Strategy and capital budgeting techniques: The moderating role of entrepreneurial structure

Abstract

This study explores how Miles and Snow's (1978) typology of strategy relates to a firm's choice of capital budgeting techniques (CBT) when the firm operates in a competitive market. Furthermore, it explores how this relationship is contingent on entrepreneurial structure. The study is based on data from 62 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating on First North. The empirical data was collected using a survey and secondary data from annual reports and analysed with content analysis. The results show that an analyser strategy is positively related to the choice of sophisticated CBT, and a defender strategy is positively related to the choice of non-sophisticated CBT. Moreover, entrepreneurial structure positively moderates the relationship between prospector strategy and the choice of non-sophisticated CBT. The study also provides practical insights on how to align strategy, CBT, and structure among SMEs operating on competitive markets.