Environmental factors, ambidexterity and performance in SMEs: does bricolage matter?
Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing
ISSN: 0885-8624
Article publication date: 7 September 2023
Issue publication date: 9 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Growing attention has been paid to bricolage as a strategic means to overcome resource constraints in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In the industrial market, a bricolage strategy and ambidextrous action may help firms to remain competitive by responding quickly to the business-to-business marketing. Despite its paramount importance, questions as to how bricolage is strengthened and how bricolage improves innovation ambidexterity have remained unanswered. This study aims to develop an integrated model for the relationships among environmental turbulence, learning orientation, ambidexterity and performance, with a particular focus on the mediation of bricolage.
Design/methodology/approach
Building on the literature review regarding the key constructs, hypotheses were developed. Data were collected using questionnaires from 229 SMEs in South Korea. To test hypothesis, structural equation modeling and Monte Carlo method for assessing mediation were performed.
Findings
Results reveal that environmental turbulence and learning orientation are positively associated with bricolage, which sequentially affects ambidextrous action as a driver of performance. The findings also indicate that bricolage significantly mediates the relationship between its antecedents and ambidexterity.
Originality/value
This research contributes to advancing our understanding of the role of a bricolage strategy for innovation ambidexterity and performance in SMEs. This study is the first to examine the mediation of bricolage between environmental factors and ambidexterity for improved performance.
Keywords
Citation
Lee, J. and Park, T. (2024), "Environmental factors, ambidexterity and performance in SMEs: does bricolage matter?", Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Vol. 39 No. 3, pp. 521-536. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBIM-07-2022-0336
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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