The Qualitative Report

Volume 21 | Number 2 Article 1

2-1-2016

Crafting an Effective Brand Oriented Strategic

Framework for Growth-Aspiring Small Businesses:
A Conceptual Study
Christian Nedu Osakwe
Tomas Bata University, [email protected]

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Osakwe, C. N. (2016). Crafting an Effective Brand Oriented Strategic Framework for Growth-Aspiring Small Businesses: A
Conceptual Study. The Qualitative Report, 21(2), 163-177. Retrieved from http://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol21/iss2/1

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Crafting an Effective Brand Oriented Strategic Framework for Growth-
Aspiring Small Businesses: A Conceptual Study
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to theorize and conceptualize a model that could be used by scholars and
practitioners in understanding the contingent roles that certain organizational drivers and/or resources play in
shaping the brand orientation strategy of small businesses, especially growth-aspiring small businesses in
emerging economies. To this end, this paper explicates the critical roles that decision-making rationality,
entrepreneurial capability, enterprise core values, market orientation, Internet technology orientation, and
learning climate might play as processual antecedents to brand orientation strategy in the small businesses
setting. Furthermore, the author highlights the moderating effects of the twin foci of financial slack and
structural capital in respectively attenuating/amplifying the relationship between the aforementioned
strategic variables and brand orientation strategy. Consequently, the author asserts that brand orientation
strategy is without a doubt, one of the key micro-foundations for small businesses to effectively achieving a
high degree of customer-centric performance outcomes.

Keywords
Brand Orientation Strategy, Emerging Economies, Processual Antecedents, Organizational Drivers, Small
Businesses, RBV

This article is available in The Qualitative Report: http://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol21/iss2/1

The Qualitative Report 2016 Volume 21, Number 2, Article 1, 163-177

Crafting an Effective Brand Oriented Strategic Framework for

Growth-Aspiring Small Businesses: A Conceptual Study

Christian Nedu Osakwe

Tomas Bata University, Zlin, Czech Republic

The main objective of this study was to theorize and conceptualize a model that
could be used by scholars and practitioners in understanding the contingent
roles that certain organizational drivers and/or resources play in shaping the
brand orientation strategy of small businesses, especially growth-aspiring
small businesses in emerging economies. To this end, this paper explicates the
critical roles that decision-making rationality, entrepreneurial capability,
enterprise core values, market orientation, Internet technology orientation, and
learning climate might play as processual antecedents to brand orientation
strategy in the small businesses setting. Furthermore, the author highlights the
moderating effects of the twin foci of financial slack and structural capital in
respectively attenuating/amplifying the relationship between the
aforementioned strategic variables and brand orientation strategy.
Consequently, the author asserts that brand orientation strategy is without a
doubt, one of the key micro-foundations for small businesses to effectively
achieving a high degree of customer-centric performance outcomes. Keywords:
Brand Orientation Strategy, Emerging Economies, Processual Antecedents,
Organizational Drivers, Small Businesses, RBV

In recent decades, the significant contributions of small businesses to sustainable

economic development of the various countries of the world have begun to receive tremendous
attention from policymakers (cf. Cook & Nixson, 2000). Evidence abounds from a substantial
body of literature (e.g., Ayyagari, Demirgüç-Kunt, & Maksimovic, 2011; Ishengoma &
Kappel, 2008) that small enterprises are the backbone of the global economy given their
immense contributions to wealth creation, innovation, indigenous entrepreneurship, and all
these together add up to sustainable economic development. In contrast, there is also a well-
documented evidence to show that a substantial number of small businesses that operate in the
global economy and particularly in emerging market-based economies are at the risk of being
(completely) marginalized from the growing global marketplace as a result of their weak
brand/market competitiveness (cf. Abimbola, 2001; Laukkanen et al., 2013; Osakwe,
Chovancová, & Agu, 2015; Wong & Merrilees, 2005). To suggest that small businesses do not
in any form engage implicitly and/or explicitly in a brand strategy would be a fallacy. However,
relevant studies (e.g., Abimbola, 2001; Barbu, Ogarcă, & Barbu, 2010) mention that a majority
of small businesses have yet to come to the understanding of the strategic role that branding
plays in today’s marketplace that has increasingly become so “hyper-competitive” and
commoditized. Consequently, for a small business to be able to compete and respond
effectively to today’s market pressure, it becomes increasingly more pertinent now than ever
for a growth-aspiring small business to seek unique ways of crafting its business strategy
around its brand-oriented norms and values – this is obviously the differentiating factor in
today’s marketplace (Aaker, 1991, 1996; Baumgarth, 2010; Kapferer, 2008). In fact, Urde
(1994, 1999) in his seminal papers posits that brand orientation is a competitive strategic
resource for survival in the business environment that has over the last decades or so been
constantly driven by the forces of economic and social globalization indicators.
Christian Nedu Osakwe 164

