A critical incident analysis of the export behaviour of SMEs
Evidence from an emerging market
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15539124 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Obi Berko Obeng Damoah (0000-0002-8349-272X, University of Ghana, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2018 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 2/3 |
| Pages | 309-334 |
| Publication date | 2018-01-26 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Critical Perspectives on International Business (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1742-2043 • E-ISSN: 1758-6062 |
| Publisher | Emerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1108/cpoib-11-2016-0061 |
| OpenAlex | W2785011126 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 100 |
Purpose In line with the slogan "Africa rising", the paper responds to the calls to shed light on the management knowledge of Africa, especially on the internationalisation of process of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Africa. This paper aims to explore the critical incidents that trigger the export initiation of SMEs from the garment and textile sub-sector of Ghana. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on the qualitative multi-case study research approach, coupled with the critical incident method and uses 36 case firms from the garment and textile sub-sector of Ghana. Findings From the interview transcripts, it was found that being in the receipt of unsolicited order, wining government award and having international orientation are among the critical incidents that catapult SMEs in the garment and textile sub-sector of Ghana to initiate export business. Research limitations/implications The study is based on the interpretivist qualitative method; therefore, future studies could extend the results by improving the sample size and use statistical methods. Practical implications Based on the findings, it is recommended that what is needed to improve export participation of SMEs from Ghana is entrepreneurial orientation. Implicitly, public policy must promote entrepreneurship education, i.e whether the government expects to see improvement in export involvement of SMEs from Ghana. Such initiatives will catapult most entrepreneurs from their comfort zones to take advantage of the various critical incidents in the external business environment and become exporters. Originality/value The contribution of the paper is that unlike previous studies that use objective quantitative measures to examine the issue from other settings, the present paper uses the critical incident method which is proven to delve deeper into the phenomenon. Another contribution is that it sheds light on the internationalisation process of manufacturing SMEs from an under-researched and a new geographical context
Business · Economic geography · Economics · Emerging markets · International economics · International trade · Global trade and economics · International Business and FDI · International Development and Aid
Critical Incident Technique
Exporters, Jobs, and Wages in U.S. Manufacturing
SME innovation, exporting and growth
Exports and Productivity
Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage
Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage
China in Africa
Determinants of International Activities
SMEs in Argentina
Toward a Contingency Framework of Export Entrepreneurship
Performance, Internationalization, and Firm-specific Advantages of SMEs in a Newly-Industrialized Economy
Trade liberalisation and growth in developing countries
Internationalization of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and International Entrepreneurship
Coming of age, seeking legitimacy
The critical incident technique
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |