Impacts of Managerial Characteristics on the Export Performance of Small and Medium-sized Firms: Review and Implications

Abstract

Previous research on export performance has been criticized for being a mosaic of autonomous endeavors and for a lack of theoretical development. Building upon extant models of export performance, a review and analysis of research on impacts of managerial characteristics on the export performance is developed and theoretical explanations are put forward. It is suggested that a multi-theory approach to explaining export performance is viable. Managerial behavior and perceptions for the SMEs from the review and synthesis of the literature are discussed.