Therefore, given the central role that brand orientation strategy plays in today’s
marketplace, the overriding goal of this study is to theorize and conceptualize a model that
could be used by scholars and practitioners alike in understanding the contingent roles that
certain organizational drivers and/or resources could possibly play in shaping the brand
orientation strategy of small businesses, especially growth-aspiring small businesses in
emerging economies. To this end, this paper explicates the critical roles that decision-making
rationality, entrepreneurial capability, enterprise core values, market orientation, Internet
technology orientation, and learning climate play as processual antecedents to brand orientation
in the small businesses setting in light of the fact that today’s marketplace has increasingly
become more information-driven and “personalized” solution-oriented. Furthermore, I
highlight the moderating effects of the twin foci of (limited) financial slack and structural
capital in respectively attenuating and/or amplifying the relationship between the
aforementioned strategic variables and the firm’s brand orientation strategy.
Accordingly, the research study adds significantly to our overall understanding of how
brand orientation strategy can be effectively pursued by small businesses bearing in mind also
that these enterprises have their own unique set-up and challenges. More so, I show through
the conceptual framework, the likely outcomes of brand orientation strategy in a small business
setting. Although, I do not discuss further on these likely outcomes since it is beyond the scope
of the present study. Importantly, this study draws largely from previous studies, and more
particularly through the theoretical lens of the resource-based theory (RBT) of the firm
(Barney, 1991, Wernerfelt, 1984) along with the emergent research strand of brand orientation
(see Baumgarth, 2010; Urde, 1994, 1999; Wong & Merrilees, 2005, and among others).
The researcher now wishes to crave the indulgence of the readership of this reputable
journal by briefly introducing who the researcher is. The researcher is currently in his third
year of PhD study at the department of management and marketing. Within the last two and
half years, the researcher has been involved in conducting research that is related to SMEs
marketing in general and branding in particular. To speak as a matter-of-factly, my main
research for the purpose of completing the taxing PhD journey focuses on uncovering critical
factors that could potentially explain the reason(s) for the enterprise’s (i.e., micro-to small- to
mid-size profit-oriented firms) adoption and/or assimilation of a strong brand-oriented culture
and its likely performance implications.
The research paper is further organized as follows. In the next section, the researcher
provides a concise view of the (relevant) literature while in the subsequent section I briefly
discuss the research methodology. At the same time, I equally present the proposed conceptual
framework and propositions in the next subsequent section. The conclusion and implications
of the study are further highlighted in the final section of the article.

Prior Studies on Branding and Brand Orientation

Strategy in the Small Business Setting

Krake (2005) surmises that branding, as an added value agent (Wood, 2000) in the
business value chain is to a large extent alien to the core marketing strategies and/or tactics of
small businesses. Interestingly, Kotler and Keller (2006) together with van Raaij (2005) posits
that for a profit-oriented firm to seek more effective ways of enhancing its customer
profitability (revenue streams realizable from a customer and/or customer segment less cost of
acquisition/servicing the customer), it must seek unique ways of delivering superior customer
value amidst the competition. As a corollary, branding is widely seen as one of the key strategic
levers through which firms in general could capture more customer value in the marketplace.
It therefore becomes highly imperative for small businesses to develop their brands given the
contingent value of branding in firms’ customer-centric performance outcomes, especially as
165 The Qualitative Report 2016

