Financial Literacy, Network Competency, and SMEs Financial Performance: The Moderating Role of Market Orientation

Research on SMEs highlights their limited resources and the influential role of SMEs' owners/managers. In this respect, scholars stressed the importance of different capabilities possessed by owners/managers of SMEs in developing a competitive position and enhancing firm performance. This study intended to examine the direct influence of two fundamental capabilities: financial literacy and networking competency possessed by owners/managers of SMEs in China and the United Arab Emirate (UAE) on SMEs' financial performance. In addition, this research tested the moderating impact of market orientation. The quantitative research method was employed by administering structured questionnaires. A total of 150 and 120 questionnaires were collected from owners/managers of SMEs in China and UAE. Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis using Smart-Pls. Findings revealed that SMEs' financial performance was positively related to maintaining financial literacy and networking competency in both samples. Further, market orientation was found to strengthen the positive impact of financial literacy and networking competency on SMEs' financial performance in China. However, market orientation had a significant moderating impact only on the relationship between networking and the financial performance of SMEs in the UAE. This paper ends with providing a set of concluding remarks, recommendations, and potential areas of further research.