• Korea Trade Review
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.171-184
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of internationalized human capital on SME's export performance and to examine the moderating effects of export experience and export market diversification of SMEs that can affect the relationship between internationalized human capital and export performance of SMEs. The results of empirical analysis of 150 small and medium-sized enterprises located in Jeonnam province are as follows. First, the internationalized human capital of SMEs was found to have a positive (+) effect on export performance. Second, as a result of empirically analyzing the moderating effect of internationalized human capital on export performance, the export experience of SMEs was found to have a negative (-) moderating effect on the relationship between internationalized human capital and export performance of SMEs, and the export market diversification had a negative (-) moderating effect on the relationship between internationalized human capital and export performance of SMEs. This study provides meaningful theoretical implications in that this study identified the role of human capital by analyzing the relationship between internationalized human capital as an important source of competitive advantage of SMEs and export performance.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.299-325
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• 2010

The purpose of this empirical study is an index to usage of export assistance programs for korean small-medium exporters. Build around the index make an analysis of SMEs internal or exterior factors have an effect on export at present or in future export performance and the relative importance. Based on 128 surveys form korean SMEs experienced export assistance programs, 8 hypotheses, which are set up each factor, were verified through the practical analysis. The main result of hypothesis drawn by empirical study are as follows : The more SMEs use the programs, the more high export performance at present and in future. Export competitive factor reject at present export performance, but it will affect future export performance. A size of the firm in the characteristics of SEMs will affect export performance. Export rate of own brand will not affect performance. Another factors show adoption partly concerned hypothesis. Classified exterior factors of SMEs, a intensity of market competition shows adoption partly concerned hypothesis. Market growth rate will affect export performance at present and future strongly. Finally the usage of assistance programs will affect between a consumption goods and an industrial goods differently. From this study we found if we want to develop the export assistance programs that can actually in phases help the SEMs.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.231-248
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• 2021

This study aims to examine an effective path that links the use of export promotion programs(EPPs) to the export performance of SMEs. In particular, the study focuses on what role the export innovativeness of SMEs plays between EPPs and export performance. In order to verify the conceptual model, the structural equation modeling is applied, using the data collected from a sample of 152 Korean SME exporters. The study highlights the notion that the relationship between the use of EPPs and export performance is not direct and that higher performance can be achieved through export innovativeness, the ability to reconstruct internal resources and to respond quickly to changes in the export market. The results of the empirical analysis show that EPPs partially mediate the relationship between export market-orientation and export innovativeness, and that such mediated export innovativeness continues to fully mediate the relationship between EPPs and export performance. That is, if SMEs make good use of EPPs that meet their needs, they can be encouraged to re-bundle or strengthen their existing resources and capabilities, which in turn lead to higher export performance. The study thus helps extend understanding of EPPs and export performance literature.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.261-277
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze whether SMEs' technological capabilities and international marketing capabilities affect the export performance of the SMEs and to empirically test the moderating effect of the CEO's risk propensity on such a relationship. We obtained data from 190 SMEs located in Gwangju and Jeonnam Province in Korea through survey and performed a regression analysis for hypothesis testing based on these data. As a result of the analysis, it was found that SMEs' technological capabilities and international marketing capabilities had a significantly positive (+) effect on export performance, respectively. Also, the CEO's risk propensity was found to reinforce the relationship between technical competence and export performance, and the relationship between marketing capabilities and export performance was also found to be strengthened in the positive (+) direction. These results suggest that it is necessary for SMEs to continuously develop technological capabilities and international marketing capabilities to achieve successful export performance in overseas markets. Also, the CEO's propensity to promote these relationships may be important.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.103-124
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• 2022

For venturing into international markets, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have not only emphasized internal resources but entrepreneurial orientation has also become the need of the day due to its significant role in increasing firm's competitive capabilities. Although research indicates that the competitive strategies can significantly impact export performance, minor attention is given to the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, business competitive strategy and export performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study scrutinizes the effect of each dimension of entrepreneurial orientation (i.e., innovativeness, risk-taking, and proactiveness) and each of generic competitive strategies (i.e., cost leadership and differentiation) on the export performance of Chinese SMEs. And we investigated the moderating effect of entrepreneurial orientation on the relationship between the competitive strategies and export performance. We surveyed 217 Chinese SMEs through a structured questionnaire. For the data analysis and hypotheses testing, we used AMOS. 27. The findings display that differentiation and cost leadership strategies significantly improve export performance. The innovativeness, risk-taking and proactiveness also spur Chinese SME's export performance. Further we find that adding entrepreneurial orientation significantly improves our model of the relationship between the competitive strategies and export performance. Thus, our study extends the entrepreneurial orientation literature and provides interesting new insights into how entrepreneurial orientation helps firms create more successful export operations.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.101-114
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• 2019