it relates to consumer-based brand equity (Aaker, 1991; Pappu, Quester, & Coksey, 2005) and
in turn marketplace equity (Brodie, Glynn, & Durme, 2002). Moreover, several authors (e.g.,
Abimbola & Vallaster, 2007; Krake, 2005) assert that branding is one of the micro-foundations
through which small businesses can create a sustainable competitive advantage in the rapidly
changing business landscape. In a similar vein, a recent study that was conducted among the
base of the pyramid (BoP) consumers in one of the emerging markets in the South Asian region,
the authors (Rahman, Hasan, & Floyd, 2013) demonstrate in their empirical paper that brand
orientation strategy is as well an important strategy for firms to adopt since the BoP consumers
are equally brand-oriented, especially in the adoption of innovative product/service offerings.
Interestingly (or curiously) enough, the majority of the fragmented clients/customers of small
businesses in most economies of the world, particularly in developing economies belong to the
BoP market. Moreover, building on Urde’s (1994,1999) seminal papers on brand orientation
as an organizational mindset and importantly, as a strategic imperative for achieving
competitive advantage in the marketplace, Wong and Merrilees (2005) also acknowledge the
critical role that brand orientation can play in the small business setting. In fact, the study
reveals that for small businesses to achieve a higher level of brand orientation (which the
authors supposedly referred to as integrated brand orientation), certain key marketing resources
and/or capabilities (of which the authors referred to as pre-conditions) are expected to be in
place within the organization (Wong & Merrilees, 2005). Also, most recently, empirical studies
that have been situated at the SMEs level of analysis in both advanced and emerging economies
of the world equally seem to illustrate that brand orientation (strategy) is a critical path onto
the firm’s long-term success and even future survival (cf. Laukkanen et al., 2013; Chovancová,
Osakwe, & Ogbonna, 2015; Osakwe, Chovancová, & Ogbonna, 2016). Thus, there have been
calls in the literature for small businesses to latch on to the idea of brand orientation by fully
integrating it into the firm’s overall business strategy, if any. Generally speaking, how a small
business could effectively craft and/or nurture an effective brand orientation strategy remains
blurred in the broader literature dealing with SMEs and/or micro, small and medium-sized
enterprises (MSMEs). So the present article is just an attempt at remedying the identified gap
in the literature.

Methodology

Since the study is wholly based on a qualitative inquiry, the researcher chose to adopt
document analysis as the research technique for accomplishing the overall aim of the study.
Document analysis might appear as a simplistic research technique, to be sure, it is an excellent
starting point for drawing upon relevant phenomena given its wider coverage areas. More
precisely, the document analysis was based majorly on scientific manuscripts that were sourced
from both paid and open databases such as SCOPUS, EBSCO, Thomson Reuter’s WoS and
Google Scholar through the use of keywords search. Importantly also, in order to identify
relations across a variety of the research constructs, theme analysis was used in this instance
since it offers the researcher the opportunity of searching for potential relations and/or patterns
across a variety of the research domains with a deductive goal in mind (cf. Onwuegbuzie,
Leech, & Collins, 2012). Accordingly, based on the extracted information from the secondary
sources coupled with the researcher’s understanding, the related domains were identified and
linked to the focal research construct, brand orientation. Besides, given the multiplicity of
literature dealing with the broader theme of branding, it makes sense to use document analysis
as a research method since it provides an abundant rich context to studying a variety of the
study’s phenomena (cf. Bowen, 2009). In particular, the themes of the study were often as the
case gleaned from the marketing strategy research stream, and more particularly from RBT and
the research domain of a brand orientation. In sum, through document analysis, relevant content
Christian Nedu Osakwe 166

has been more or less codified as theme(s) so as to accomplish the coveted objective of this
study. The final outcome of the endeavour was the development of a conceptual framework
(see Figure 1). The researcher adjures interested readers to look up the scholarly works of
Bowen (2009), Ahmed (2010), among others, for an espousal of document analysis as a
valuable method for conducting a qualitative inquiry such as this study. Also, see Braun and
Clarke (2006) and Onwuegbuzie et al. (2012) for an interesting read on theme analysis. It is
also instructive to say that this researcher does not make any claim regarding a thoroughgoing
documentary analysis and the subsequent themes that emerged from the process, whereas an
attempt has been made to identify critically related themes of the study in order to extend
existing knowledge to the phenomena under study.

