{"title":"The roles of diversification and specialization strategies in the entrepreneurial orientation and performance relationship","authors":"G. Wilson, J. Perepelkin, D. Zhang","doi":"10.1080/08276331.2019.1646532","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This study explored the mediating roles of specialization and diversification strategies in the entrepreneurial orientation and performance relationship. The retail pharmacy industry was strategically investigated, as pharmacies can offer storefront products that are not health-related (diversification) and recent regulatory changes have permitted the expansion of professional services (specialization). Using data from 259 retail pharmacies, the results of the structural equation model showed that an entrepreneurial-oriented strategy was an antecedent to the implementation of diversification and specialization strategies, but only specialization was correlated with performance. Specifically, specialization was found to directly impact professional performance and indirectly influence financial performance. This study adds to the understanding of mediating variables in the entrepreneurial orientation and performance relationship. It underscores the importance of implementing a core-competency-driven specialization versus a diversification strategy in retail pharmacy. The article offers strategic directives for practitioners seeking to maximize the dual performance objectives of retail pharmacies.","PeriodicalId":37293,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship","volume":"19 1","pages":"457 - 476"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2020-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"11","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08276331.2019.1646532","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"Business, Management and Accounting","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 11
Abstract
Abstract This study explored the mediating roles of specialization and diversification strategies in the entrepreneurial orientation and performance relationship. The retail pharmacy industry was strategically investigated, as pharmacies can offer storefront products that are not health-related (diversification) and recent regulatory changes have permitted the expansion of professional services (specialization). Using data from 259 retail pharmacies, the results of the structural equation model showed that an entrepreneurial-oriented strategy was an antecedent to the implementation of diversification and specialization strategies, but only specialization was correlated with performance. Specifically, specialization was found to directly impact professional performance and indirectly influence financial performance. This study adds to the understanding of mediating variables in the entrepreneurial orientation and performance relationship. It underscores the importance of implementing a core-competency-driven specialization versus a diversification strategy in retail pharmacy. The article offers strategic directives for practitioners seeking to maximize the dual performance objectives of retail pharmacies.
期刊介绍:
Studies published in the JSBE can be from and based on Canada or other countries of the world. They can cover topics related to matters such as: A. Start-up and resource gathering for an SME -Starting, buying and selling an SME -Financing, funding, banking, venture capital, audit and accounting in SMEs -Entrepreneur characteristics, leadership and work-life balance -Identification of business opportunities, business incubators and mentorship -Support services to entrepreneurship and SMEs B. Functional management and growth of an SME -Sales and marketing in SMEs -Human resource management in SMEs -Operation management in SMEs -Innovation, knowledge management, learning and fast growth in SMEs -New technologies, Internet, and communication in SMEs -Regulation and taxes for SMEs -Growth of SMEs C. Strategic management and change in an SME -Strategic Management in SMEs -International entrepreneurship and SME internationalization -Networks, alliances and relationships with government and large enterprises -Managing change in an uncertain and changing environment -Factors of success and failure in SME and entrepreneurial firms D. New trends in entrepreneurship and SME management -Social entrepreneurship -Gender and female entrepreneurship -Indigenous entrepreneurship -Ethnic/diaspora/immigrant entrepreneurship -Youth and student entrepreneurship -Entrepreneurship in emerging/transition markets -Franchises, sport, health, consulting and other emerging types of SMEs -Corporate entrepreneurship E. Special topics in entrepreneurship and SME management -Family-based business -Social responsibility, environmental protection, governance, and ethics in SMEs -SMEs and regional, urban, rural, and national development -Entrepreneurship education -Epistemology, general theory development, and methods of research in entrepreneurship and SMEs -Entrepreneurship and sustainable development