E-business enables SMEs to reduce transaction costs and maintain export competitiveness in rapidly changing overseas markets. It is required to raise the entrepreneurial awareness of e-business of exporting SMEs. This study examines the characteristics of enterprises that play an important role in the introduction and utilization of e-business by domestic export SMEs. It explores the mechanisms that search and exploit these opportunities in an entrepreneurial way, and examines the process leading to export performance. We conducted a survey for empirical analysis and analyzed the data from 316 companies using e-business in Korea. As a result, both the international entrepreneurial orientation and the IT competence tended to be significant for the perception of e-business entrepreneurs and showed a different pattern in terms of size of influence. In addition, cooperation and operation among e-business entrepreneurs' perceptions have a direct impact on the export performance of SMEs.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.61-67
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• 2015

Purpose - Exports have long been regarded as significant drivers of sustainable competitive advantage and growth among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The export activities of SMEs are particularly important in the context of export-oriented economies such as Korea. Although many studies have examined the determinants of exports, it is difficult to find empirical studies about the determinants of the export performance of regional SMEs. This study investigates the determinants of export performance in the regional SME context based on an integrated approach that combines the environment factor of industrial organization theory, competitive strategy theory, and the competences of the resource-based view. Research design, data, and methodology - To empirically analyze the determinants of export performance in the regional SMEs, data were collected from firms in the Daegu metropolitan area. Data were collected directly through questionnaire surveys; in addition, secondary financial data were also taken from the KIS-VALUE database. Out of the 175 responses that were received, 143 were considered to be worth examining. After testing the reliability and validity of the variables through multiple items such as environmental turbulence and competitive strategy, hypotheses were verified by using five multi-regression models. These models were: a control model with organizational size and age, an environmental model with technology and market turbulence, a competency model with R&D and foreign distribution channels, a strategy model with product and market differentiation, and an integrated model including all of these variables. Results - First, as a control variable, the organization size has significant positive effects on export performance. Second, technology turbulence based on industrial organization theory has significant positive effects on export performance, but market turbulence does not affect export performance. Third, the foreign market distribution competency of the resource-based view has strong positive effects on export performance, but the R&D competency does not affect export performance. Fourth, the product differentiation strategy from competitive strategy theory positively impacts export performance, but market differentiation does not affect export performance. Finally, in the integrated model, only the foreign distribution competency of the resource-based view has a significant effect on export performance. Conclusions - The empirical results of this study verified the usefulness of the rationales behind the three theories to explain the export performance of the regional SMEs, especially the importance of the foreign market distribution competency from the resource-based view. With regard to practical considerations, this study's implications suggest that the use of technological environmental changes by industries is better than the use of market changes. Further, the use of the product differentiation strategy is more effective than the use of the market-driving strategy, and the distribution channel competency plays a stronger role than the technology-oriented competency with regard to the export performance position of regional SMEs. Future studies should examine relational perspectives, such as trust among channel partners. Therefore, the configuration approach is more useful in enhancing pragmatism by comparing high- and low-export companies.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.73-84
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• 2019

This study focuses on previous research that explored the external knowledge reflecting the characteristics of SMEs and that should be considered because of the limited capacity of SMEs. This study examines the effects of open innovation and SMEs on export performance, focuses on government support as a way to supplement the limited capacity of SMEs, and analyzes the moderating effects of government support. An examination of 1,358 samples revealed that the breadth of external knowledge, depth of external knowledge, and government support had a significant impact on the export performance of SMEs. The effect of exploration of external knowledge (breadth and depth) of SMEs on the export performance of SMEs is significant both in breadth and depth when government support is provided, but only depth is significant when there is no government support.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.73-92
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• 2021

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for a large proportion of the total number of enterprises in many countries. The development of SMEs has contributed to job creation and economic benefits. Every government has formulated active diversification strategies to promote the export market of SMEs, but the performance of export capabilities remains insufficient. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of export credit insurance in promoting SME export performance in Canada. Using data from 2008-2017, the augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) model to test the stationarity of the concerned variables and the error correction model (ECM) and autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration test to empirically investigate the cointegration relationship between the research targets. The results represent the positive and critical impact of export relative price and domestic demand pressure on Canada's export performance, and the negative impact of the export volume index at a significant level. Regrettably, the impact of export credit insurance on the export performance of Canadian SMEs is considered exaggerated overall. In view of this result, it is necessary for the Canadian government to enact policies based on the current market status. And enhance confidence among SMEs to begin exports and diversify their markets rather than focusing only on the domestic or US market, especially given the impact of COVID-19. From the case of Canada, Korean government can attempt to learn from them to conduct more efficient strategies for SMEs.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.34
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• pp.135-156
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• 2007

Trade Portal Site(TPS) is one of the essential tools which can make it possible for small and medium enterprises(SMEs) to perform international trade activity more efficiently using newest information and communication technology including the Internet. Therefore, Korean SMEs need to utilize TPS more actively to enhance their export competitiveness. In this context, this article analyzes the determinants of export performances of Korean SMEs in utilizing the service of TPS based on the Service Quality Model. As a result of an empirical research by using regressive analysis, various measures of service reliability such as reliability, empathy, and tangibilities have positive effects on SMEs export performance in utilizing TPS. These results provides many useful implications to the TPS managers, e-trade related government agency, along with managers of SMEs using TPS.