Joint effect of entrepreneurship and dynamic capabilities on firm performance: an empirical investigation among ICT-SMEs

Purpose With the focus on the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this study aims to investigate the joint effects of entrepreneurial leadership, entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capabilities and the mechanisms of how these factors influence firm performance. Design/methodology/approach A survey from 319 managers in information and communications technology SMEs in Vietnam was conducted, and structural equation modeling was adopted to analyze the collected data. Findings The results confirm that dynamic capabilities directly influence firm performance and serve as a mediator that connects entrepreneurial leadership and entrepreneurial orientation with firm performance. Additionally, entrepreneurial leadership was found to have a significant positive impact on entrepreneurial orientation. Originality/value This research augments the understanding of entrepreneurship and dynamic capabilities literature by examining the joint effects and mechanisms of how entrepreneurial leadership, entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capabilities interact to enhance SMEs' performance. Furthermore, this study provides empirical evidence of the strategies that SMEs should pursue to attain favorable performance outcomes.