Entrepreneurial marketing strategy, institutional environment, and business performance of SMEs in Egypt
Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies
ISSN: 2053-4604
Article publication date: 27 May 2020
Issue publication date: 20 October 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research paper is to study the relationship between entrepreneurial marketing strategy (EMS), institutional environment (IE) and business performance (BP). Further, it examines the role of gender and entrepreneurial experience (EE) as moderators of EMS-BP and IE-BP relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the literature review, the authors proposed a conceptual model that was tested using a quantitative approach. Questionnaires were filled by 202 owners/entrepreneurs of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Egypt. Because of the absence of a formal population-frame for the Egyptian SMEs, non-probability quota sampling technique was used that considered differences in gender and EE. SmartPLS software was used for data analysis.
Findings
The results indicated that EMS has significant positive effect on BP. IE has significant positive effect on EMS but insignificant effect on BP. Gender was found to be moderating significantly both the EMS-BP and IE-BP relationships. However, EE was found to be an insignificant moderator in the EMS-BP relationship.
Practical implications
The findings communicate insights to the SMEs on the importance of undertaking proactive, risk-taking and innovative activities while creating and delivering value to their customers. Also, it encapsulates further implications for policymakers to promote a better IE for entrepreneurship in Egypt.
Originality/value
This study contributes conceptually to the interdisciplinary research that investigated the integration between entrepreneurship and marketing as a successful functional strategy in SMEs and its effect on enhancing BP and market share. Empirically, it adds value to the available literature on contemporary strategic entrepreneurship by analysing these IE-EMS-EE-Gender-BP relationships in a promising, yet under-researched, transitional economy.
Keywords
Citation
Adel, H.M., Mahrous, A.A. and Hammad, R. (2020), "Entrepreneurial marketing strategy, institutional environment, and business performance of SMEs in Egypt", Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, Vol. 12 No. 5, pp. 727-746. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-11-2019-0171
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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