Export Performance of SMEs:A Review of Firm-Level Controllable Determinants

Abstract

In the f ield of international marketing, Export performance has been extensively studied but still it is one of the most least understood and most contentious areas of research. (Katsikeas, Leonidou, & Morgan, 2000). During the last few decades, the major progress made in the export performance literature are (i) the development of more comprehensive and perceptive view from increasing use of multiple theoretical foundations, (ii) introduction of new factors as export performance determinates and (iii) use of advanced statistical methods which allows for the study of the sophisticated relationships between determinants and export performance. (Chen, Sousa, & He, 2016). For small and medium enterprises (SMEs), export plays a major role to create greater value, and thus, SMEs need to know the way to improve export performance and this will eventually enhance the performance of the most of the companies (Maurel, 2009). Identif ication of determinants, more specifically, identification of the firm level controllable determinants of better export performance of SMEs has become crucial. This study categorizes the f irm-level controllable determinants of export performance which has been identif ied and checked in the previous studies. Nazar, Mujtaba, & Saleem (2009) have proposed a model about SMEs export performance determinants and this study will make further addeemed to the proposed model by a comprehensive and systematic literature study. The f irm-level controllable determinants of export performance are classif ied into Firm Characteristics, Resources & Capabilities; Export Marketing Strategy; and Management Characteristics.