Does entrepreneurs’ improvisational behavior improve firm performance in time of crisis?
ISSN: 2040-8269
Article publication date: 18 June 2021
Issue publication date: 3 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the effect of improvisational behavior of entrepreneurs on firm performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand during the economic crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also explores external factors in terms of competitive intensity and internal factors in terms of financial and human resources possessed by firms that could enhance the impact of improvisational behavior on firm performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A self-administered online questionnaire survey was used to collect the data from the random sample of 312 SMEs in Thailand. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.
Findings
The analysis supports the positive relationship between the improvisational behavior of entrepreneurs and firm performance. Moreover, the moderating effect analysis shows that the positive impact of improvisational behavior on firm performance tends to be stronger for firms that encountered a higher level of competitive intensity and for firms that possessed a higher level of financial and human resources.
Originality/value
This research extends the knowledge from prior research by confirming some moderating factors that could strengthen the benefit of improvisational behavior during the crisis.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank the editor and the anonymous reviewers of the Management Research Review for their time and effort devoted to help me improve the quality of this research. This research received financial support from International College of National Institute of Development Administration.
Citation
Charoensukmongkol, P. (2022), "Does entrepreneurs’ improvisational behavior improve firm performance in time of crisis?", Management Research Review, Vol. 45 No. 1, pp. 26-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-12-2020-0738
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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