Determinants of SME Success or Failure in Frontier Markets
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32890/ijbf2023.18.1.1Keywords:
Business failure, business success, logistic regression, resource-based theory, SMEsAbstract
SME competitiveness, financial stability, and and its continuity as a going concern are important considerations for company
stakeholders. This research is utilizing logistic regression to examine the determinants of SME business success or failure in Cambodia. A total of 314 successful and 78 failing SMEs were examined. Information was gathered through a survey questionnaire that had been previously validated in various countries based on the financial and non-financial information of SMEs. The study found that four factors, namely the owner’s education level, owner’s marketing skills, customer complaints, and the age of the business were important in determining the success or failure of SMEs. The predictive accuracy of the model was 95.5 percent, with an R-square estimation of 64 percent. Policymakers can use the results of this study to prepare and train aspirant entrepreneurs and current SME proprietors to keep proper records and maintain financial control, and develop marketing and other skills to assist their businesses to succeed. The findings can provide insights for entrepreneurs, especially with respect to efficient resource allocations that may help avert or lessen the rate of failure among SMEs. The findings can also help strengthen the SME sector in Cambodia, by providing more employment opportunities, assisting in better income distribution, and eventually leading to long-term prosperity and competitiveness.
References
Abdullah, A., Ma’aji, M., & Khaw, L. (2016). The value of governance variables in predicting financial distress among small and medium-sized enterprises in Malaysia. Asian Academy of Management Journal of Accounting & Finance, 12, 77–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.21 315/aamjaf2016.12.S1.
Agarwal, V., & Taffler, R. J. (2007). Twenty-five years of the Taffler z-score model: Does it really have predictive ability?. Accounting and Business Research, 37(4), 285-300. https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788. 2007.9663313
Ahmad, N., & Seet, P. (2009). Dissecting behaviours associated with business failure: A qualitative study of SME owners in Malaysia and Australia. Asian Social Science, 5(9), 98–104. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v5n9p 98
Akingbolu, R. (2010). Why 70 percent of SMEs fail in Nigeria? This day live. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/why-70-of-smesfailinnigeria%2 0experts/719 11/
Alvarez, S. A., & Busenitz, L. W. (2001). The entrepreneurship of resource-based theory. Journal of Management, 27(6), 755–775. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920630102700609
Altman, E. (1968). Financial ratios, discriminant analysis and the prediction of corporate bankruptcy. Journal of Finance, 23, 589-609. https://doi.org/10.2307/2978933
Altman, E., & Sabato, G. (2007). Modeling credit risk for SMEs: Evidence from US market. A Journal of Accounting, Finance and Business Studies (ABACUS), 43(3), 332-357. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.8723 36
Altman, E. I., Esentato, M., & Sabato, G. (2020). Assessing the credit worthiness of Italian SMEs and mini-bond issuers. Global Finance Journal, 43, 100450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. gfj.2018.09.
Ayyagari, M., Demirgüç-Kunt, A., & Maksimovic, V. (2011). Small vs. young firms across the world – Contribution to employment, job creation, and growth. Policy Research Working Paper 5631. The World Bank Development Research Group.
