This study analyzes the relationship between entrepreneurial orientati
on, innovation capability, and absorption capacity of SMEs, while inves
tigating the mediating effect of technology innovation in the process of
each factor affecting enterprise pe...
This study analyzes the relationship between entrepreneurial orientati
on, innovation capability, and absorption capacity of SMEs, while inves
tigating the mediating effect of technology innovation in the process of
each factor affecting enterprise performance.
For empirical analysis, a survey was conducted on 1,200 SMEs, and
237 response data were collected. As a result of analyzing using the
structural equation model analysis, first, it was found that entrepreneurial
orientation, innovation capability, and absorption capability had a positive
(+) effect on technological innovation performance. Second, it was found
that entrepreneurial orientation had a positive (+) effect on enterprise
performance. However, it was confirmed that innovation capability,
absorption capacity, and technological innovation performance had no
direct influence on enterprise performance. Third, as a result of analyzing
the mediating effect of technological innovation performance, it was
confirmed that technological innovation performance had a partial
mediating effect in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and
enterprise performance, whereas technological innovation performance
had a complete mediating effect in the relationship.
Looking at the academic contribution of this study, the impact on
enterprise performance was verified by integrally analyzing entrepreneurial
orientation research and innovation research, which can be said to be a
different aspect of this study compared to existing studies. In particular,
it can be seen that the analysis demonstrating the mediating effect of
the technological innovation performance of this study is meaningful
in the situation where there are not many previous studies measuring
the effect of entrepreneurial orientation, innovation capability, and
absorption capacity on enterprise performance. By analyzing the impact on
enterprise performance through technological innovation performance, it
can be confirmed that successful enterprise erformance creation and
continuous growth can be derived.
Based on these results, the practical implications of this study can
be said to be as follows. First, in order for SMEs to increase enterprise
performance, efforts will be needed to strengthen entrepreneurial
orientation, that is, innovation, initiative, and risk sensitivity. At a time when
competition without borders is fierce in domestic and foreign markets,
it seems necessary to improve or secure technological innovation
performance by strengthening entrepreneurial orientation, which is a metic
ulous organizational action, in order to overcome the limitations of internal
resources. Second, since the recent economic crisis caused by COVID-19,
SMEs' willingness to invest in R&D has weakened as investor
sentiment for technological innovation has shrunk, and efforts to
strengthen their innovation capabilities are urgently needed. In addition,
along with the government's active efforts to induce reinforcement, it is
necessary to expand support for SMEs to promote the need for
technological innovation, development strategies, and achieve technological
inovation. Third, in order for SMEs to improve technological innovation
performance through R&D activities and create national economic
performance based on it, the government's improvement measures and
effective support system must be accompanied. In particular, in order to be
come an innovation-driven SMEs-oriented economy, the government's
support policy should be promoted with a long-term goal of creating
technological innovation through the expansion of SMEs' own core
capabilities. In addition, the government's various support systems need to
clarify the goal of improving the core capabilities of each SMEs, and
the project implementation method should be designed to strengthen its
core capabilities. Fourth, it can be seen that it is urgent to strengthen
the internal innovation capabilities of SMEs and to enhance the absorption
capacity to enhance open innovation such as joint R&D and technology
commercialization. To this end, it is necessary to promote innovation
activities of SMEs by activating various support systems such as
expanding policy funds for R&D cooperation between industries, human
resources exchange, joint use of equipment, and technology transfer. In
addition, it is necessary to strengthen practical support for promoting core
capabilities of SMEs while securing the excellence of core source technologies
that meet the agency's mission. It is necessary to establish
an efficient support system based on corporate demand, such as
strengthening personnel and organizations dedicated to supporting SMEs,
expanding compensation, and establishing an integrated cooperative information
network. The economic performance of SMEs will be further maximized
by strengthening the company's R&D performance and achieving
remarkable technological innovation through the activation of continuous industrial cooperation with SMEs.