Effects of entrepreneurial orientation, marketing, and innovation capabilities, on market performance: the mediating effect of sustainable competitive advantage

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the direct/indirect effects of sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) antecedents (entrepreneurial orientation, marketing capability, innovation capability and marketing innovation) on market performance (MP) in travel agencies. Design/methodology/approach A survey was used for data collection randomly from 315 managers in travel agencies and structural equation modelling was used for testing research hypotheses. Findings The findings of this study showed that SCA is a partial mediator between SCA antecedents and MP. SCA antecedents significantly improve the prediction of travel agencies’ MP. Practical implications This study offers useful insights to managers, services providers and marketers of travel services who seek to achieve competitive positions and strengthen their marketing and innovation capabilities to support their survival in the travel supply chain in an accelerated technological changeable travel and tourism market. Originality/value The literature review lacks an integrated model that investigates the effect of SCA and its antecedents on MP. The introduced research model provides a deep insight into the mediating role of SCA in improving business performance.