Mike Chen-ho Chao & Nancy Yi-feng Chen & Sixue Zhang, 2018. "Moral judgment in a business setting: The role of managers’ moral foundation, ideology, and level of moral development," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 121-143, March.
    18. Su, Hsin-Ning, 2017. "Collaborative and Legal Dynamics of International R&D- Evolving Patterns in East Asia," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 217-227.
    19. Sipos, Norbert & Lukovszki, Lívia & Rideg, András & Varga, Anna Róza, 2023. "A magyar családi mikro-, kis- és középvállalatok erőforrás- és képességkonfigurációi [Resource and capability configurations of Hungarian family-owned micro, small and medium-sized enterprises]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(12), pages 1389-1413.
    20. Nima Heirati & Aron O’Cass, 2016. "Supporting new product commercialization through managerial social ties and market knowledge development in an emerging economy," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 33(2), pages 411-433, June.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:rnd:arjebs:v:9:y:2017:i:3:p:232-240. 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: Muhammad Tayyab (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://ojs.amhinternational.com/index.php/jebs .

    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.