Competitiveness and technological capital as determining factors of exports in small and medium-sized companies
-
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.21(4).2023.06
-
Article InfoVolume 21 2023, Issue #4, pp. 63-83
- Cited by
- 395 Views
-
180 Downloads
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This study explores international business integration, focusing on Colombian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It delves into the crucial aspects of competitiveness and technological capital influencing the export models of these SMEs. Using a questionnaire, responses were gathered from 63 Colombian SMEs exporting to 74 countries with 333 tariff positions. This analysis examines competitiveness factors like innovation, productivity, and business structure, as well as technological capital components such as R&D management, technological processes, and equipment, all tailored to the context of Colombian SMEs. The findings establish a comprehensive model elucidating direct and indirect relationships among these variables. They underscore the importance of strengthening competitiveness elements, particularly the infusion of technology into process and product innovation, alongside productivity and business structure rooted in the value derived from information technologies. Simultaneously, the study highlights the importance of nurturing employees’ physical, financial, and language skills within Colombian SMEs. This study accentuates the pivotal role of investment in technological capital aspects, including research and development management, personnel, and leveraging information technology, especially within Colombian SMEs. These investments are instrumental in augmenting performance and ensuring success in the international business arena. The paper contributes to both theoretical understanding and practical applications in enhancing the international competitiveness of Colombian SMEs.
- Keywords
-
JEL Classification (Paper profile tab)M11, M15, M16
-
References61
-
Tables6
-
Figures3
-
- Figure 1. Study model
- Figure 2. Direct relationship model between the study variables
- Figure 3. H3 relationships final model
-
- Table 1. Statistical techniques of the study
- Table 2. Linear regression models for H1 and H2
- Table 3. Linear regression models for H3
- Table A1. Model variables and indicators: Competitiveness
- Table A2. Model variables and indicators: Technological capital
- Table A3. Model variables and indicators: Exports
-
- Ahuja Sánchez, L., Yépez Ríos, N. B., & Pedroza Zapata, Á. R. (2020). Relationship between total quality management (TQM) and technology R&D management (TM/R&D) in manufacturing companies in Mexico. Contaduría y Administración, 65(1).
- Ahumada Tello, E., & Perusquia Velasco, J. (2016). Business intelligence: Strategy for competitiveness development in technology-based firms. Contaduría y Administración, 61(1), 127-158.
- Arge, G., Dajer Plata, R., & Alvarez, D. (2006). Diseño e implementación de un mapa de ordenamiento competitivo regional soportado en tecnología internet para asistir procesos de inversión en el departamento de Cordoba-Colombia [Design and implementation of a regional competitive map supported by internet technology to assist investment processes in the department of Cordoba-Colombia]. In Conferencia Nacional ASCOLFA (pp.183-225). (In Spanish).
- Avella Camarero, L., & Garcia, F.P. (2010). La actividad exportadora: ¿Causa o efecto de la competitividad de las pymes manufactureras españolas? [Export activity: Cause or effect of the competitiveness of Spanish manufacturing SMEs?]. GCG: Revista de Globalización, Competitividad & Gobernabilidad, 4(1), 80-88. (In Spanish).
- Benzaquen, J., del Carpio, L. A., Zegarra, L. A., & Valdivia, C. A. (2010). Un índice regional de competitividad para un país [A regional competitiveness index for a country]. Revista CEPAL, 69-86. (In Spanish).
- Borkakoti, J. (1998). The neotechnology theory of international trade. Palgrave.
- Bueno, E. (2011). Modelo intellectus de medición, gestión e información del capital intelectual (New actualized version) [Intellectual capital measurement, management and reporting model (New actualized version)]. Madrid: CIC-IADE. (In Spanish).
- Chandra, A., Paul, J., & Chavan, M. (2020). Internationalization barriers of SMEs from developing countries: A review and research agenda. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 26(6), 1281-1310.
- Comisión Regional de Competitividad. (2016). Santander competitivo [Competitive Santander]. (In Spanish).
- Comisión Regional de Competitividad. (2017). Plan Regional de Competitividad de Santander (2018–2032) [Santander Regional Competitiveness Plan (2018-2032)]. (In Spanish).
- Consejo Nacional de Política Económica y Social (CONPES). (2006). Institucionalidad y principios rectores de politica para la competitividad y productividad [Institutionality and guiding policy principles for competitiveness and productivity]. Bogotá: Alta Consejería Presidencial para la Competitividad y la Productividad, Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo. (In Spanish).
- Consejo Privado de Competitividad. (2019). Informe Nacional de Competitividad 2018–2019 [National Competitiveness Report 2018-2019]. (In Spanish).
