Waleed Omri

Bio: Waleed Omri is an academic researcher from University of Limoges. The author has contributed to research in topics: Empirical research & Business. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 11 publications receiving 108 citations.

Innovative behavior and venture performance of SMEs: The moderating effect of environmental dynamism

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between innovative behavior and firm performance to determine empirically whether managers’ innovative behavior impacts directly or indirectly on firm performance through innovative output. A proposed conceptual model is tested with the moderating effects of environmental dynamism. Design/methodology/approach – An empirical study tests the conceptual model of a multi-industry sample of Tunisian small and medium-sized enterprises. For this analysis the author applies the partial least squares (PLS) technique using the software package SmartPLS, version 2.0. Findings – Empirical findings reveal that innovative behavior acts on innovation output thus having a positive and significant effect on business performance. Direct effect on business performance is found to be positive but weakly significant. These positive relationships tend to decrease when market conditions are highly dynamic. Practical implications – Managers should be aware of the...

Do Entrepreneurial SMEs Perform Better Because They are More Responsible

Abstract: Many scholars have investigated the direct impact of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on performance, but this direct association seems both spurious and ambiguous because many parameters may have an indirect influence on this relationship The present study thus considers sustainable practices—environmental practices, social practices in the workplace (SPW), and social practices in the community (SPC)—as three probable mediators in the relationship between EO and performance, which is considered in terms of its financial and non-financial dimensions We seek to show to what extent small- and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) sustainable practices are useful assets, which are supported by EO, to improve performance Using a structural equation modeling approach, data collected from 406 French SMEs were tested against the model Our findings reveal that EO has a positive impact on the implementation of sustainable practices and that SPW partially mediate the link between EO and performance Taken together, these findings suggest that EO plays a role in indirectly promoting performance by enhancing certain human resource management practices

Managerial characteristics and entrepreneurial internationalization: A study of Tunisian SMEs

Abstract: Growing internationalization has sparked increasing interest in any factor which could strengthen a firm’s ability to develop a long-term competitive edge. One of the main factors which determine a firm’s international behavior is the characteristics of its management team. The aim of this paper is to shed light on the relationship between the management team’s characteristics and factors which favor a company’s development by examining the causal effects of managerial characteristics on innovative behavior of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking international market expansion. The conceptual model and its hypotheses are tested through an empirical study of a multi-industry sample of Tunisian SMEs. To our knowledge, this present study is the first to include Islamic ethics as a determining factor on managers’ behaviors as their companies enter the international market. Obtained by structural equation modeling technique, the key findings of this research show that personality traits, mental ability, and social networks of managers have a direct impact on a firm’s behavior as it enters the international context. Results also show that Islamic ethics seem to favor a creative context for innovative ideas in both local and foreign markets. Given the importance of the results analyzed, it could be suggested that Islamic ethics in organizations be implemented as a part of the education system in all Islamic societies.

The Convergence Between Outreach and Financial Performance in Mediterranean MFIs: A Panel Data Analysis

Abstract: There is a long-standing debate on the relationship between outreach and financial performance in the microfinance institutions (MFIs). Although previous researches have reported contradictory results, many of these studies suffer from problems of misspecified model and/or restricted data. In this paper, we employ a static panel data analysis to empirically examine the impact of outreach on financial performance for a sample of 16 Mediterranean MFIs over the 2001–2008 period. Our evidence implies, first that the non-governmental organizations commercial viability increases with average loan size. Second, this commercial viability also increases with the number of outstanding loans per women. Finally, neither targeting the poor nor targeting women affect the repayment default.

Ownership structure and innovative behavior: Testing the mediatory role of board composition

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to expand understanding of the determinants of adoption innovation in SME context by empirically examining the effect of corporate governance structure on manager's innovative behavior. This was done through exploring whether ownership structure affects managers’ innovative behavior and if so, whether the effect is mediated by board composition. Design/methodology/approach – Using a sample of 197 managers within Tunisian SMEs, hypotheses were tested through structural equation modeling and especially using covariance structure analysis (or LISREL method) with Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) 18.0 software and maximum likelihood estimation method. Findings – The paper found that ownership structure is significantly associated with manager's innovative behavior. Further analysis arising from introducing outsiders’ representation on the board as a mediating variable reveals that the relationship is fully mediated by this variable. Practical implications – This study...

A natural resource-based view of the firm

Abstract: Historically, management theory has ignored the constraints imposed by the biophysical (natural) environment. Building upon resource-based theory, this article attempts to fill this void by proposing a natural-resource-based view of the firm—a theory of competitive advantage based upon the firm's relationship to the natural environment. It is composed of three interconnected strategies: pollution prevention, product stewardship, and sustainable development. Propositions are advanced for each of these strategies regarding key resource requirements and their contributions to sustained competitive advantage.