Doctoral thesis of Philosophy: Sources of competitive advantage for emerging fast growth small-to-medium enterprises: the role of business orientation, marketing capabilities, customer value, and firm performance

This thesis examines the influence of market (Narver & Slater, 1990), learning (Sinkula, Baker, & Noordewier, 1997), and entrepreneurial orientation (Lumpkin & Dess, 2001) as sources of competitive advantage in rapidly growing small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). The present thesis incorporates two studies (Study 1 and Study 2), utilizing a sequential explanatory design, which is characterized by undertaking quantitative data collection and analysis, prior conducting qualitative research (Cresswell, 2003). Qualitative results are used to explain and interpret findings from the quantitative study and are useful when unexpected outcomes arise (Cresswell, 2003).