Relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance among Malay-Owned SMEs in Malaysia: A PLS Analysis

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The submitted paper aims to study the casual relationship between five elements of entrepreneurial orientation and business performance in the context of small and medium sized enterprises from Malaysia. Therefore, it tries to complete a knowledge gap by providing empirical evidence based on data specific to Malaysian entrepreneurial culture.

The main weakness of this study stems from the fact that it is not generalizable to a broader audience other than the Malay one. The authors did not demonstrate how their main findings could be applicable in other contexts therefore broadening our general knowledge of the topic discussed.

Regarding specific comments one focuses on the tone and language used in this paper starting from row 53 and ending at row 59. The other specific comment refers to the technique used to asses discriminant validity while using a PLS approach. It is recommended to use the HTMT technique instead of the Fornell-Larcker criterion.

    

Author Response

Reviewer’ Comments	Authors response
The main weakness of this study stems from the fact that it is not generalizable to a broader audience other than the Malay one. The authors did not demonstrate how their main findings could be applicable in other contexts therefore broadening our general knowledge of the topic discussed.	The theoretical implication usually explains how the results helps in generalizing broader context. However, the theoretical implication sections are rewritten in the lines between 537-555.
Regarding specific comments one focuses on the tone and language used in this paper starting from row 53 and ending at row 59.	The language of these sentences is corrected in the line of 88-90; 91, 92.
The other specific comment refers to the technique used to asses discriminant validity while using a PLS approach. It is recommended to use the HTMT technique instead of the Fornell-Larcker criterion.	HTMT table is added in addition to the Fornel-larker criterion in the lines 392-397.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance among Malay-owned SMEs in Malaysia: A PLS Analysis

This paper is well written and presented. However, the authors are suggested to amend based on the following comments:

1. In the abstract, it is should start with introduction and followed with the problem statement.
2. The objective, methodology and findings, however included in the abstract.
3. It is better to write a novelty of the research paper at the end of abstract.
4. In introduction part, paragraph 3, the authors were mentioned about “Malays are the predominant race in Malaysia as it is considered a multi-racial country. Chinese and Indians are the other two races. Malays are not very skillful as they join in business later, are not capable of surviving, and do not have much experience”. State the citation/reference
5. In 5.3.1, line 4, Table 2. The reviewer thought it is Table 1 instead of Table 2.
6. In 5.3.3. line 2, Figure 1. The reviewer thought it is Figure 2 instead of Figure 1. Figure 2 path co-efficient value is missing.
7. How do the authors decide the number of sampling? Which references that they referred?

Author Response

In the abstract, it should start with introduction and followed with the problem statement. The objective, methodology and findings, however included in the abstract.	The introductory sentence and brief problem statement is included in the abstract section. It can be found in the lines between 12-15.
It is better to write a novelty of the research paper at the end of abstract.	The novelty of the research is included at the end of the abstract in the lines of 23-28.
In introduction part, paragraph 3, the authors were mentioned about “Malays are the predominant race in Malaysia as it is considered a multi-racial country. Chinese and Indians are the other two races. Malays are not very skillful as they join in business	Reference is added in the lines of 88, 90, and 93.
later, are not capable of surviving, and do not have much experience”. State the citation/reference
In 5.3.1, line 4, Table 2. The reviewer thought it is Table 1 instead of Table 2.	Corrected in the lines of 383.
In 5.3.3. line 2, Figure 1. The reviewer thought it is Figure 2 instead of Figure 1. Figure 2 path co-efficient value is missing.	The path-coefficient value figure is included in the lines 429.
How do the authors decide the number of samplings? Which references that they referred?	The sample determination procedure and references are included in the lines between 321-326.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear/sAuthor/s,

Manuscript “Relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance among Malay-owned SMEs in Malaysia: A PLS Analysis”

Reviewer’s report:

 

The objective of the research is to analyze the relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance among Malay-owned SMEs in Malaysia. This objective is interesting, since the results are applicable so that companies can improve their organization and profitability, aspects that are always recurring and necessary in any economic situation. The article is well written and structured but for its publication the authors should make the following important modifications:

1. Despite the abundant references, it is not understood because it is not updated and stops in 2016. It is necessary to update this aspect. It would also be convenient to reduce bibliography that does not contribute to the study or is outdated.

 

2. Articles should be restructured according to the logic of a scientific paper, and there is no need to divide too many chapters.And the article should complement the innovation and necessity of the research. Since the article studies SMEs in Malaysia, the article should indicate whether the methods or conclusions of the study have generally applicable value or are characteristic of local enterprises. IN other words, the case study on Malaysia has been justified. It is necessary for the authors to explain the reasons for this selection.

This explanation could be added in section 5.

3. figure 1 should be reproduced; the equation should be edited by MathType; 

4. The article should also point out the reasons for choosing "risk-taking, proactiveness, innovation, and achievement factors"  variables, and this will improve the conclusion of the article.

- Some other layout and edit issues need check.

Best regards

 

 

 

Author Response

1. Despite the abundant references, it is not understood because it is not updated and stops in 2016. It is necessary to update this aspect. It would also be convenient to reduce bibliography that does not contribute to the study or is outdated.	Few references are deleted and some of the references are replaced. Reference number 1; 5; 8-12; 14-17; 19-21; 105-106 are newly added.
2. Articles should be restructured according to the logic of a scientific paper, and there is no need to divide too many chapters.	Chapter 2,3 and 4 is merged with chapter 2 under literature review.
And the article should complement the innovation and necessity of the research.	The innovation and necessity of the research is incorporated 61-85; 94-101.
Since the article studies SMEs in Malaysia, the article should indicate whether the methods or conclusions of the study have generally applicable value or are characteristic of local enterprises. IN other words, the case study on Malaysia has been justified. It is necessary for the authors to explain the reasons for this selection. This explanation could be added in section 5.	The explanations are incorporated in the introduction section with the lines between 77-85.
3. figure 1 should be reproduced; the equation should be edited by Math Type;	Figure 1 is reproduced in the line 239 and equation are added in the lines 339-344.
4. The article should also point out the reasons for choosing "risk-taking, proactiveness, innovation, and achievement factors” variables, and this will improve the conclusion of the article.	The reasons for choosing “"risk-taking, proactiveness, innovation, and achievement factors” are discussed in the lines of 123-170.
- Some other layout and edit issues need check.	Layout issues are solved and few grammatical issues are fixed in the line of 128, 178, 227, 290, 319, 346, 362, 368.  Also, 106-112 are newly added sentences.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear/s Author/s,

Re: Manuscript “Relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance among Malay-owned SMEs in Malaysia: A PLS Analysis”

From my point of view, the article is publishable, although I still do not see the date of the study in the article. If this was done years ago, you have to justify why it was done in that period.

Best regards

Author Response

It took seven months to collect data. Actually data collection from SMEs is very difficult. We called SMEs owner again and again to confirm their consent. Therefore, the article seems like old. We had started writing introduction to hypotheses development in 2020. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf