Strategic agility, dynamic relational capability and trust among SMEs in transitional economies

Rapid growth and urbanizing populations are transforming Africa, despite environmental turbulence, uncertainty and relational complexity. Research highlights how small firms rely upon trust-based buyer-supplier relationships in such contexts. Our study adopts a micro-foundational perspective and builds on dynamic capabilities literature and psychological trust theory. Our conceptual model shows how relational dimensions (i. e. communication, social bonds, and knowledge), influenced by meta-capabilities (strategic sensitivity, resource fluidity and leadership unity) embedded in micro-foundational activities build trust in small business cross border buyer-seller relationships to support dynamic relational capability and enhance strategic agility in transitional economies.