The Impact of Organizational Capabilities on SMEs Export Performance: Application of the Resource Based View Theory

The research aimed at identifying the organizational capabilities that influence the export performance of SMEs in Zimbabwe, as well as the strategies that can be adopted by SMEs to enhance their export performance. A mixed-methods study was carried out with a sample size of 345 SMEs in Harare, comprising food processing, leather products, and textiles and four (4) policy advocates and four (4) export business analysts. Questionnaires were directed at the SME owner-managers and an interview guide was used to collect qualitative data. The results reveal that, although distinctive capabilities play a pivotal role in enhancing the export performance of SMEs; its impact on Zimbabwean manufacturing SMEs is not significant. The findings are envisaged to provide insights on how SMEs in Zimbabwe can embrace organisational capabilities to enhance export performance.