Improving Business Performance For SMEs: The Power Of Co-Innovation, And Business Networks Resilience In The Covid-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Do Hai-Ninh School of International Business – Marketing, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2630-0146
  • Nhu-Y Ngoc Hoang School of International Business – Marketing, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City
  • Ngoc-Bich Do School of International Business – Marketing, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7903/ijecs.2290

Keywords:

Co-innovation, Business network resilience, Organizational resilience, SMEs’ performance

Abstract

The Covid-19 outbreak-induced economic crisis has been considered significantly worse than the Great Depression (1929–1939), which had been seen as the worst economic catastrophe in history. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have suffered heavier losses than large organizations during the pandemic. However, empirical results regarding relationships among resilient factors and SMEs performance have been inconclusive. This study builds on the Resources-based-view and Contingent Theory to examine one resilient factor as co-creation. Following a comprehensive literature review, quantitative research was adopted in this paper. There were a total of 450 SMEs participating in this study. SmartPLS 3.0 was performed on the relationship between co-innovation and SMEs outcomes. The findings show a positive and direct impact of co-innovation and organizational resilience and further leverage SMEs’ performance. Furthermore, it was found that co-innovation also boosts the resilience of business networks, SMEs which plays a critical role to business survival. Driven from these findings, SMEs in emerging markets should consider and focus on co-innovation with their stakeholders to overcome the long-lasting impacts from the pandemic.

References

A. Harima, "Transnational migration entrepreneurship during a crisis: Immediate response to challenges and opportunities emerging through the COVID-19 pandemic," Business and Society Review, vol. 127, no. S1, pp. 223-251, 2022.

E. Thukral, "COVID-19: Small and medium enterprises challenges and responses with creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship," Strategic Change, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 153-158, 2021.

V. B. Klein and J. L. Todesco, "COVID-19 crisis and SMEs responses: The role of digital transformation," Knowledge and Process Management, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 117-133, 2021.

Y. Lu, J. Wu, J. Peng, and L. Lu, "The perceived impact of the Covid-19 epidemic: evidence from a sample of 4807 SMEs in Sichuan Province, China," Environmental Hazards, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 323-340, 2020.

M. V. Ciasullo, R. Montera, and A. Douglas, "Building SMEs’ resilience in times of uncertainty: the role of big data analytics capability and co-innovation," Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 203-217, 2022.

B. K. Dawson, L. Young, C. Tu, and F. Chongyi, "Co-innovation in networks of resources — A case study in the Chinese exhibition industry," Industrial Marketing Management, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 496-503, 2014.

C.-H. Chang, M.-Y. Shih, and H.-J. Peng, "Enhancing entrepreneurial opportunity recognition: Relationships among green innovative capability, green relational capability, and co-innovation behavior," Business Strategy and the Environment, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1358-1368, 2022.

S. Yeniyurt, J. W. Henke, and G. Yalcinkaya, "A longitudinal analysis of supplier involvement in buyers’ new product development: working relations, inter-dependence, co-innovation, and performance outcomes," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 291-308, 2014.

D. Huo, "Local search or beyond? The influence of interfirm technological distance on co-innovation success," Industrial and Corporate Change, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 966-982, 2021.

J. A. Busser, L. V. Shulga, and H. J. Kang, "Customer disposition to social exchange in Co-innovation," International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 76, pp. 299-307, 2019.

S. J. Fielke and M. S. Srinivasan, "Co-innovation to increase community resilience: influencing irrigation efficiency in the Waimakariri Irrigation Scheme," Sustainability Science, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 255-267, 2018.

J. Arias-Pérez, N. Lozada, and E. Henao-García, "When it comes to the impact of absorptive capacity on co-innovation, how really harmful is knowledge leakage?," Journal of Knowledge Management, vol. 24, no. 8, pp. 1841-1857, 2020.

