摘要：The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of total quality management (TQM)
between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and SME export performance in the manufacturing sector
of Pakistan. This study was originated from the fact that only a few studies have examined on
how the firm’s intangible resources and capabilities such as EO and TQM drive SMEs’ export
performance. Some questionnaires in Likert scale were used to collect the data and 364 usable
responses were received from the owner/managers of exporting SMEs. Partial Least Squares Structural
Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for the data analysis. The findings reveal significant
relationship between EO and TQM with SME export performance. Furthermore, this study found
the complementary mediating role of TQM between EO and SME export performance of manufacturing
sector of Pakistan. This study has implications for owner/managers of SMEs. The results
offer a better understanding regarding EO and TQM implementation to SMEs owner / managers.
Thus, owner/managers of SMEs can take better decisions for the implementation of TQM practices.
Furthermore, to the best of researcher’s knowledge, this study is the first work, which examines
Pakistan`s SMEs export performance in association with the TQM as the mediating factor
between EO and SME export performance.
关键词：Entrepreneurial orientation
Total quality management
Export Performance
SMEs
PLS;SEM analysis
