La técnica de modelaje mediante ecuaciones estructurales resulta muy útil para investigadores educativos para trabajar diversos constructos latentes, en forma simultánea, y someter a prueba modelos que clarifiquen diferentes tipos de efectos. Empero, la literatura aún no ha brindado una respuesta adecuada en lo referente al tamaño de muestra procedente para utilizar dicha técnica. Asimismo, a pesar de que existe una diversidad de criterios para su estimación, aún no ha proporcionado un método práctico que permita compendiarlos y facilitar la argumentación del tamaño apropiado de esta. Por ello, el presente artículo tiene como objetivo ofrecer una guía práctica a investigadores educativos para utilizar la diversidad de criterios y justificar el cálculo apropiado del tamaño de muestra en ecuaciones estructurales, mediante la planificación a priori de modelos de medida y modelos estructurales. Se recurre a un método cuantitativo para determinar los insumos con base en diagramas de sendero de modelos a priori de una investigación, así como interfaces disponibles en internet para calcular los tamaños de muestra. Los datos se resumen en forma tabulada para efectos comparativos. La aplicación del método constata su utilidad para que el investigador defina un umbral de casos que permita satisfacer distintos criterios, con respecto a depender de una única regla o criterio para justificar el tamaño de la muestra apropiado. Asimismo, revela la ventaja que podría representar el uso de parcelas en la planificación a priori de modelos con esta técnica

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This study evaluates how different forms of human capital-i.e., formal management studies, labor market experience and experience in multinational businesses-explain the export diversity of SMEs, defined as the number of foreign market destinations where the business sells its goods or services. The proposed hypotheses are tested using negative binomial regression models on a unique sample of 117 Costa Rican SMEs for 2017. The findings reveal that labor experience in multinational firms-in particular, experience in managerial positions-is a relevant source of human capital that equip entrepreneurs with specific know-how that is conducive to export diversity, in terms of number of market destinations. Results also show that firm size, age and online sales (e-commerce) are positively correlated to export diversity. Beyond canonical export-related measures, this study offers insights on the importance of including the number of foreign markets (market destinations) in the evaluation of the export performance of SMEs.

Purpose Building on the resource-based view theory, this paper aims to evaluate the role of innovation on competitiveness and competitive efficiency among Costa Rican small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach The study uses a sample of 231 Costa Rican small and medium-size firms for 2019. The authors compute a competitiveness index that includes four pillars: innovation, strategy, markets and human capital. To estimate competitive efficiency, the authors use a non-parametric model, namely, data envelopment analysis, with a single constant input. Findings The results confirm that competitive and efficient SMEs present a more homogenous distribution of resources and capabilities. The innovation pillar is positively correlated with competitive efficiency. A positive correlation exists between market experience (business age) and innovation and between innovation and business size in terms of the number of employees. Practical implications The study contributes to the understanding on how SME managers’ decision-making processes affect resource allocation within the business, and on how SMEs can introduce strategic actions based on improvements of those resources that will likely have a greater impact on competitive efficiency. Originality/value This study contributes to better grasping how the configuration of resources and capabilities, in which innovation plays a decisive role, and contributes to shape the competitive efficiency of small and medium-sized businesses in a developing economy.

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