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As an attempt to investigate the relationships between entrepreneurial characteristics and firm performance, we operationalized a theoretical framework of the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and empirically tested the four hypotheses derived from it. The framework links together entrepreneurial competencies and SME performance with two further constructs: competitive scope and organizational capabilities. The empirical study consisted of a stage of instrument development specific to the research context, as well as a stage of hypothesis testing. The results of hypothesis testing, involving a sample of 153 owner/managers of SMEs, provided evidence for the direct and indirect contributions of the entrepreneur's opportunity, relationship, innovative, human and strategic competencies in affecting the long-term performance of an SME via competitive scope and organizational capabilities. This initial success, with the validated survey instrument of entrepreneurial competencies, may serve as the ground for further research in this area. SOMMAIRE. Dans le but d'examiner les relations existant entre caractéristiques entrepreneuriales et performance d'entreprise, nous avons mis en opération une structure théorique de la compétitivité des petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) et testé de façon empirique les quatre hypothèses qui en découlent. Cette structure relie les compétences entrepreneuriales et la performance des PME avec deux autres constructs : ampleur concurrentielle et capacités d'organisation. L'étude empirique comportait un stage de développement d'un instrument spécifique au contexte de la recherche, ainsi qu'un stage de vérification d'hypothèses. Les résultats de ce dernier, portant sur un échantillon de 153 propriétaires/gestionnaires de PME, ont mis en évidence les contributions directes et indirectes chez l'entrepreneur de l'opportunité, de la relation, et des compétences innovatrices, humaines et stratégiques qui affectent la performance à long terme par l'intermédiaire de l'ampleur concurrentielle et des capacités d'organisation. Ces résultats, ainsi que l'instrument de sondage validé pour les compétences entrepreneuriales, peuvent servir de point de départ à la recherche ultérieure.

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Based on a theoretical framework linking entrepreneurial competencies and SME performance, we carried out an empirical study to investigate the entrepreneurial competencies of SME owner/managers in the Hong Kong services sector. Thirty-five clusters of behavioural competencies were identified under six competency areas, which are applied to three entrepreneurial tasks, together with seven supporting competencies which play supporting roles to these competency areas or focus personally on the entrepreneur rather than on the entrepreneurial tasks. Distinguishing supporting competencies from major competency areas allows us to be more focused on further investigation into the functions of different competencies. The results are also discussed with reference to the research context and the entrepreneurship in Hong Kong.

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Our study aimed to understand how cross‐domain communication via technology affects employees’ work–family interface. We examine the relationships among cross‐domain communication, role‐based resource loss and gain, and the bidirectional forms of work–family conflict and enrichment. Building on Conservation of Resources theory, we expect that cross‐domain communication has positive effects on role‐based resource loss and gain as well as both work–family conflict and enrichment. Furthermore, we suggest that the relationships between cross‐domain communication and role‐based resource loss and gain vary across different levels of role response expectations and role relationship quality. We test our ideas with data from two studies. Results confirm the role of cross‐domain communication on work–family conflict and enrichment through role‐based resource loss and gain. We also find significant interactions involving cross‐domain communication, role response expectations, and role relationship quality on both work‐ and family‐based resource loss and gain as well as on the mediating effects of family‐based resource loss. Practitioner points Cross‐domain work and family communication is not always harmful to employees’ work and family interface. When employees engaged in cross‐domain communication perceive high work (family) response expectations and high‐quality work (family) relationships, they experience more personal resource losses and gains within the family (work) domain. Managers need to educate employees regarding both the pros and cons of cross‐domain work and family communication and provide them with explicit rules about how they can navigate the double‐edged functions of communicating across work and family domains. Training employees to manage communications across domains will enable them to reduce potential work–family conflict and enhance work–family enrichment.

PurposeThe context of Hong Kong has nurtured numerous small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in which the owner/managers have exhibited rather consistent set of characteristics over decades despite shifts in the industrial structure. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how such characteristics can sustain in different industrial environments.Design/methodology/approachBy using the competency approach on a sample of 153 SME owner/managers in the wholesale trade and IT services industries, we conducted hypothesis testing on comparing first, the overall rankings of ten competency areas for SME owner/managers, and second, the ratings of individual competency areas between the two industries.FindingsWhile there are consistent patterns of competencies across these two contrasting industries in Hong Kong, the owner/managers in IT services industry have significantly higher ratings in innovative, strategic and learning competencies than those in the wholesale trade industry.Research limitations/implicationsEntrepreneurial competencies are not only stimulated or sharpened by the requirements of different industrial environments, but also rooted in the common socio‐cultural background of the owner/managers.Practical implicationsWith the ever closer economic and socio‐cultural integration with China, a completely new pattern of entrepreneurial competencies may be required in a new context of entrepreneurship in Hong Kong.Originality/valueThe application of the competency approach allows us to investigate the respective impacts of industrial and socio‐cultural factors in the development of entrepreneurial characteristics, particularly those about Chinese SME owner/managers in Hong Kong.

Drawing on social identity theory (P. J. Burke, 1991) and the current status of women and equal opportunity legislation, the authors tested several factors associated with distress in working women in the People's Republic of China (PRC), Hong Kong, and the United States. Women in Hong Kong experienced significantly greater levels of life stress than PRC and U.S. women. Reports of negative attitudes toward women, gender evaluation, and avoidance coping were greater for Hong Kong and PRC women than for U.S. women. Hong Kong women reported more use of positive/confrontational coping mechanisms. Negative attitudes toward women had an important influence on life stress across regions. Moderator tests resulted in 2 significant findings: The effect of negative attitudes toward women on life stress was stronger for PRC and Hong Kong women, and the relationship between nervous/self-destructive coping and life stress was stronger for U.S. women.