Title: A dynamic management capabilities view of small to medium-sized enterprise export readiness: a Canadian perspective

Authors: Nadège Levallet; David J. Finch; Tom McCaffery; Amanda Espinoza; Simon O. Raby

Addresses: Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada ' Bissett School of Business, Mount Royal University, 4825 Mt Royal Gate SW, Calgary, Alberta, T3E 6K6, Canada ' Royal Roads University, 2005 Sooke Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V9B 5Y2, Canada ' Bissett School of Business, Mount Royal University, 4825 Mt Royal Gate SW, Calgary, Alberta, T3E 6K6, Canada ' Bissett School of Business, Mount Royal University, 4825 Mt Royal Gate SW, Calgary, Alberta, T3E 6K6, Canada

Abstract: Increased trade liberalisation and advancements in technology have established the foundation for global expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). However, data demonstrates that most SMEs continue to focus almost exclusively on their domestic market. In this study, we leverage resource orchestration (RO) and dynamic capabilities (DC) to explore the managerial and firm level resources critical to supporting SME export expansion. This includes conducting multi-staged qualitative research to define these resources (N = 28). This research identifies company age, operational resources, financial capacity, and employee knowledge and skills. In addition, we isolate dynamic managerial capabilities (DMCs) related to cognition (e.g., managerial experiences and decision-making), social capital (e.g., developing strong internal and external networks) and human capital (e.g., ability to maximise the value of people) as critical to export expansion. Lastly, we use our findings to develop a conceptual model and associated instrumentation of SME export readiness to guide future empirical research.

Keywords: dynamic capability; export readiness; SME; Canada; qualitative research; resource orchestration; dynamic managerial capabilities; DMC.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2023.130827

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2023 Vol.48 No.4, pp.359 - 388

Received: 20 Feb 2019
Accepted: 03 Feb 2020
Published online: 12 May 2023 *

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