Managerial interpersonal competencies and the performance of family- and non-family-owned small and medium-sized enterprises in Zimbabwe and South Africa

Abstract

Orientation: Regardless of the contribution done by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in modern economies, and the critical role managerial interpersonal competencies play in sustaining these enterprises, no known comparative study has been conducted in SMEs in developing economies.Research purpose: This study purposed to establish the impact of managerial interpersonal competencies on SME performance as measured by innovation and return on investment (ROI) in both family-owned SMEs (FOSMEs) and non-family-owned SMEs (NFOSMEs) in Zimbabwe and South Africa.Motivations for the study: Efforts at understanding managerial competencies and firm performance among SMEs have taken a holistic approach, using all known managerial competencies; yet, recently, there is acknowledgement that interpersonal competencies are more effective in business sustainability than other competencies. With this observation, the need to extent this finding in other contexts among FOSMEs and NFOSMEs in developing countries becomes apparent.Research approach/design and method: The study whose design was a descriptive comparative case study adopted a quantitative approach.Main findings: The study found a positive and significant relationship between managerial interpersonal competencies and firm performance as measured by innovation and ROI in FOSMEs in both countries.Practical/managerial implications: NFOSMEs may need to focus their training on interpersonal competencies for managers in order to be sustainable. For FOSMEs, continuous enhancement of managerial interpersonal competencies is important as it promotes innovation and business sustainability.Contribution/value-add: The study helps fill the lacuna between research and practice with respect to managerial interpersonal competencies in FOSMEs and NFOSMEs in the two countries.

Is Innovation a Driver of Sustainability? An Analysis from a Spanish Region

“…The measurement variables in this case were based on the results, from the data provided in the annual accounts of the companies in relation to economic and financial profitability. The analyses confirmed the first hypothesis, the companies with an "Innovative SME" label generated higher economical and financial profitability and were, thus, significantly more economically sustainable, coinciding with the results achieved in other previous works [83,85,88]. In other words, innovation is a driver of SME's economical sustainability.…”

“…The results revealed its significant influence on performance orientation, through new concepts like implementation and promotion means, new marketing methods and packaging modification, which more strongly impacted the commercial, administrative, financial and human resources areas. Mashavira et al [88] found a positive and significant relationship between managerial interpersonal competencies and firm performance as measured by innovation and return on investment (ROI). CSR is also recognised as an important driver of innovation in companies [89].…”

Kompetensi Pengurusan dan Prestasi Perniagaan: Orientasi Keusahawanan sebagai Pengantara dalam PKS Malaysia

“…Kajian tentang perkaitan antara kompetensi pengurusan dan prestasi perniagaan kecil dan sederhana turut menarik perhatian ramai penyelidik seperti Levenson et al 2006), Nakiyingi (2010) serta Temtime dan Pansiri (2006). Hasil kajian lepas terhadap PKS di luar negara yang dijalankan oleh Fatoki (2014), Mashavira et al (2019), Tarwirei (2015) serta Zacca dan Dayan (2018) mendapati kelemahan dalam kompetensi pengurusan menjadi penghalang besar kepada kejayaan kewangan dan bukan kewangan PKS. Manakala Byukusenge et al (2021) menegaskan bahawa PKS yang mempunyai pemilik/ pengurus yang mempunyai kompetensi pengurusan yang tinggi menghasilkan prestasi perniagaan yang lebih baik berbanding pemilik/pengurus PKS yang kurang kecekapan dalam pengurusan.…”

Antecedents and Barriers Which Drive Smes in Relation to Corporate Social Responsibility? Literature Review

“…At the same time, the corporate responsibility of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has received only limited attention in the literature (Oldham & Spence, 2022;Mura & Hajduová, 2021;Belas et al, 2021). However, their cumulative impact is not at all negligible given their dominance in the business sector of countries (Belas et al, 2022;Duháček Šebestová & Sroka, 2020;Jansson et al, 2017;Malesios et al, 2018;Mashavira et al, 2019).…”