The relationship between 'competitive intelligence' and the internationalization of North African SMEs

Abstract

This article aims to develop a model of competitive intelligence in the case of North African small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Specifically, its objective is to analyse the mediating and moderating effects of innovation and the protection of information assets and the international competitiveness of SMEs based on export intensity. The results show that the relationship between business intelligence and the international competitiveness of SMEs is both mediated and moderated by innovation and the protection of information assets. The originality of this research lies in the design of a competitive intelligence model that integrates business intelligence in terms of the mediation and moderation effects of innovation and the protection of information assets and international competitiveness.