The Impact of Proactive Resilience Strategies on Organizational Performance: Role of Ambidextrous and Dynamic Capabilities of SMEs in Manufacturing Sector

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The study ' the impact of Proactive Resilience Strategies on Organizational Performance: Role of Ambidextrous and Dynamic Capabilities of SMEs in Manufacturing Sector', is a study that can potentially contribute to the current literature.

The authors  provide an introduction where they mention several important tudies in the area.

At this part the authors mention that the study provides evidence about the mechanism performance is affected by developing resilience and ambidexterity capabilities, concerning SMEs .

The second part (Theoretical foundation) is well written  and discusses major issues regarding the terminology, and major discussion in the sector that relates to understanding the research questions. The hypotheses are stated at the end of this part. The relation between visibility and performance (H1) , poredefined decision plan and performance (H2), , visibility and exploitation capability (H3) visibility and exploration capability (H4), predifined decision plan and exploitation (H5) and exploaration (H6) capability and other combinations that bring 12 hypotheses are mentioned.

The empirical part follows and provides (Table  A9, A10) evidence of some support to all 12 hypotheses.

However, the empirical part lacks additional, alternative, tests that use different proxies of those attributes that would provide a confirmation of robustness of these findings.

This is , in my view, a significant weakness of the study, that otherwise could be acceptable.

The Discussion Part that follows does not provide a convincing link of the findings of the study findings to those of past studies, nor helps to show the contribution of the study nor to assist future direction of research that may wants to utilise the findings of the study. Despite so many references discussed in the introduction, it is surprising that the authors do not grab the opportunity to show how their study contradicts, confirms, or else, to other studies and finally how it contributes.

Overall, the authors have done a good introduction and the empirical part provides some first test of the hypothesis, the authors must provide

1. Robustness tests , by using alternative variables to test the robustneness of the same hypotheses. Normally testing 3 Different variables/attributes for each hypothesis could confirm the findings.

2. Must provide a detailed and focused discussion to show how the findings of the study findings compare and contribute to those of past studies in other countries or different samples by other authors, and perhaps provide an explanation why the results sre sdame or different , and

3. to show the contribution of the study and assist future direction of research.

 

 

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Author Response

refer to attachment 

Reviewer 2 Report

This issue is interesting but the methodology is too simple to understand the complex characteristics of SME. The suggestions for this paper are:

The abstract should provide a concise overview of the research, highlighting its significance, methodology, findings, and implications. Suggestions for Abstract: 1. Ensure clarity and precision: The abstract should clearly communicate the main points of the research. Use concise and precise language to convey the message effectively. 2. Maintain a formal tone: Academic writing requires a formal tone, so avoid using colloquial expressions or informal language. Stick to a professional and objective style throughout the abstract. 3. Provide more specific details: Consider adding specific details about the research methodology, such as the sample size, data collection methods, and analysis techniques used. This will enhance the credibility of the study. 4. Use consistent terminology: Make sure to use consistent terminology throughout the abstract. For example, if you refer to "proactive resilience strategies" in one sentence, use the same term in subsequent sentences rather than using synonyms or alternative expressions. 5. Structure the abstract effectively: Divide the abstract into clear sections to improve readability. For example, you can have separate paragraphs to introduce the research focus, describe the methodology, present the findings, and discuss the practical implications. 6. Proofread for grammar and punctuation: Ensure that the abstract is free from grammatical errors, typos, and punctuation mistakes. A well-edited abstract enhances the overall quality of the research.

The suggestions for introduction: 1. The introduction should provide a clear and concise overview of the research topic. It is important to present the information in a logical and coherent manner, ensuring that the ideas flow smoothly. 2. Be mindful of repeating certain points or ideas. For instance, in the first few sentences, the mention of SMEs' contribution to economic growth is repeated. Try to rephrase and diversify the language to maintain reader engagement. 3. Review the sentence structures to ensure they are grammatically correct and clear. For example, consider breaking long sentences into shorter ones to improve readability. 4. Emphasize the specific research gap that your study aims to address. Clearly state how your research contributes to the existing literature and what new insights it offers. 5. Define key concepts: When introducing concepts like "ambidexterity" and "resilience," provide brief definitions or explanations to ensure that readers have a clear understanding of these terms. 6. Please re-shape the Introduction to the more “conventional style”, i.e. tell the reader what is the focus of the study, what is the exact research questions assumed? why is it relevant? How is it conducted? What are the results, what are the contributions? Practical and maybe theoretical? And the disposition of the paper.

