The moderating effect of competitive intensity on foresight capability and product innovation of SMEs in Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to understand the performance of SME’s product innovation by relating it to the foresight concept of SME owners or managers and the moderating effect of competitive intensity. It employs a quantitative research method by using a survey. This paper studies SMEs from the West Java Province of Indonesia in three industrial sectors: food, fashion, and handicrafts. These industrial sectors were chosen because they are the most competitive, and their consumers change rapidly. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed, 190 were returned, and 187 were used for data processing. Furthermore, the data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM). The results show that networking, time horizon, and analysis can affect product innovation performance (p < 0.05). Furthermore, competition intensity does not affect the relationship between analysis and product innovation performance, although there is a relationship between networking and time horizon. The results of this study provide insight for Indonesian SMEs, especially in West Java. Foresight skills trained by SMEs will make them accustomed to facing high-level competition, especially in the time horizon dimension. However, on the other hand, the high intensity of competition can reduce their networking to collaborate with various related parties.