Development of a Conceptual Framework with Propositions

As indicated previously, the proposed framework is largely embedded in RBT (Barney,

1991, 2001; Barney, Ketchen, & Wright, 2011) which in summary posits that for an
organization to achieve competitive advantage, it must possess some unique organizational (or
market)-based attributes, which should be quite costly and/or difficult for close rival firms to
completely replicate. In short, using the VRIO (valuable, rarity, inimitability, and
organizational process) attributes of RBT (Barney, 1991, 2001; Kozlenkova, Samaha, &
Palmatier, 2014) in the marketing discipline; one could argue that an effective brand orientation
strategy is definitely one that encapsulates all the aforesaid VRIO characteristics. Conversely,
and in reality, it is not always the case for small businesses, bearing in mind that the vast
majority of these enterprises are by default at a (market) disadvantaged position in the
marketplace. Such a disadvantaged position is due in part to the inadequacies of these
enterprises to fully develop valuable firm-based resources like the strategy of a brand
orientation.
Consequently, the important question this conceptual paper seeks to address is this-
what could be some of the core processual antecedents (or organizational drivers) of brand
orientation strategy in growth-aspiring small businesses? To put it differently, how could small
businesses develop a brand-oriented organizational mindset so that these enterprises should at
least achieve a competitive parity in the marketplace? Thus, the current study draws from the
existing documents in the academic and practitioners’ literature in order to highlight the critical
organizational drivers that could potentially foster the crafting of an effective brand orientation
strategy in the small business setting. In short, the author argues strongly that these crucial
organizational drivers (or exemplar cultural antecedents) can potentially support small
businesses to move up to the topmost ladder of “integrated” brand orientation strategy as
alluded by Wong and Merrilees (2005). At the core of the conceptual framework is the
introduction of the moderating role of financial slack as well as that of structural capital in the
linkages between the cultural antecedents and brand orientation strategy.
Also note that in this study, the terms - cultural antecedents, processual antecedents,
and organizational drivers are used interchangeably to express a common theme. Permit me to
digress a bit, the use of the term processual antecedent, illustrates the fact that a majority of
these cultural antecedents (or organization drivers) are hardly discrete events but rather that
they are process-driven activities (Pettigrew, 1997). Of course, it is always in the best interest
of scholars to measure these antecedents, but in reality these process-driven strategic variables
can only be captured by proxy variables. Along these lines, it is also in the best interest of
business managers to possibly measure and model these processual antecedents since they are
sources of competitive advantage in the marketplace. Accordingly, I equally show in the
conceptual model, that all these processual antecedents act as supporting capabilities for the
firm’s brand orientation strategy to effectively impact on its customer-centric performance
167 The Qualitative Report 2016

outcomes in the marketplace (see Figure 1). Moving on, an analysis of the organizational
drivers (or processual antecedents) of brand orientation strategy is briefly discussed below. As
an illustration, the proposed conceptual framework is captured in Fig. 1.
Enterprise Core Values: The notion of enterprise core values has received tremendous
amount of attention in the extant literature, so there is no need to “over flog” the same theme
in this article. More specifically, eminent branding scholars and practitioners (e.g., Aaker,
1996; Balmer, 2013; Baumgarth, 2010; de Chernatony & Dall’Olmo Riley, 1998; Gelder,
2003; Heding, Knudtzen, & Bjerre, 2009; Kapferer, 2008; Urde, 2009) key emphases have
always been on the need for firms irrespective of their unique “firmographics” to build their
brands across their existing and objective core values. In short, these experts argue strongly
that a firm’s core values should be congruent with the expectations of the important
stakeholders of the organization. Moreover, the aforementioned studies provide a strong clue
that successfully “living the brand” is a direct consequence of the firm’s internalized corporate
core values. Briefly speaking, the core values of an enterprise should be clearly enshrined in
its mission and/or vision statement, if any. Arguably, a clearly stated corporate core values
boosts employees’ confidence in what their enterprise (or brand) stands for and/or upholds in
the marketplace, and in turn, significantly bolsters communication and/or relationships
between the firm’s internal and external customers. In fact, for small businesses, I wish to add
that it is the founder(s) core values that supposedly drive the enterprise’s core values, so both
terms can be used interchangeably in the case of a small business setting (cf. Mitchell,
Hutchinson, & Bishop, 2011; Spence & Essoussi, 2010). As a consequence, it is the same set
of core values that can provide a strong basis for building a strong brand-oriented culture, and
in turn achieving a high degree of customer-centric performance outcomes within the firm’s
target market(s). Importantly, drawing from all these perspectives, this has enabled the author
to come up with the proposition that:

P1: A clearly stated enterprise (or founder(s)) core values is a processual

antecedent to the development of brand orientation in growth-aspiring small
businesses.

Learning (Workplace) Climate: A learning climate (or culture) is often times

conceptualized as the degree to which a firm is driven towards continuous improvement
through learning, shared philosophical vision, and importantly receptiveness to new ideas, and
all these add up to achieving superior organizational effectiveness (Che-Ha, Mavondo, &
Mohd-Said, 2014; Kock & Ellström, 2011; Sinkula, Baker, & Noordewier, 1997). An
organizational learning culture is obviously a supportive climate for employees’ ideas and
initiatives to thrive, and as such, it is a culture that is not intolerant to errors on the part of
employees (Che-Ha et al., 2014). Such a workplace environment strongly holds on to the
“ideal” that learning, unlearning and relearning are all developmental phases that are inherently
flawed by human errors, and as such, errors are tolerable to a certain threshold.
Incontrovertibly, an organizational learning culture is a supportive workplace climate that
fosters the development of employees’ skills via training and other skills acquisition formats
(ILO, 2013). More so, research has shown that a learning climate fosters a great deal of
ideation, open-mindedness, and creativity in an organization, and in turn generates superior
customer value in the marketplace (Che-Ha et al., 2014; Laukkanen et al., 2013;
Weerawardena, O'Cass, & Julian, 2006). Meanwhile, at the heart of any successfully driven-
brand mindset and/or strategy is majorly the blend of ideation and creativity in marketing
communications. Taken together, this has led me to propose that:
Christian Nedu Osakwe 168

P2: An enabling learning (workplace) climate directly provides a strong

supporting-capability for brand orientation in growth-aspiring small
businesses.

Entrepreneurial Capability: The term, entrepreneurial capability (or orientation),

could be looked at from the perspectives of the business owner(s) willingness to engage in risk-
taking venture(s) while being proactive and innovative, too (Rauch et al., 2009; Lumpkin &
Dess, 2001). Studies assert that entrepreneurial capability is a strategic necessity for relatively
small enterprises to gain a foothold in the marketplace, and in turn enhance their brand
performance outcomes through innovativeness, proactiveness, and strategic resilience (Baker
& Sinkula, 2009; Campos et al., 2013; Filser & Eggers, 2014). Given the dominant role that
small businesses’ entrepreneurs play in their firms, it is almost a truism that the more
entrepreneurially-focused the business owner is, in terms of having a fine-grained analysis of
what it takes to differentiate itself from the competition, the higher would the enterprise
leverage on brand orientation strategy. Accordingly, it is the critical responsibility of the small
businesses’ founders and/or executives to develop a strong brand-based mindset, which
inevitably plays a significant part in differentiating the firm’s offerings from the rest of the
competition, thereby enabling the firm to create a strong brand identity over time in its
marketplace (cf. Chovancová et al, 2015; Krake, 2005; Urde, 1999). In the light of this
background, the author proposes that:

P3: Entrepreneurial capability directly provides a strong basis for brand

orientation in growth-aspiring small businesses.

Market Orientation: Although, it appears that there are two schools of thought in
market orientation, one looks at market orientation from the perspectives of organizational
culture (see Narver & Slater, 1990) while the other looks at market orientation from an
organizational behavioural perspective (see Kohli & Jaworski, 1990). Nevertheless, these two
views are complementary to each other given that both viewpoints are ultimately challenging
the firm to get better at meeting the numerous and varied needs of their target customer groups,
while at the same time paying close attention to the competition. Besides, Urde (1999, p. 118)
unequivocally postulates that “to be brand oriented is market orientation plus.” Corroborating
Urde’s assertion on the strategic relationship between market orientation and brand orientation
strategy, some studies (e.g., O’Cass & Ngo, 2009; Tuominen, Laukkanen, & Reijonen, 2009)
provide empirical support that brand orientation is a consequence of market orientation.
Against this backdrop, the author proposes that:

P4: Market orientation directly enhances the development of brand orientation

in growth-aspiring small businesses.

