The relationship between business networking and SMEs production efficiency

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between business networking and the technical efficiency of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam. To achieve this objective, this study proposes a framework to measure the production efficiency of the SMEs; then, the study identifies the relationship between business networking and their performance efficiency. Data Envelopment Analysis method is employed in the first stage to measure the efficiency. In the second stage, the study uses both Tobit and least squared regressions to examine the relationship between the firm networking and its performance efficiency. The unbalanced data from the four SMEs surveys, which cover the period of 6 years, from 2004 to 2010, will be employed in this study. The research finds that the average technical efficiency scores of SMEs in this period are moderately low, ranging from 48 percent to 70 percent depending on the industries. Additionally, the relationship between business networking and firm’s production efficiency appears to be different in different indutries. For example, in food products and beverages, the network quantity is found to have positive impact on the technical efficiency. However, network quality as well as the network diversity might hinder the firms in this industry. The wood and wood products and fabricated metal product experience a contradictory tendency when the total network size and cluster size appear to have no impact, or even negative impact on the technical efficiency. In these industries, the network quality appears to hold a significantly crucial role than other dimensions of networking when it has positive correlation with firm efficiency. Finally, the role of official business association appears to be vague to firm efficiency.