- Cuestas Rodriguez, L. F. (1999). Comercio internacional [International trade]. In L. F. Cuestas Rodriguez (Ed.), Gestión Empresarial Comercio Internacional (pp. 36-43). Bucaramanga: Insed-UIS. (In Spanish).
- Czinkota, M. R., & Ronkainen, I. A. (2002). Marketing internacional [International marketing]. Mexico: Prentice Hall. (In Spanish).
- Daniels, J. D., & Radebaugh, L. H. (2000). Negocios internacionales [International business]. Mexico: Pearson. (In Spanish).
- Departamento Nacional de Planeación. (2018). Anuario Mundial de Competitividad 2018 [World Competitiveness Yearbook 2018]. Obtenido de. (In Spanish).
- Di Caprio, D., & Santos Arteaga, F. (2016). On the evolution of technological knowledge and the structural economic consequences derived from its assimilation. International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 19(1), 85-108.
- Edvinsson, L., & Stenfelt, C. (1999). Intellectual capital of nations for future wealth creation. Journal of Human Resource Costing and Accounting, 4(1), 21-33.
- Fajinzylber, F. (2006). Una visión renovadora del desarrollo de América Latina [A renewed vision of Latin America’s development]. Chile: CEPAL. (In Spanish).
- Ficker, S. K. (2004). The export boom of the Mexican revolution: Characteristics and contributing factors. Journal of Latin American Studies, 36(2), 267-296.
- Guerola-Navarro, V., Oltra-Badenes, R., & Gil-Gomez, H. (2020). Análisis de la relación entre el grado de introducción de CRM y los beneficios de la empresa a través del Desempeño Organizacional y la Innovación Empresarial [Analysis of the relationship between the degree of CRM introduction and company benefits through Organizational Performance and Business Innovation.]. 3C Empresa. Investigación y Pensamiento Crítico, 9(1), 67-87. (In Spanish).
- Hazarika, B., Bezbauah, M., & Goswami, K. (2016). Adoption of modern weaving technology in the handloom micro-enterprises in Assam: A Double Hurdle approach. Technological Forecasting and Social Chang, 102, 344-356.
- Heckscher, E. F. (1919). Utrikshandelns verkan pa inkomstfoerdelningen [The effect of foreign trade on the distribution of income]. In H. S. Ellis & L. A. Metzler (Eds.), Readings in the Theory of International Trade (pp. 272-300). Philadelphia: Blakiston. (In Swedish).
- Hill, C. (2001). Negocios internacionales [International business] (3rd ed.). Washington: McGraw-Hill. (In Spanish).
- Hill, Ch. W. L., Hult, T. M., & Mehtani, R. (2017). International business: Competing in the global marketplace (11th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
- Ipsmiller, E., & Dikova, D. (2021). Internationalization from Central and Eastern Europe: A systematic literature review. Journal of International Management, 27(4), 100862.
- Jano, Z., Janor, H., Mohd. Nor, M. J. B., Ahmad, R., & Shaaban, A. (2014). A qualitative content analysis of e-strategies for research, innovation and commercialization: A case of global bodies, Malaysian ministries and research university. In L. Anthopoulos & C. Reddick (Eds.), Government e-Strategic Planning and Management: Practices, Patterns and Roadmaps (pp. 305-321). Springer.
- Jano, Z., Saad, M. S. M., Yahya, A., Khamis, N., & Ahmad, R. (2015). National e-strategies for research and development. Jurnal Teknologi, 75(3).
- Jaramillo, H., Lugones, G., & Salazar, M. (2001). Manual de Bogotá: Normalización de Indicadores de Innovación Tecnológica en América Latina y el Caribe [Bogota Manual: Standardization of Technological Innovation Indicators in Latin America and the Caribbean]. Publisher. (In Spanish).
- Klaus, S. (2016). The Fourth Industrial Revolution. Foro Económico Mundial.
- Krugman, P. (1994). Competitiveness: A dangerous obsession. Foreign Affairs.
- Lee, J., & Kwon, H. B. (2023). Synergistic effect of R&D and exports on performance in US manufacturing industries: High-tech vs low-tech. Journal of Modelling in Management, 18(2), 343-371.
- Ministerio de Comercio Industria y Turismo. (2016). Procolombia [Procolombia]. (In Spanish).
- Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo. (2018). Informe al Congreso 2018: Sector comercio, industria y turismo [Report to Congress 2018: Trade, industry and tourism sector.]. Bogotà: Gobierno de Colombia. (In Spanish).
- Miranda, J., & Toirac, L. (2010). Indicadores de productividad para la industria dominicana [Productivity indicators for Dominican industry]. Ciencia y Sociedad, 235-290.
