The key enablers of competitive advantage formation in small and medium enterprises: The case of the Ha’il region

Abstract

The primary objective of this research is to establish the extent to which small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the Ha’il region benefit from a significant competitive advantage brought about by an entrepreneurial mindset (innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy). To achieve these objectives, the study used a questionnaire to collect data. A total of 220 SMEs in the Ha’il region were surveyed. The participants completed an online self-administered survey and used the PLS-SEM technique. The researchers found a robust link between differentiation advantage and higher levels of innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, competitive aggression, and autonomy. In addition, the outcomes of the survey reveal that a greater cost advantage is substantially associated with vastly greater innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, and competitive aggression overall. However, cost advantage is not strongly correlated with autonomy. These findings are significant because they shed new light on how competitive advantages are formed through the entrepreneurial orientation of entrepreneurs in the Ha’il region. This is a significant theoretical contribution to the literature on entrepreneurial orientation, specifically in the context of SMEs. The findings may also be valuable in supporting SMEs in being successful by enhancing their competitiveness, as SMEs are key contributors to the development and growth of the economy.

Competitive capabilities of higher education institutions from their Employees’ perspectives: A case study of King Khalid University

“…Participant 4 emphasized, " Mandatory training in modern teaching and assessment techniques is crucial for both new and existing faculty members , " while Participant 26 noted, " Comprehensive professional development for all of KKU’s human resources , including faculty and staff , is essential for achieving the university’s strategic goals ." These findings align with Thomran et al [ 28 ], which argues that professional development is fundamental to increasing competitiveness, and with Hashim’s [ 3 ] research, underlining the importance of continuous professional growth for academic staff.…”

“…Participant 14 observed, " The university’s study plans undergo regular evaluations , with curricula designed to sequence and integrate , equipping graduates with the skills and qualifications the job market seeks . " This aligns with Thomran et al [ 28 ], whose research suggests that a key competitive advantage is graduates possessing knowledge, skills, and values in sync with market needs.…”

“…This aligns with Thomran et al [28], whose research suggests that a key competitive advantage is graduates possessing knowledge, skills, and values in sync with market needs.…”

Towards Enhancing Creativity and Innovation in Education System for Youth in Hail Region

“…Creativity and innovation are crucial for success in today's world, where new ideas and solutions are needed to solve complex problems. The results of the study revealed that the students generally perceive themselves as being involved in creative thinking activities and participating in creativity and innovation training at the university which support the proposed idea of the authors, in addition to that the results is in line with results of Ghosh, 2015;Huang et al, 2022;Ye et al, 2022;Thomran et al, 2022).…”

Entrepreneurial orientation and competitive aggressiveness: A need for conceptual refinement and contextualization

“…In the hope to elucidate a clearer relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance, the researchers turned their attention to competitive aggressiveness, a manifestation of competitiveness (Aldabbas & Oberholzer, 2023;Blok, 2018;Shajrawi & Aburub, 2022;Thomran, Alshallaqi, Al-Mamary, & Abdulrab, 2022). Argued to be the key dimension of entrepreneurial orientation affecting firm performance, competitive aggressiveness is defined as "the type of intensity and head-tohead posturing that new entrants often need to compete with existing rivals."…”