 

The suggestions for Theoretical Foundation and Hypotheses Development: 1. It is too long to understand, suggest split it to the section of literature review and Hypotheses Development. 2. While you mention dynamic capabilities, resilience, and ambidexterity, consider providing more detailed explanations or definitions for these terms to ensure readers have a clear understanding of their meaning and relevance. 3. Review the flow of the text and ensure that the ideas and concepts are presented in a logical order. Consider grouping related studies and concepts together to improve the coherence of the text. 4. Where appropriate, consider including specific examples or case studies to illustrate the application of Dynamic Capability Theory (DCT) and the impact of proactive resilience strategies on organizational performance. 5. Please organize Theoretical Foundation and Hypotheses Development in relation to the assumed research question, so that the reader is informed what is known and what is not known? 6. More recent literature about SME should be added, as “Influence of blockchain technology in SME internationalization: Evidence from high-tech SMEs in India”, “Supply chain ambidexterity and manufacturing SME performance: The moderating roles of network capability and strategic information flow”, “The nature of SME co-operation and innovation: A multi-scalar and multi-dimensional analysis." “Micro- and Small-Sized Enterprises’ Sustainability-Oriented Innovation for COVID-19”, “Micro- and small-sized enterprises' willingness to borrow via internet financial services during coronavirus disease 2019”, "The impact of opportunity connectedness on innovation in SMEs' foreign-market relationships." "How does innovation matter for sustainable performance? Evidence from small and medium-sized enterprises." "Effective Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Import Strategy: Its Drivers, Moderators, and Outcomes:."

 

The suggestions for Research Methodology: 1. Instead of saying "the measures in the study were adapted from previous studies," provide specific references for each measure. Clearly state which items were adapted from which studies, including the authors' names, publication years, and titles of the studies. 2. When mentioning the number of items used to measure each construct, provide the exact number. For example, instead of saying "the eight item measure was adapted," specify the number as "the measure consisting of eight items was adapted." 3. Some sentences are lengthy and could benefit from being broken down into shorter, more concise sentences. This will enhance readability and clarity. 4. Instead of simply stating that a five-point Likert scale was used, consider providing more information about the scale, such as the anchors (e.g., strongly agree to strongly disagree) and how it was labeled. 6. When discussing the pre-test conducted with academics and SME managers, provide more information about the purpose of the pre-test, the feedback received, and any adjustments made based on the pre-test results. 7. Clarify why managers of SMEs in the manufacturing industry were chosen as the population for the study. Provide a brief rationale for this selection and its relevance to the research objectives. 8. Acknowledge the low response rate and briefly discuss potential reasons for it. Additionally, mention any steps taken to mitigate non-response bias or any measures implemented to ensure the representativeness of the obtained sample. 9. Provide a brief explanation of why the sample size of 351 usable questionnaires is deemed sufficient for the analysis. Mention any relevant guidelines, previous research, or statistical considerations supporting the adequacy of the sample size for the chosen analytical technique (PLS-SEM). 10. Explain the purpose of using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for preliminary data analysis. Elaborate on the specific analyses conducted in SPSS and how they contribute to the overall research process. Also, provide a brief rationale for using PLS-SEM for the main data analysis and mention its advantages for testing the relationships between variables and assessing flexible constructs. 11. The moderate effects of SMEs characteristics should be discussed.

