Critical Indicators for Apparel SMEs Performance; Market Orientation, Learning Orientation, and Innovation

The purpose of this study was to generalize the findings about market orientation, learning orientation, innovation and performance to the textile and apparel context in South Korea, specifically to SMEs, and, in addition, to investigate the role of informal relationships in SMEs within the presence of these other variables. This study postulates that market orientation, learning orientation, and innovation are related to performance. This study conducted a survey in South Korea, using a paper-and-pencil questionnaire, to determine the relationship of various management related variables with the SMEs' performance. Of the 200 questionnaires that were distributed, 183 were returned and178 were completed and usable for the research. Results of this study showed that components of market orientation and learning orientation were both significantly related to innovation and some components along with innovation were significantly related to South Korean apparel SMEs' performance. The proposed relationship of these factors to performance could be generalized to SMEs in the apparel industry, within the context of South Korea.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management

Department dc:contributor.department

Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Ji, Jeong Sook

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Kincade, Doris H.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Gaskill, LuAnn R.
• Kim, Ji-Hyun
• White, William A.

• SMEs Performance
• Market Orientation
• Learning Orientation
• South Korean Apparel Industry
• Innovation

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Dc Identifier Other

etd-05132008-013304

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/77023