Resumo

MAZITI, L; CHINYAMURINDI, W  e  MARANGE, C. The relationship between strategic leadership, innovation performance and competitive advantage amongst a sample of small businesses in South Africa. JCMAN [online]. 2018, vol.15, n.1, pp.368-394. ISSN 1815-7440.

This article seeks to investigate the relationship amongst determinants that affect small business performance in South Africa. Arguments within present-day South Africa are made for the need to understand those determinants that influence small business performance especially within a context of rapid change. Such an investigation can be useful for managers to steer their firms on a path with fruitful returns. The determinants under focus include: a) strategic leadership, b) competitive advantage, and c) innovation performance. A positivist philosophy relying on a quantitative approach using a survey design was adopted for this study. A sample of 275 small business owners representing their firms filled a survey using established measures. Findings show a relationship to exist between strategic leadership with innovation performance and competitive advantage. Further, innovation performance was found to be related with quests for competitive advantage. Based on this, management practices for contemporary society are made that provide a basis in which forecasting and planning techniques can be used for the purpose of competitive intelligence.

Palavras-chave : Competitive advantage; innovation performance and strategic leadership.

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