 

The suggestions for Discussion and Conclusion: 1. In the discussion section, briefly summarize the main findings of the study. Make sure to highlight the key insights of the study. Throughout the discussion, it is important to ensure that key terms and concepts are clearly defined and explained. This will help readers understand the study's focus and the significance of the findings. For example, provide a brief explanation of proactive resilience strategies, ambidextrous capabilities, and supply chain performance in the SMEs manufacturing sector. 2. Discuss how the current findings relate to previous research and theories in the field. Make connections between the current study's results and what is already known about the topic. Discuss the relevance of the findings in the broader context of existing literature and theories. Highlight any gaps or discrepancies in previous research and explain how the current study contributes to filling those gaps. This will help readers understand the significance and novelty of the findings. 3.Support the discussion points with relevant evidence from the study. Reference specific findings, statistical results, or examples from the data analysis to strengthen the arguments. This will enhance the credibility of the discussion and demonstrate the validity of the study's conclusions. 4. Discuss the practical implications of the findings for organizations and SMEs in particular. Offer recommendations and strategies that can be implemented based on the study's results. 5. Acknowledge the limitations of the study, including any weaknesses or potential sources of bias. Address how these limitations may have impacted the study's results and what future research could address them. 5.

 

The suggestions for Theoretical Implications: 1. Begin the section by summarizing the theoretical contributions of the study. This will give readers a preview of the key points discussed and help them understand the significance of the research. 2. Elaborate on the specific theoretical implications of the study. Explain how the research contributes to the existing academic management literature, particularly in the areas of supply chain resilience, supply chain ambidexterity, and proactive resilience strategies. 3. Highlight the novelty of the study and how it diversifies the direction of supply chain management (SCM) literature. Emphasize that the research fills a gap in the literature by exploring the relationship between supply chain resilience, supply chain ambidexterity, and organizational performance in SMEs in the manufacturing sector, which has not been extensively studied before. 4. Emphasize the significance of the study's findings in advancing the understanding of supply chain resilience and ambidexterity in the context of SCM. Discuss how the research sheds light on the role of available resources and novel strategies in effectively addressing supply chain disruptions and positively impacting SMEs' performance, business continuity, and economic development. 5. Explain how the findings of this study can serve as a foundation for future research in the field. Discuss the potential for further studies that build upon the conceptual model proposed in this research and explore the multifaceted impacts of resource, business processes, and their antecedents on firm performance. 6. Explain the significance of the research's quantitative approach, specifically its utilization of structural equation modeling (SEM) to systematically analyze the connections among variables. Contrast this approach with traditional regression analytical methods and highlight the value of SEM in advancing understanding in the field of SCM. 7.  Discuss the importance of studying SME performance, particularly in the context of supply chain resilience. Explain that the research fills a gap by investigating the antecedents and consequences of SME performance in the under-researched SME context. Emphasize the relevance of the study's global theoretical outlook and its applicability to scholars in the Southeast Asian region. 8. Conclude the section by summarizing the key theoretical contributions of the study. Highlight the originality and novelty of the findings and their relevance to the existing literature. Avoid introducing new information or arguments in this section.

 

The suggestions for Managerial Implications: 1. Start the section by emphasizing the valuable insights that the study provides for managers of SMEs. This sets the tone for the practical implications discussed in this section. 2. Explain that the study's findings can serve as a guideline for SME managers in developing ambidextrous capabilities. Emphasize that while SMEs may already focus on exploration and exploitation, the study highlights the importance of resilience in driving performance through dynamic capabilities. 3. Explain that supply chain resilience focuses on balancing managerial capabilities with the inherent susceptibilities of the supply chain design and the business setting. Highlight that the study identifies two proactive resilience strategies, namely visibility and predefined decision plans, which managers can actively champion to enhance the ambidextrous capabilities of their SMEs and drive better performance. 4. Discuss how the study's findings can guide SMEs in assessing available opportunities and exploring new ones to better survive in a dynamic environment. Explain that SMEs in the manufacturing industry can seek new opportunities along the supply chain process to swiftly spot and manage problematic situations while leveraging their existing core competencies. 5. Explain that SMEs can emphasize developing stronger competence in their existing supply chain by focusing on exploitation and exploration capabilities. Highlight the importance of looking for new areas in the supply chain to sustain performance and improve resource management, particularly in terms of human resources. 6. Discuss how the development of exploration and exploitation capabilities among employees at SMEs can result in better outcomes in terms of proactive resilience. Explain that empowering employees to cultivate these capabilities can lead to improved performance and better management of resources. 7. Conclude the section by summarizing the key managerial implications of the study. Highlight that SME managers can use the study's findings to guide their decision-making processes, enhance ambidextrous capabilities, and improve their SMEs' performance in a dynamic business environment.