Internet Technology Orientation: Unarguably, the immense contribution of the

Internet, and in particular, the World Wide Web, has made the Web to be seen as a “web of
immense opportunities” that could be unlocked to gain a strong foothold in the global
marketplace (Boudreau & Watson, 2006). Although the Web is obviously not a strategy
(Porter, 2001) but it is an information portal with manifold business opportunities for firms that
are willing to tap into the enormous opportunities that it offers. In the context of the business
world, the Web may be seen as a pipeline which seamlessly connects commerce with
consumers. Meanwhile, in today’s information-driven marketplace, small businesses that have
recognized the strategic role that Internet-enabled tools play in today’s marketing have not only
adopted the Internet as a means of gathering information from their target consumers and/or
169 The Qualitative Report 2016

potential business partners, but have also used these tools to deepen their marketing capabilities
(Harrigan et al., 2010; Opoku, 2006; Sinkovics, Sinkovics, & Jean, 2013). Some studies have
even advocated for small businesses to leverage more on the Internet, especially as it pertains
to the usage of Web 2.0 tools (specifically, online social platform sites) together with the
adoption of corporate websites to build (virtual) brand community as this might further
engenders the firm’s brand legitimacy and visibility in the marketplace amid other relatively
bigger competitors (Hassouneh & Brengman, 2011; Osakwe et al., 2015; Sasinovskaya &
Anderson, 2011). Accordingly, the intensity of the usage of Internet-enabled tools will provide
a strategic platform for these enterprises to further craft, develop a strong brand mindset, with
the aim of promoting their brands in the digital ecosystem, and as well help advance the
legitimacy of the brands in the market. Also, a very recent research about the brand
performance of SMEs in emerging economies apparently suggests that the adoption of Internet
tools such as social media could be pivotal for communicating the brand messages of small
firms’ brand messages in a more cost-effective manner (see Osakwe, Ciunova-Shuleska et al.,
2015). Against this background, the author proposes that:

P5: Internet technology orientation directly provides a platform for an

increased brand orientation in growth-aspiring small businesses.

Decision-Making Rationality: The overarching role of strategic decision-making

(particularly when such decision-makings are guided by bounded rationality - Simon, 1978;
Shoham, 1999) in the channeling of the firms’ scarce (tangible and intangible) resources
towards the achievement of organizational effectiveness has over the years drawn the attention
of scholars to the research stream of strategic-decision making (cf. Elbanna & Child, 2007;
Priem, Rasheed, & Kotulic, 1995). From the stance of Dean and Sharfman (1996), decision-
making rationality emanates at the point when the top management of an organization is able
to realize that they could make strategic decisions based on a systematic process. This
systematic approach to making strategic decisions could possibly involve the use of relevant
analytics in coming up with key decisions rather than solely relying on personal bias and/or
personal experiences. On the one hand, intuitive decision-making is still key for certain
outcomes that are less likely to be easily understood by mere (de)coupling of information. On
the other hand, it is increasingly imperative for organizations in today’s marketplace to buffer
intuitive decision-making with a more robust and/or analytical approach to strategic decision-
makings. Put simply, decision-making rationality is a systematic process of decision-making
that is guided by information comprehensiveness. That is, it is a systematic process that
involves the use of decision-making tools in order to support strategic decision-makings that
are less likely to be prone to personal bias. I contend that it is important for managers to make
strategic decisions that are devoid of personal bias in order for their businesses to be more
responsive and proactive to the needs of their target market(s). For small business entrepreneurs
in particular, achieving rational strategic decision-making may possibly come in the form of
guesstimating some probable business outcomes by either using an expert judgement approach
or through the use of quantitative tools such as charts, web analytics, and affordable proprietary
software. In the last two decades, empirical research has claimed that decision-making
rationality drives entrepreneurial competencies, customer-centric performance, resource-inputs
inefficiency minimization, and importantly supports overall organizational effectiveness
(Deligianni et al., 2015; Priem et al., 1995; Walter, Kellermanns, & Lechner, 2012). The
empirical support from the literature makes it clear that more rational decision-making that
might be possibly guided by an evidence-based approach to marketing on the part of small
business owner-manager is a requisite for the brand-supporting capabilities of the enterprise.
Against this backdrop, the author proposes that:
Christian Nedu Osakwe 170

P6: A high leverage on analytical (rational) decision-making by entrepreneurs

and/or managers will lead to the commitment of resources towards the
realization of brand orientation in growth-aspiring small businesses.

Moderating Effect of Structural Capital: Intellectual capital, and in particular

structural capital, is increasingly becoming a strategic lever for businesses in general to deploy
in order to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, and in turn achieve superior brand
performance outcomes. Bontis (1998, p. 66) describes structural capital as “the mechanisms
and structures of the organization that can help support employees in their quest for optimum
intellectual performance and therefore overall business performance.” Similarly, borrowing
exactly from the wordings of Edvinsson and Malone (1997), the authors state that structural
capital is the “embodiment, empowerment, and supportive infrastructure of human capital”
(Edvinsson & Malone, 1997, p. 34). Interestingly, previous studies demonstrate the contingent
role of structural capital (e.g., information systems, proprietary applications/databases, patents,
trademarks, procedural documentations, processes, etc.) in building a culture of knowledge
sharing, knowledge transfer, innovation, mutual support, customer relationship capital, and
importantly a business environment that is driven by its own “organizational memory” (Bontis,
1998; Cabrita & Vaz, 2006; Edvinsson & Malone, 1997). Meanwhile, in the context of small
businesses, several studies (e.g., Cohen & Kaimenakis, 2007; Costa, Fernández, & Dorrego,
2014; Khalique et al., 2015) appear to provide strong empirical evidence in support of structural
capital as a key determinant of the successful execution of the firm’s business strategy, which
in turn bolsters enterprise performance outcomes. Given the crucial role that structural capital
plays in fostering the accumulation of organizational assets and/or competencies within an
organizational fabric, it thus becomes clear that the interaction of structural capital with the
highlighted brand orientation-supporting capabilities is key for building a branding strategy
that could be easily communicated across the breadth and depth of the firm’s relationship with
its important stakeholders like employees, customers, suppliers and other business partners.
Thus, drawing from extant research, it is clear to say the least that in the small business setting,
structural capital will reinforce the relationship between the hitherto mentioned antecedents
and the firm’s brand orientation strategy. On this note, the author proposes that:

P7: Structural capital will amplify the relationship a) between core values and
brand orientation; b) between learning climate and brand orientation; c)
between market orientation and brand orientation; d) between entrepreneurial
capability and brand orientation; e) between Internet technology orientation
and brand orientation; and f) between decision-making rationality and brand
orientation in growth- aspiring small businesses.

Moderating Effect of Financial Slack: Much emphasis in extant literature has been
focused on the stagnated nature of small businesses given their lack of financial resources
(Costa et al., 2014; Khalique et al., 2015; OECD, 2013). Such a stance that has been taken by
extant literature is indisputable given that the inadequacies of these firms to develop certain
key capabilities is to a large extent traceable to little or no financial slack (Lockett et al., 2013).
For further reading on resource slack, please refer to Bradley, Wiklund, & Shepherd (2011) as
well as Dası, Iborra, and Safon (2015). Debatably so, a greater number of small businesses in
the developing world have so far failed in making provisions for idle financial resources due
largely in part to limited working capital (OECD, 2013). For this group of firms in the
developing world, retaining a “large” portion of their previous profit earnings in their
businesses has to a certain extent proven to be an arduous task for several of the enterprises.
171 The Qualitative Report 2016

On this basis, it is not rocket science to state categorically that small firms that do not plough
back a large portion of their retained profits into their ongoing business concerns are less likely
to have sufficient savings and/or idle resources to run their businesses in the face of any
business or economic downturn. In short, limited financial slack eventually ends up stifling
even the few market-based competencies that some of the enterprises have over time strived to
develop. This in turn impacts negatively on the firm’s overall execution of its business
strategies. Although it is beyond the scope of this article to go into further details of the
consequences of limited financial slack (or resource availability as one may prefer to call it)
but it is also important to highlight that such a consequence is also largely responsible for the
low brand positioning and competitiveness of small businesses’ products and/or services
offerings. To sum up, the author argues in strong terms that inadequate financial slack is highly
likely to slow down the impact of the highlighted key strategic on the firm’s brand orientation
strategy. Taken together, the author further proposes that:

P7: Little (or no) financial slack will attenuate the relationship between (a) core
values and brand orientation; (b) between learning climate and brand
orientation; (c) between market orientation and brand orientation; (d) between
entrepreneurial capability and brand orientation; (e) between Internet
technology orientation and brand orientation; (f) between decision-making
rationality and brand orientation; as well as (g) between structural capital and
brand orientation in growth- aspiring small businesses

Most importantly, I show (see Figure 1) how these cultural antecedents (organizational drivers)
and moderating variables play out towards the development of brand orientation strategy in the
small business setting.