J. Arias-Pérez, G. Perdomo-Charry, and N. Lozada, "Opening the black box of organizational Machiavellianism: is co-innovation coming to an end as a driver of innovation performance?," Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 745-758, 2023.

A. Löfgren, "International network management for the purpose of host market expansion: The mediating effect of co-innovation in the networks of SMEs," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 162-182, 2014.

E. W. Liguori and T. G. Pittz, "Strategies for small business: Surviving and thriving in the era of COVID-19," Journal of the International Council for Small Business, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 106-110, 2020.

J. Juergensen, J. Guimón, and R. Narula, "European SMEs amidst the COVID-19 crisis: assessing impact and policy responses," Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 499-510, 2020.

W. C. Liu, Tsan-Ming; Niu Xueqi; Zhang, Min; Fan, Weiguo, "Determinants of Business Resilience in the Restaurant Industry During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Textual Analytics Study on an O2O Platform Case," IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, pp. 1-14, 2022.

M. R. Hossain, F. Akhter, and M. M. Sultana, "SMEs in Covid-19 Crisis and Combating Strategies: A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and A Case from Emerging Economy," Operations Research Perspectives, vol. 9, p. 100222, 2022.

S. Sarkar and S. R. Clegg, "Resilience in a time of contagion: Lessons from small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Change Management, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 242-267, 2021.

J. Barney, "Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage," Journal of Management, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 99-120, 1991.

M. C. Branco and L. L. Rodrigues, "Corporate Social Responsibility and Resource-Based Perspectives," Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 69, no. 2, pp. 111-132, 2006.

B. Wernerfelt, "A Resource-Based View of the Firm," Strategic Management Journal, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 171-180, 1984.

F. E. Fiedler, "A method of objective quantification of certain countertransferance attitudes," Journal of Clinical Psychology, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 101-107, 1951.

A. Rejc, "Toward contingency theory of performance measurement," Journal for East European Management Studies, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 243-264, 2004.

D. B. Waggoner, A. D. Neely, and M. P. Kennerley, "The forces that shape organisational performance measurement systems:: An interdisciplinary review," International Journal of Production Economics, vol. 60-61, pp. 53-60, 1999.

M. M. Ajmal, M. Khan, and M. K. Shad, "The global economic cost of coronavirus pandemic: current and future implications," Public Administration and Policy, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 290-305, 2021.

M. Childs, T. Turner, C. Sneed, and A. Berry, "A Contingency Theory Approach to Understanding Small Retail Business Continuity During COVID-19," Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 216-230, 2022.

C. S. N. Krishnan, L. S. Ganesh, and C. Rajendran, "Entrepreneurial Interventions for crisis management: Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic's impact on entrepreneurial ventures," International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, vol. 72, p. 102830, 2022.

S. Modgil, S. Gupta, R. Stekelorum, and I. Laguir, "AI technologies and their impact on supply chain resilience during -19," International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 130-149, 2022.

C. Wang and Q. Hu, "Knowledge sharing in supply chain networks: Effects of collaborative innovation activities and capability on innovation performance," Technovation, vol. 94-95, p. 102010, 2020.

J. Fasth, V. Elliot, and A. Styhre, "Crisis management as practice in small- and medium-sized enterprises during the first period of COVID-19," Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 161-170, 2022.

Y. Liu, Y. Zhang, H. Fang, and X. Chen, "SMEs’ line of credit under the COVID-19: evidence from China," Small Business Economics, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 807-828, 2022.

L. Aldianto, G. Anggadwita, A. Permatasari, I. R. Mirzanti, and I. O. Williamson, "Toward a Business Resilience Framework for Startups," Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 6, p. 3132, 2021.

P. Wang, X. Chen, and J. J. Lawler, "Unraveling the relationship between high-performance work systems and firm performance: A mediation analysis," Human Resource Management, vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 181-197, 2022.

J.-T. Wei, Y. W. Chang, X. Zhang, H.-H. Wu, and Y.-T. Tang, "Performance measurement systems, TQM and multi-level firm performance: a person–organisation fit perspective," Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, vol. 30, no. 15-16, pp. 1578-1595, 2019.

P. C. van Fenema and B. B. M. Keers, "Rediscovering strategic content in ‘strong process’ research on business network innovation," Industrial Marketing Management, vol. 91, pp. 639-656, 2020.

N. Ombrosi, E. Casprini, and A. Piccaluga, "Designing and managing co-innovation: the case of Loccioni and Pfizer," European Journal of Innovation Management, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 600-616, 2019.

Y. Yuan, Z. Han, and W. Yang, "A co-innovation network in Northeast China oriented to high-quality development," Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, pp. 1-18, 2021.

S. Somers, "Measuring Resilience Potential: An Adaptive Strategy for Organizational Crisis Planning," Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 12-23, 2009.

W. Ragmoun, "Institutional quality, unemployment, economic growth and entrepreneurial activity in developed countries: a dynamic and sustainable approach," Review of International Business and Strategy, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 345-370, 2023.

J. Hillmann and E. Guenther, "Organizational Resilience: A Valuable Construct for Management Research?," International Journal of Management Reviews, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 7-44, 2021.

A. Ferraris, G. Santoro, and L. Dezi, "How MNC’s subsidiaries may improve their innovative performance? The role of external sources and knowledge management capabilities," Journal of Knowledge Management, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 540-552, 2017.

V. Parida, P. C. Patel, J. Wincent, and M. Kohtamäki, "Network partner diversity, network capability, and sales growth in small firms," Journal of Business Research, vol. 69, no. 6, pp. 2113-2117, 2016.

A. Richtnér and H. Löfsten, "Managing in turbulence: how the capacity for resilience influences creativity," R&D Management, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 137-151, 2014.

H. D. X. Trieu, P. V. Nguyen, T. T. M. Nguyen, H. M. Vu, and K. Tran, "Information technology capabilities and organizational ambidexterity facilitating organizational resilience and firm performance of SMEs," Asia Pacific Management Review, 2023.

G. Ahuja, "Collaboration Networks, Structural Holes, and Innovation: A Longitudinal Study," Administrative Science Quarterly, vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 425-455, 2000.

A. Walter, M. Auer, and T. Ritter, "The impact of network capabilities and entrepreneurial orientation on university spin-off performance," Journal of Business Venturing, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 541-567, 2006.

G. Human and P. Naude, "Exploring the relationship between network competence, network capability and firm performance : a resource-based perspective in an emerging economy," Management Dynamics : Journal of the Southern African Institute for Management Scientists, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 2-14, 2009.

S. M. Suárez-Ortega, A. M. García-Cabrera, and G. A. Knight, "Knowledge acquisition for SMEs first entering developing economies: Evidence from Senegal," European Journal of Management and Business Economics, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 22-35, 2016.

P. Kale, H. Singh, and H. Perlmutter, "Learning and protection of proprietary assets in strategic alliances: building relational capital," Strategic Management Journal, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 217-237, 2000.

S. De Klerk and J. Kroon, "Networking in South African businesses," Management Decision, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 89-103, 2007.

A. A. Abiad, M. D. Rosa, F. Suzette, N. Benno, P. L. Osewe, J. Pagaduan, D. Park, R. Platitas, "The economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on developing Asia," Asian Development Bank Briefs, vol. 128, pp. 1-14, 2020.

S. Kraus, T. Clauss, M. Breier, J. Gast, A. Zardini, and V. Tiberius, "The economics of COVID-19: initial empirical evidence on how family firms in five European countries cope with the corona crisis," International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 1067-1092, 2020.

A. Khalil, M. E. A. Abdelli, and E. Mogaji, "Do Digital Technologies Influence the Relationship between the COVID-19 Crisis and SMEs’ Resilience in Developing Countries?," Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, vol. 8, no. 2, p. 100, 2022.