Beaver, W. (1967). Financial ratios as predictor of failure. Journal of Accounting Research, 4, 71-111. https://doi.org/10.2307/2490171
Becker, W. E., & Rosen, S. (1992). The learning effect of assessment and evaluation in high school. Economics of Education Review, 11(2),107-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7757(92)90002-K
Behr, P., & Guttler, A. (2007). Credit risk assessment and relationship lending: An empirical analysis of German small and medium-sized enterprises. Journal of Small Business Management, 45(2), 194-213. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-627X.2007.00209.x
Bell, S., & Luddington, J. (2006). Coping with customer complaints. Journal of Service Research, 8(3), 221-233. https://doi.org/10.1177 /1094670505283785
Bell, S., & Menguc, B. (2002). The employee-organization relationship, organizational citizenship behaviors, and superior service quality. Journal of Retailing, 78(2), 131-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/ S0022-4359(02)00069-
Bharadwaj, S., Varadarajan, P., & Fahy, J. (1993). Sustainable competitive advantage in service industries: A conceptual model and research propositions. The Journal of Marketing, 83-99. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299305700407
Blum, M. (1974). Failing company discriminant analysis. Journal of Accounting Research, 12(1), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.2307/2490525
Bono, J., & McNamar, G. (2011). From the editors. Academy of Management Journal, 47(1), 657–660. https://doi.org/10.5465/ amj.2 011.64869103
Brodie, R. J., Hollebeek, L. D., Jurić, B., & Ilić, A. (2011). Customer engagement: Conceptual domain, fundamental propositions, and implications for research. Journal of Service Research, 14(3), 252-271. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094670511411703
Cant, C., & Wiid, A. (2013). Establishing the challenges affecting South African SMEs. International Business & Economics Research Journal, 12(6), 707–716. https://doi.org/10.19030/ iber.v12i6.7869
Carrero-Morales, G. I. (2015). Factors affecting the success and failure of small and medium enterprises in Puerto Rico. 60th Annual ICSB World Conference, Dubai: ICSB, 111–
Chancharat, N. (2011). SMEs failure prediction: Literature review. ABAC Journal, 31(3), 70-81. http://www.assumptionjournal. au.edu/ index.php/abacjournal/article/view/145
Cooper, A., Gascon, J., & Woo, C. (1991). A resource-based prediction of new venture survival and growth. Academy of Management Proceedings, 1, 68–72. https://doi.org/10.5465/ ambpp.1991.4976561
Crook, T. R., Ketchen, D. J., Combs, J. G., & Todd, S. Y. (2008). Strategic resources and performance: A meta-analysis. Strategic Management Journal, 29(11), 1141–1154. https://doi.org/10.1002 /smj.703
Davidsson, P., & Honig, B. (2003). The role of social and human capital among nascent entrepreneurs. Journal of Business Venture, 8(3), 301-331. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9026(02)00097-
Dimitras A., Zanakis S., & Zopudinis C. (1996). A survey of business failures with an emphasis on failure prediction methods and industrial applications. European Journal of Operational Research, 90(3), 487-513. https://doi.org/10.1016/0377-2217(95)00070-
Edmister, R. O. (1972). An empirical test of financial ratio analysis for small business failure prediction. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 7(2), 1477-1493. https://doi.org/10.2307/232 9929
European Commision. (2013). A recovery on the horizon? Annual report on European SMEs 2012/2013. http://aei.pitt.edu/58189/1/ annual-report-smes-2013_en.pdf
Flerackers, P. (1998). Het success van nieuwe bedrijven: Slaag - en faalfactoren van nieuwe bedrijven in Nederland (Unpublished master’s thesis). Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht.
Forsinetti, C. (2012). Financing SMEs in ASEAN, the case of Cambodia. The Phnom Penh post. https://www.phnompenhpost. com/post-plus/financing-smes-asean-case-cambodia.
Gauthier, J. (2006). The content of secondary education around the world: Present position and strategic choices. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Geneva.
Gimeno, J., Folta, T. B., Cooper, A. C., & Woo, C. Y. (1997). Survival of the fittest? Entrepreneurial human capital and the persistence of under performing firms. Administrative Science Quarterly, 42, 750-783. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393656
Gray, D., Saunders, M., & Goregaokar, H. (2012). Success in challenging times: Key lessons for UK SMEs. Working Paper, University of Surrey.
Groth, M., Gutek, B. A., & Douma, B. (2001). Effects of service mechanisms and modes on customers’ attributions about service delivery. Journal of Quality Management, 6(2), 331-348. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1084-8568(01)00043-
Gyimah, P., Appiah, K., & Lussier, R. (2019) Success versus failure prediction model for small businesses in Ghana, Journal of African Business. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228916.2019.162 5017
Gujarati, D. N., & Porter, D. C. (2003). Basic econometrics (ed.). McGrew Hill Book.
