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PurposeThis paper aims to examine the relationship between innovation capabilities (INVC) and export performance (EXPERF) of manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Moreover, the paper aims to investigate the moderating effect of risk-taking propensity (RSTP) in the relationship between INVC and the SMEs’ EXPERF.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey design was used and data were collected through structured questionnaires from 250 manufacturing exporting SMEs in Tanzania. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the measurement model. The hypotheses were empirically tested using PROCESS macro test.FindingsThe findings affirm that INVC is a significant predictor of EXPERF. Additionally, RSTP was found to be a significant moderator of the relationship between INVC and EXPERF.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the study was able to accomplish its overall objective, it is limited in terms of the context under which the study was conducted. This study covered only manufacturing SMEs in a single country, Tanzania. Hence, the findings should be interpreted with caution since each country has specific institutional environments that support innovation.Originality/valueThe findings of this study expand the application of the resource-based view (RBV) theory in exporting context. The study revealed how INVC as an intangible resource can lead to successful performance. Hence, the findings of this study broaden the applicability of RBV theory. Also, this study contributes to the debate about the innovation-export performance relationship by revealing a moderating role of RSTP in the relationship between INVC and EXPERF.

PurposeThis study aims to examine the influence of the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) dimensions (innovativeness, risk-taking, proactiveness, competitive aggressiveness and autonomy) on the export performance (EXP) of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachIn this study a cross-sectional survey design was used and data were collected from 250 managers of manufacturing-exporting SMEs in Tanzania. The developed conceptual model was empirically tested using confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical regression.FindingsThe results reveal that innovativeness, risk-taking, competitive aggressiveness and autonomy have a significant positive influence on EXP. However, proactiveness hurts EXP. Additionally, findings indicate that the dimensions of EO do not have an equal impact on SMEs’ EXP.Research limitations/implicationsThis study only covered SMEs; future studies would be advised to include large firms because they may behave differently with respect EO due to their resource advantages. Furthermore, this study was conducted in a single country, Tanzania, and thus the findings should be interpreted cautiously, since each country has specific institutional frameworks that foster entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial culture in a different way.Originality/valueThe context of this study contributes significantly to the research’s originality. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on the EO-EXP link in developing countries, where research on EO-export is scant, and it further contributes to the debate on the EO-EXP link by demonstrating that the dimensions of EO do not have an equal impact on SMEs’ EXP, and accordingly a disaggregated approach would be more meaningful. Furthermore, the study contributes with regards the role of competitive aggressiveness and autonomy in improving SMEs’ EXP, which has received little attention in previous studies.

PurposeThis paper examines the relationship between product innovation (PRODIN), process innovation (PROCIN) and export performance (EXPF) of manufacturing small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Moreover, the paper investigates the moderating effect of marketing innovation (MAKIN) in the relationship between PRODIN, PROCIN and the SMEs' EXPF.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey design was used and data were collected through structured questionnaires from 250 manufacturing exporting SMEs in Tanzania. CFA was used to test the measurement model. The hypotheses were empirically tested using PROCESS macro test.FindingsThe findings suggest that PRODIN is a significant determinant of EXPF. However, PROCIN was found to have a significant negative effect on EXPF. Additionally, MAKIN was found to be a significant moderator of the relationship between PRODIN, PROCIN and EXPF.Research limitations/implicationsThis study covered only manufacturing SMEs. Future studies can include large firms because they may behave differently on innovations due to the resources advantage they have. Also, because only a single country context was used, the findings of this study should be interpreted with caution.Practical implicationsManagers of exporting SMEs should develop and cultivate PRODIN and MAKIN to nurture EXPF of their firms.Originality/valueThe findings of this study extend the application of resource-based view theory in exporting context by unpacking the process through which resources result in successful performance. Also, this study contributes to the debate about the innovation–EXPF relationship by establishing a moderating effect of MAKING in the relationship between PRODIN, PROCIN and EXPF.