چارچوب مفهومی از عوامل مؤثر بر توسعه شرکت های کوچک و متوسط:عوامل واسطه ای در ارتباط ویژگی های کارآفرین و عملکرد شرکت های کوچک و متوسط

Only a small fraction of SMEs are successful in achieving exceptional performance and sustainable growth, The literature shows that there is still a gap for effective ways to increase the size of that fraction. This paper aims to contribute in filling the gap by identifying factors affecting SME performance and, hence, their development; and to develop a conceptual framework explaining their relationships. The literature reveals that although there is positive relationship between entrepreneur traits and firm performance in the context of SMEs, the relationship is still inconclusive; suggesting that there are intervening constructs between the two constructs. Field observations and literature reviews suggest five second- order constructs serving mediating roles between entrepreneur traits and firm performance that may clarify the relationship, i.e., (1) innovative performance, (2) innovative capacity, (3) organizational search, (4) market orientation, and (5) entrepreneurial orientation. Although the relationships among the seven constructs have been extensively studied in the extant literature, this paper is one of the few efforts, if any, in investigating the seven constructs in a comprehensive framework as a basis for further studies. If empirically supported, the proposed framework may provide an effective alternative in assisting entrepreneurs and SMEs’ owners to develop their firms more effectively.

By number, the majority of the SMEs population is the subsistence firms and small firms. Very few of those small firms can reach the medium size which, eventually, a portion of them have the potential to further develop into large firms depending upon the founders and the entrepreneurs of those firms (Nichter and Goldmark, 2009). One of the main differences between SMEs and large organization is the dominance of the entrepreneurs or the owners , 1986a, 1986b). Altough there is evidence that there is positive relationship between an SME entrepreneur(s) -or owner(s)- and the firm performance, the constructs that play important roles between the two are not yet clarified.The purpose of this paper is to identify some of the antecedents of SME performance that affect SMEs development, and to investigate the relationships among those antecedents. Therefore, this paper develops a conceptual framework for explaining the roles of mediating constructs between the entrepreneur and the SME performance.Literature revealed five constructs that may mediate the relationship between entrepreneur traits and firm performance, i.e., entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation, organizational search, innovative capacity,and innovative performance. This paper contribution is in integrating those constructs into a comprehensive conceptual framework to enable a better under how s in efforts for fostering SMEs growth and development.The remainder of this paper will be organized as follows. First, a brief description of the conceptual framework will be introduced. Then, concise literature reviews of each of the seven constructs will be presented followed by relevant hypotheses. In total, eleven hypotheses on the relationships among those seven constructs will be generated. Finally, implications for further studies will be described.