T. Paeffgen, "Organisational Resilience during COVID-19 Times: A Bibliometric Literature Review," Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 1, p. 367, 2023.

R. d. O. Mota, A. Bueno, J. d. S. L. Gonella, G. M. D. Ganga, M. Godinho Filho, and H. Latan, "The effects of the COVID-19 crisis on startups' performance: the role of resilience," Management Decision, vol. 60, no. 12, pp. 3388-3415, 2022.

X. Xie, Y. Wu, and C. B.-G. Tejerob, "How Responsible Innovation Builds Business Network Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Performance During Global Outbreaks: An Extended Resource-Based View," IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, pp. 1-15, 2022.

H. Do, P. Budhwar, H. Shipton, H.-D. Nguyen, and B. Nguyen, "Building organizational resilience, innovation through resource-based management initiatives, organizational learning and environmental dynamism," Journal of Business Research, vol. 141, pp. 808-821, 2022.

M. Fan, S. A. Qalati, M. A. S. Khan, S. M. M. Shah, M. Ramzan, and R. S. Khan, "Effects of entrepreneurial orientation on social media adoption and SME performance: The moderating role of innovation capabilities," PLOS ONE, vol. 16, no. 4, p. e0247320, 2021.

J. F. Hair, G. T. M. Hult, C. M. Ringle, M. Sarstedt, A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), 3 ed. Thousand Oaks, CA 91320: SAGE Publications, Inc, 2021, p. 384.

B. Tabachnick, L. S. Fidell, Experimental Designs Using ANOVA, 2 ed. Thomson/Brooks/Cole, 2007.

L. S. Meyers, G. C. Gamst, and A. J. Guarino, Performing Data Analysis Using IBM SPSS. John Wiley & Sons, 2013, p. 736.

J. F. Hair, W. C. Black, B. J. Babin, R. E. Anderson, Multivariate Data Analysis, 8 ed. United Kingdom: Cengage Learning, 2019.

C. Fornell and D. F. Larcker, "Evaluating Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error," Journal of Marketing Research, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 39-50, 1981.

J. Pallant, A step by step guide to data analysis using SPSS for windows: SPSS survival manual, 7 ed. UK: McGraw-Hill Education, 2020, p. 378.

J.C. Nunnally, I. H. Bernstein, Psychometric Theory, 3 ed. New York: Tata McGraw-Hill Education, 1994, p. 752.

C. R. Greer and D. Lei, "Collaborative Innovation with Customers: A Review of the Literature and Suggestions for Future Research*," International Journal of Management Reviews, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 63-84, 2012.

T. Kohler, K. Matzler, and J. Füller, "Avatar-based innovation: Using virtual worlds for real-world innovation," Technovation, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 395-407, 2009.

R. Maniak, C. Midler, "Shifting from co-development to co-innovation," International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 449-468, 2008.

V. Ramaswamy, "Co‐creating value through customers' experiences: the Nike case," Strategy & Leadership, vol. 36, no. 5, pp. 9-14, 2008.

R. Rothwell and M. Dodgson, "External linkages and innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises," R&D Management, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 125-138, 1991.

W. W. B. van Blokland, S.C. Santema, "Value chain innovation processes and the influence of co-innovation," presented at the Proceedings of the 22nd IMP Conference, 2006. Available: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ec9e7226-d011-46bb-9f8a-6be259306e60

S. M. Lee, D. L. Olson, and S. Trimi, "Co‐innovation: convergenomics, collaboration, and co‐creation for organizational values," Management Decision, vol. 50, no. 5, pp. 817-831, 2012.

X. Zhai, H. Ma, and Y. Zhang, "Can high-performance funds be built and managed by improving their network locations? –- evidence from entrepreneurship in Chinese fund managers," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 383-407, 2022.

X. Ma, X. Yao, and Y. Xi, "How do interorganizational and interpersonal networks affect a firm's strategic adaptive capability in a transition economy?," Journal of Business Research, vol. 62, no. 11, pp. 1087-1095, 2009.