 

The suggestions for conclusions: 1. There has been a section of “ Discussion and Conclusion”, so It is hard to understand the sections of this paper. Pls revise it. 2. Explain that the study specifically focuses on the dynamic capabilities processes involved in the production of a business model innovation (BMI). Emphasize the progression from a market-driving to a market-driven approach, and ultimately to an ambidextrous market-oriented business model. 3. Discuss the findings that demonstrate the capability of SMEs in developing and deploying dynamic capabilities that align with their business models. Highlight the importance of these capabilities in bringing innovation into the design and architecture of SMEs' business models. 4. Stress the significance of ambidextrous talents in enhancing the positive impact of proactive resilience methods on the performance of manufacturing SMEs. Explain how the study rationalizes two crucial managerial techniques that can sustain organizational success.

 

The suggestions for Future Research Directions: 1. Suggest that future studies can investigate various types of organizational ambidexterity, such as structural or contextual approaches. Highlight that supply chain resilience and supply chain ambidexterity are considered structural and contextual, respectively, and have the potential to enhance organizational performance. 2. Propose that future research can concentrate on examining the impact of supply chain resilience and supply chain ambidexterity on SMEs' non-financial and financial performance. Emphasize that such investigations can add value to the current literature and serve as a foundation for studying the supply chain of SMEs in developing countries. 3. Suggest that future investigations should focus on exploring the sequential impact of supply chain resilience and supply chain ambidexterity as dynamic capabilities. Additionally, recommend using time-series data to illustrate the association between these concepts. Highlight the need for more detailed examinations to justify the antecedents and consequences of these capabilities on organizational performance, competitive advantage, and sustainability.

The suggestions for the Quality of English Language: 1. Use clear and concise language to convey your ideas. Avoid excessive jargon or complex sentence structures that may confuse the reader. Aim for simplicity and readability. 2. Organize your writing in a logical and coherent manner. Ensure that your ideas flow smoothly from one paragraph to the next, and use transitional words and phrases to connect different sections of your text. 3. Pay attention to grammar rules and use proper punctuation. Incorrect grammar can affect the clarity and understanding of your writing. Proofread your work to correct any errors before finalizing it. 4. Maintain a formal and academic tone in your writing. Avoid colloquial language, slang, or overly informal expressions. Use appropriate vocabulary and terminology related to your field of study. 5. Maintain consistency in terms of writing style, formatting, and language usage throughout your text. Use consistent tense, voice, and punctuation conventions to create a polished and professional piece of writing. 6. Proofread your work as look for any spelling, grammar, or formatting errors and make necessary corrections.

Author Response

refer to attachment 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Overall, the study provides a valuable contribution to the field of supply chain risk management by examining the relationship between proactive resilience strategies and organisational performance, as well as the mediating effects of exploitation and exploration. The study highlights the importance of ambidextrous capabilities in the context of SMEs manufacturing sector and emphasises the presence of opportunities for SMEs to enhance their supply chain performance.

However, there are a few areas for improvement that could be considered. Firstly, the study could benefit from a larger sample size to increase the generalizability of the findings. Secondly, the study would be strengthened by the use of more objective measures of organizational performance rather than self-reported measures. Thirdly, the study could benefit from a more in-depth exploration of the specific proactive resilience strategies used by SMEs in the manufacturing sector, and how they impact organizational performance. Finally, the study could consider the moderating effects of contextual factors such as industry and location on the relationship between proactive resilience strategies, exploitation, exploration, and organizational performance. In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into the relationship between proactive resilience strategies, exploitation, exploration, and organizational performance in the SMEs manufacturing sector. While there is room for improvement also in future research, the study's findings are relevant for practitioners and policymakers seeking to enhance supply chain performance and mitigate supply chain risks.

General editorial checking is required.

Author Response

refer to attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors made significant changes compared to the previous version that improved tremendously the outcome of their study, also dealing with most weaknesses stressed in past version suggestions.

I am therefore happy to accept the current version.

Well done!

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Author Response

All corrections done according to reviewers input. Thank you 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

It is better than before. But pls proofreading this article for threre are some minor errors.

pls proofreading this article for threre are some minor errors.

Author Response

No corrections needed according to reviewer 2 - Thank you 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx