The Pathways for High-Quality Development of SRDI SMEs: A Dynamic QCA Analysis Based on the Attention-Based View

Abstract

Using panel data from 186 listed “little giant” enterprises from 2018 to 2022, this paper employs dynamic qualitative comparative analysis to investigate the pathways to high quality development of specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative small and medium sized enterprises (SRDI SMEs). The findings show that the high-quality development of SRDI SMEs results from the combined effects of focus of attention, situated attention, and structural distribution of attention. Four pathways to high-quality development and four pathways to non-high-quality development are identified. The high-quality development of SRDI SMEs involves an R&D investment trap: Low R&D investment is a core feature of high-quality development pathways, whereas under conditions of attention misalignment or insufficient contextual support, high R&D investment may hinder an enterprise’s ability to achieve high-quality development. Government support is a key condition for promoting the high-quality development of SRDI SMEs. The priority assigned to explorative innovation and exploitative innovation is not fixed; enterprises need to adjust their focus of attention according to their own resources and external environment.

Keywords

specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SRDI SMEs) / high-quality development / dynamic qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) / attention-based view / explorative innovation / exploitative innovation

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press