Corporate identity, customer orientation and performance of SMEs: Exploring the linkages

Abstract

This research aims to explore the impact of corporate identity (CI) on performance in B2C small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in food processing, with varying degrees of customer orientation (CO). The research is embedded in the positivistic paradigm. Based on a literature review, a conceptual model (consisting of five hypotheses) has been tested with 102 samples using PLS-SEM tool. This study establishes the mediating role of CO on the CI and performance linkage, it provides empirical evidence to CI and performance linkage, and makes an incremental contribution by extension of theory of CI and CO in the given context.

Keywords

• Corporate identity
• Customer orientation
• Performance
• Small and medium enterprises
• SMEs
• Food processing sector
• B2C