Figure 1. The Proposed Conceptual Framework

Customer-centric
Performance
outcomes
EcV LwC EnC
BoS Customer
MkO ItO DmR Acquisition
Customer
Foundational Organizational Drivers Satisfaction
Brand Trust
Brand Loyalty
FsK StK Marketing Mix Corporate Image
Capability
Micro-Foundational Organizational Drivers
Source: Own Elaboration

Notes: EcV-Enterprise Core Values; LwC-Learning (Workplace) Climate; ETC-

Entrepreneurial Capability; MkO-Market Orientation; ItO-Internet Technology Orientation;
DmR-Decision-Making Rationality; StK-Structural Capital; FsK-Financial Slack; and BoS-
Brand Orientation Strategy.

Where; indicates direct effect, while indicates moderating effect.

Christian Nedu Osakwe 172

Implications for Theory, Practice and Concluding Thoughts

This article has provided a theoretical framework which could possibly improve our
general understanding of the critical sources of brand orientation strategy in the small business
setting, and particularly in growth-aspiring enterprises that may be situated in emerging
economies. On top of that, the study has brought to the fore how certain organizational
variables potentially moderate the relationship between the highlighted processual antecedents
and brand orientation strategy. This study has further extended SMEs branding research stream
by taking cognizance of both tangible and intangible drivers of branding strategy. Based on the
conceptualized model, the author advocates that small business practitioners should prioritize
their scare resources by investing in brand-supporting capabilities such as market orientation,
entrepreneurial capability, Internet technology orientation, decision-making rationality as well
as core supporting organizational levers such as structural capital and endeavour to make
provisions for financial slack. Similarly, is the need to create a workplace climate that could
foster more commitment from their employees via training, skills development as well as team
bonding activities. By and large, the author strongly believes that if concrete steps are taken by
the firm with respect to the themes mentioned above, it will provide the mechanisms for
building an effective brand orientation strategy, which is highly likely to induce superior
customer-centric performance outcomes for the enterprises in the broader market or targeted
niche market. Notwithstanding the valuable contributions of this research to knowledge,
especially in the domain of a brand orientation, the author is quick to point out one of the basic
limitations of the present study. The major limitation of the proposed conceptual framework is
that the themes used within the research model cannot be described as overly exhaustive given
the limited coverage of extant literature in marketing, and specifically in the branding research
stream. On a final note, the next step in this particular research stream will be to further examine
these processual antecedents using empirical dataset. Therefore, the author invites interested
scholars who might be willing to test the assumptions of this model by conducting an empirical
analysis, particularly in the context of growth-aspiring small enterprises in emerging
economies along with economically advanced economies. Given these points, it is vitally
important for small business entrepreneurs to be aware that brand orientation should not be
treated as an isolated strategy, but rather as an integrated strategy that spans the whole
enterprise value-chain(s).

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Author Note

Christian Nedu Osakwe is a PhD Candidate (Management and Economics) in the

Department of Management and Marketing, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tomas
Bata University in Zlin, Czech Republic. His current research interests are but not limited to
177 The Qualitative Report 2016

strategic marketing management, web-based marketing, technology/innovation diffusion,

research methods, emerging markets, and micro, small and medium-sized businesses. He has
to his credit some research publications in international peer-reviewed journals that are indexed
in reputable databases. He has also presented some papers at both local and international
conferences. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: Christian Nedu
Osakwe at [email protected].

Copyright 2016: Christian Nedu Osakwe and Nova Southeastern University.

Acknowledgement

The author wishes to acknowledge the support gotten from IGA/FAME/2015/039.

Article Citation

Osakwe, C. N. (2016). Crafting an effective brand oriented strategic framework for growth-
aspiring small businesses: A conceptual study. The Qualitative Report, 21(2), 163-177.
Retrieved from http://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol21/iss2/1