Guzman, J. B., & Lussier, R. N. (2015). Success factors for small businesses in Guanajuato, Mexico. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 6(11), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1.1.1069.3340&rep
Habtoor, N., & Alharbi, A. (2020). Importance of human factors to organizational performance. International Journal of Management and Human Science, 4(1), 11-22. https://ejournal. lucp.net/index.php/ ijmhs/article/view/965
Hayward, M. L., Shepherd, D. A., & Griffin, D. (2006). A hubris theory of entrepreneurship. Management Science, 52(2), 160–172. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.1050.0483
Houben, G., Bakker, W., & Vergauwen, P. (2005). Assessing the non-financial predictors of the success and failure of young firms in the Netherlands. Journal of Economics and Applied Informatics, 1, 5-14. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.1050.0483
Hyder, S., & Lussier, R. N. (2016). Why businesses succeed or fail: A study on small businesses in Pakistan. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 8(1), 82–100. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-03-2015-0020
Jahur, M., & Quadar, S. (2012). Financial distress in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of Bangladesh: Determinants and remedial measures. Economia Series Management, 15(1), 432-444. https://ide as.repec.org/a/rom/econmn/v15y2012i1p46-61.html
Jiménez, A., Palmero-Cámara, C., González-Santos, M. J., González-Bernal, J., & Jiménez-Eguizábal, J. A. (2015). The impact of educational levels on formal and informal entrepreneurship. BRQ Business Research Quarterly, 18(3), 204-212. https://doi.org/10.10 16/j.brq.2015.02.
Keasey, K., & Watson R. (1987). Non-financial symptoms and the prediction of small company failure: A test of Argenti’s hypotheses. Journal of Business Finance and Accounting, 14(3), 335-354. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5957.1987.tb00099.x
Lichtenstein, B., & Brush, C. (2001). How do “resource bundles” develop and change in new ventures? A dynamic model and longitudinal exploration entrepreneurship. Theory and Practice, 25, 37-58. https://doi.org/10.1177/104225870102500303
Lockrey, S. (2015). A review of life cycle based ecological marketing strategy for new product development in the organizational environment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 95, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.02.
Lussier, R. N. (1995). A nonfinancial business success versus failure prediction model. Journal of Small Business Management, 33 (1), 8–20.https://www.proquest.com/docview/221008471?pq-origsite=gsch olar&fromopenview=true
Lussier, R. N., Bandara, C., & Marom, S. (2016). Entrepreneurship success factors: An empirical investigation in Sri Lanka. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 12(2), 102-112. https://doi.org/10.1108/ WJEMSD-10-2015-0047
Lussier, R. N. (2005). A success versus failure prediction model for the real estate industry. American Journal of Business, 20(1), 47–53. https://doi.org/10.1108/19355181200500005
Lussier, R. N., & Corman, J. (1995). A business success versus failure prediction model for entrepreneurs with 0–10 employees. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 7(1), 21–36. https://libjournals.mtsu.edu/ind ex.php/jsbs/article/view/327
Lussier, R. N., & Halabi, C. E. (2010). A three-country comparison of the business success versus failure prediction model. Journal of Small Business Management, 48(3), 360–377. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-627X.2010.00298.x
Lussier, R. N., & Pfeifer, S. (2001). A cross national prediction model for business success. Journal of Small Business Management, 39(3), 228–239. https://doi.org/10.1111/0447-2778.00021
Ma’aji, M., Abdullah, A., & Khaw, L. (2019). Financial distress among SMEs in Malaysia: An early warning signal. International Journal of Business & Society, 20(2), 775-792. http://www. ijbs.unimas.my/ images/repository/pdf/Vol20-no2-paper21.pdf
Ma’aji, M. (2019). Modelling business failure among small businesses in Nigeria. Journal of Economics Finance and Accounting, 6(2), 72-81. https://doi.org/10.17261/Pressacademia.2019.1046
Ma’aji, M., Abdullah, A., & Khaw, L. (2018). Predicting financial distress among SMEs in Malaysia. European Scientific Journal, 14(7), 91-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.19044/esj.2018.v14n7p91
Ma’aji, M. M., & Barnett, C. (2019). Determinants of capital budgeting practices and risks adjustment among Cambodian companies. Archives of Business Research, 7(3), 171-182. https://doi.org/10.14738/abr.73.6351
Ma’aji, M., Sok, P., & Long, C. (2020). Working capital financing preference among small businesses in Cambodia. Journal of Economics and Sustainability, 2(1), 48-61. https://doi.org/10.32890/jes
Majumdar, S. (1997). The impact of size and age on firm-level performance: Some evidence from India. Review of Industrial Organization, 12(2), 231-241. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007766324 749
McGowan, L. (2019). SMEs and their importance to the UK economy. BCRS business loans. https://bcrs.org.uk/smes-and-theirimportance-to-the-uk-economy/
Narver, J. C., & Slater, S. F. (1990). The effect of a market orientation on business profitability. Journal of Marketing, 54(4), 20-35. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299005400403
National Institute of Statistics (NIS). (2011). Economic census of Cambodia. National Institute of Statistics. https://www.nis. gov.kh/index.php/en/12-publications/16-economic-census-2011-final-results
Neshamba, F. (2006). Why do some small businesses grow faster and become “Successful” while others do not get beyond the ‘Foothills’? Journal of African Business, 7(1-2), 9-30. https://doi.org/10.130 0/J156v07n01_
Newbert, S. L. (2007). Empirical research on the resource-based view of the firm: An assessment and suggestions for future research. Strategic Management Journal, 28(2), 121–146. https://doi.org/1 0.1002/smj.573
O’Cass, A., & Sok, P. (2013). Exploring innovation driven value creation in B2B service firms: The roles of the manager, employees, and customers in value creation. Journal of Business Research, 66(8), 1074–1084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. jbusres.2012.03.
