The Relationship between Distinctive Capabilities, Strategy Types, Environment and the Export Performance of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises of the Malaysian Manufacturing Sector

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between distinctive capabilities, strategy types, environment and the export performance of SMES in the Malaysian manufacturing sectors. The conceptual framework is developed based on the distinctive capabilities, strategy types, environment and export performance. This study is based on a sample survey consisting of 121 SMES in the manufacturing sector. Using structured questionnaires, the data were collected by mail as well as by interviews with owner-managers of the SMES. The findings indicate that there is no significant relationships between distinctive capabilities and the export performance of SMES. However, the findings shows that there are significant relationship between differentiation strategy type and the export performance of smes. The findings also show that there is a significant environment moderating effect on the relationship between the differentiation strategy type and the export performance of SMES.