W. Jiang, F. Mavondo, and W. Zhao, "The impact of business networks on dynamic capabilities and product innovation: The moderating role of strategic orientation," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 1239-1266, 2020.

R. W. Palmatier, R. P. Dant, and D. Grewal, "A comparative longitudinal analysis of theoretical perspectives of interorganizational relationship performance," Journal of Marketing, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 172-194, 2007.

Y. Yi, Y. Li, M. A. Hitt, Y. Liu, and Z. Wei, "The influence of resource bundling on the speed of strategic change: Moderating effects of relational capital," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 435-467, 2016.

S. Xu, F. Wu, and E. Cavusgil, "Complements or Substitutes? Internal Technological Strength, Competitor Alliance Participation, and Innovation Development," Journal of Product Innovation Management, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 750-762, 2013.

H. Dahles and T. P. Susilowati, "Business resilience in times of growth and crisis," Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 51, pp. 34-50, 2015.

M. Levy and P. Powell, "SME Flexibility and the Role of Information Systems," Small Business Economics, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 183-196, 1998.

J. t. Wengel and E. Rodriguez, "SME Export Performance in Indonesia After the Crisis," Small Business Economics, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 25-37, 2006.

J. Ratnasingam et al., "How are small and medium enterprises in Malaysia’s furniture industry coping with COVID-19 pandemic? Early evidences from a survey and recommendations for policymakers," Bioresources, vol. 15, pp. 5951-5964, 2020.

M. Asad and M. Kashif, "Unveiling success factors for small and medium enterprises during COVID-19 pandemic," Arab Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 187-194, 2021.

G. Nyikos, B. Soha, and A. Béres, "Entrepreneurial resilience and firm performance during the COVID-19 crisis - Evidence from Hungary," Regional Statistics, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 29-59, 2021.

M. E. Hossain, M. S. Islam, A. Bandyopadhyay, A. Awan, M. R. Hossain, and S. Rej, "Mexico at the crossroads of natural resource dependence and COP26 pledge: Does technological innovation help?," Resources Policy, vol. 77, p. 102710, 2022.

A. Priyono, A. Moin, and V. N. A. O. Putri, "Identifying Digital Transformation Paths in the Business Model of SMEs during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, vol. 6, no. 4, p. 104, 2020.

N. A. Adam and G. Alarifi, "Innovation practices for survival of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the COVID-19 times: the role of external support," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, vol. 10, no. 1, p. 15, 2021.

O. Comfort, Chimezie, O. Bonaventure, Chizoba, and E. Asika, Raymond, "Assessment Of Covid-19 Impact On Small And Medium Enterprises," 2020, vol. 7, no. 8, p. 10, 2020.

S. Gustavsson and S. Larsson, "Marketing Innovation for SMEs during COVID-19 Pandemic : A case study of the hospitality industry in Norrbotten," Business and Economics, bachelor's level, Department of Business Administration, Technology and Social Science, Luleå University of Technology, 2020.

H. E. Van Auken, M. Fotouhi Ardakani, S. Carraher, and R. Khojasteh Avorgani, "Innovation among entrepreneurial SMEs during the COVID-19 crisis in Iran," Small Business International Review, vol. 5, no. 2, p. e395, 2021.

T. Clauss, M. Breier, S. Kraus, S. Durst, and R. V. Mahto, "Temporary business model innovation – SMEs’ innovation response to the Covid-19 crisis," R&D Management, vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 294-312, 2022.

L. F. Mesquita and S. G. Lazzarini, "Horizontal and Vertical Relationships in Developing Economies: Implications for SMEs' Access to Global Markets," Academy of Management Journal, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 359-380, 2008.

F. Eggers, "Masters of disasters? Challenges and opportunities for SMEs in times of crisis," Journal of Business Research, vol. 116, pp. 199-208, 2020.

Downloads

Published

2024-03-30

Issue

Section

Regular Articles