- Observatorio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Sociedad del Centro de Altos Estudios Universitarios (OEI) y Ministerio da educación de Portugal (RICYT). (2009). Manual de Lisboa: Pautas para la interpretación de datos estadísticos disponibles y la construcción de indicadores, referidos a la transición de Iberoamérica hacia la sociedad de la información [Lisbon Manual: Guidelines for the interpretation of available statistical data and the construction of indicators related to the transition of Ibero-America towards the information society]. Red Internacional de Ciencia y Tecnología. (In Spanish).
- Observatorio de Competitividad de Santander. (2019). Perfil de las empresas exportadoras Santander 2019 [Profile of Santander exporting companies 2019]. Santander, Bucaramanga: Cámara de Comercio de Bucaramanga. (In Spanish).
- OCDE-EUROSTAT. (2005). Manual de Oslo [Oslo Manual]. (In Spanish).
- Ohlin, B. (1933). Interregional and international trade. Cambridge, Mass.; Harvard University Press.
- Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico. (2002). Manual de Frascati [Frascati Manual]. Fundacion Española de Ciencia y Tecnologia FECYT.
- Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico. (2009). Medición del capital [Capital measurement]. OECD.
- Özaydın, G., & Çelik, Y. (2022). A research of affecting factors on R&D management in food industry. Selcuk Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 36(1), 13-19.
- Park, K-S., & Lee, H.-Y. (2015). An empirical study on the effect of the selection factors of 3PL on the switching costs, long-term relationship orientation, and export performance. Korea Logistics Review, 25(4), 25-39.
- Porter, M. E. (1985). La riqueza de las naciones [The wealth of nations]. Mexico: Compañia Editorial Continental. (In Spanish).
- Porter, M. E. (2002). Estrategia competitiva técnicas para el análisis de sectores industriales y de la Competencia [Competitive strategy techniques for the analysis of industrial sectors and competition]. México: Compañía Editorial Continental. (In Spanish).
- Procolombia. (2013). Proceso de exportacion de artesanias [Export process of handicrafts]. Bogota: Procolombia. (In Spanish).
- Procolombia. (2018). Guía práctica para exportaciones de bienes y servicios [Practical guide for exports of goods and services]. (In Spanish).
- Rock, J. A. (2010). Exporting success factors: The case of Chilean firms. Panorama Socioeconómico, 28(41), 44-159.
- Rueda-Barrios, G., & Rodenes-Adam, M. (2016). Factores determinantes en la producción científica de los grupos de investigación en Colombia [Determining factors in scientific production of research groups in Colombia]. Revista Española de Documentación Científica, 39(1), e118.
- Ruzzier, M., & Ruzzier, M. K. (2015). On the relationship between firm size, resources, age at entry and internationalization: The case of Slovenian SMEs. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 16(1), 52-73.
- Saldívar. (2012). Competitiveness and management of SMES. Global Conference on Business & Finance Proceedings (pp. 1152-1156).
- Sanchez, F., & Acosta, P. (2001). Proyecto andino de competitividad: Proyecto indicadores de competitividad Colombia [Andean Competitiveness project: Competitiveness indicators project Colombia]. Bogota: CEDE Universidad de los Andes.
- Schwab, K. (2017). The Global Competitiveness Report 2017–2018. World Economic Forum.
- Seo, R., Edler, J., & Massini, S. (2022). Can entrepreneurial orientation improve R&D alliance performance? An absorptive capacity perspective. R&D Management, 52(1), 50-66.
- Sosa Rodriguez, J. O., & Reyes, O. B. (2014). Competitividad de las pymes exportadoras del estado de Colima [Competitiveness of exporting SMEs in the state of Colima]. Global Conference on Business and Finance Proceedings. (In Spanish).
- Thomas, D. (2015). The analysis on the determinations factors of container port competitiveness. Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education, 27, 262-272.
- Tung, L. T., & Binh, Q. M. Q. (2022). The impact of R&D expenditure on firm performance in emerging markets: Evidence from the Vietnamese listed companies. Asian Journal of Technology Innovation, 30(2), 447-465.
- Vernon, R. (1966). International investment and international trade in the product life cycle. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 80(2), 190-207.
- Villa-Espinosa, D. M., González-Ladrón-de-Guevara, F., & Miñana Terol, J. L. (2018). Relationship between Information and Communication Technology and competitiveness in the tourism industry: A mapping review. Revista Iberoamericana de Turismo- RITUR, 8(2), 143-173.
- Yi, S. G. (2015). An analysis of an influencing factor in the export performance of ICT company. Journal of Service Research and Studies, 5(2), 1-13.
- Zapata, G., & Hernández, A. (2014). Origen de los Recursos y ventajas competitivas de las organizaciones: Reflexiones teóricas [Resources origin and competitive advantages of organizations: Theoretical reflections]. Revista Venezolana de Gerencia, 19(68), 735-759. (In Spanish).