Ohlson, J. (1980). Financial ratios and the probabilistic prediction of bankruptcy. Journal of Accounting Research, 18(1), 109-131. https://doi.org/10.2307/2490395
Ong, J. W., & Ismail, H. B. (2008). Sustainable competitive advantage through information technology competence: Resource-based view on small and medium enterprises. Communications of the IBIMA, 1(7), 62-70. https://ibimapublishing.com/uploads/ articles/CIBIMA/2008/ 320097/320097.pdf
Pena, I. (2004). Business incubation centers and new firm growth in the Basque country. Small Business Economics, 22(3), 223–236. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SBEJ.0000022221.03667.82
Platt, H., & Platt, M. (1990). A note on the use of industry-relative ratios in bankruptcy prediction. Journal of Banking and Finance, 15(6), 1183-1194. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4266(91)90057-S
Plymire, J. (1991). Complaints as opportunities. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 8(2), 39-43. https://doi.org/10.1108/07363769110035009
Porter, M. E. (1985). Competitive strategy: Creating and sustaining superior performance. The free, New York.
Pratono, A., & Mahmood, R. (2015). Mediating effect of marketing capability and reward philosophy in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance. J. Glob. Entrepreneurship Res., 5(5), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/ s40497-015-0023-x
Reynolds, P., & Miller, B. (1989). New firm survival: Analysis of a panel’s fourth year (pp. 159–172). Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research, Babson College
Savi, K. (2019, 10 April). PM highlights achievements in Khmer New Year message. The Phnom Pehn Post. https://www. phnompenhpost.com/national/pm-highlights-achievements-khmer-new-year-message
Shane, S. (1996). Hybrid organizational arrangements and their implications for firm growth and survival: A study of new franchisors. Academy of Management Journal, 39(1), 216-234. https://doi.org/10.5465/256637
SMECorps. (2013). Annual Report 2012/2013. SMECorp Malaysia.
Sokhorng, C. (2018). SMEs set to boost the Kingdom’s economy. https://m.phnompenhpost.com/business/smes-set-boost-kingdoms-economy
Szumilas M. (2010). Explaining odds ratios. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 19(3), 227–229. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938757/
Teng, H., Bhatia, S., & Anwar, S. (2011). A success versus failure prediction model for small businesses in Singapore. American Journal of Business, 26(1), 50–64. https://doi.org/10.1108/193551 81111124106
Thornhill, S., & Amit, R. (2003). Learning about failure: Bankruptcy, firm age, and the resource-based view. Organization Science, 14(5), 497-509. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.14.5.497.16761
Unger, J. M., Rauch, A., Frese, M., & Rosenbusch, N. (2011). Human capital and entrepreneurial success: A meta-analytical review. Journal of Business Venturing, 26(3), 341-358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusve nt.2009.09.
Wernerfelt, B. (1984). A resource-based view of the firm. Strategic Management Journal, 5(2), 171–180. https://doi.org/10.1002/ smj. 4250050207
Zmijewski, M. (1984). Methodological issues related to the estimation of financial distress prediction models. Journal of Accounting Research, 22, 59-86. https://doi.org/10.2307/2490859
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 International Journal of Banking and Finance

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Research impact
Harvested 2026-09-07Counts differ between services because each indexes a different body of literature. None of them is the whole picture.









