Abstract

Purpose – This research paper aims to examine the impact of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and government support programs (GSP) on new product performance in Korean Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME). We specifically focus on the interaction between these two factors and their influence on the new product performance of Korean SMEs. Research design, data, and methodology – We collected survey questionnaires from SMEs that are certified with Inno-biz by the Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 26 and AMOS to create an integrated model. Result – Based on the analysis, our findings indicate that the proactiveness and innovativeness dimensions of EO have a positive effect on new product performance. However, the risk-taking dimension of EO has a negative effect. Additionally, GSP exhibit both positive and negative moderating effects on different dimensions of EO. Conclusion – It is important to recognize that GSP are not a universal solution for all challenges faced by SMEs. Hence, it is crucial for policy-makers to have a clear understanding of SMEs’ capabilities and the level of EO dimensions in order to identify types of GSP that could lead to positive outcomes, while minimizing the negative effects of GSP.