SMEs Decision-Makers’ Culture Characteristics and Risk Perception Associated with Exporting: An exploratory study

Abstract

This paper explores the influence of the Culture characteristics on the risk perceptions of decision-makers within small and medium sized (SME) businesses considering (or engaged in) exporting within the Saudi Arabia. Currently there is a paucity of research examining individual-level differences and the decision to export within manufacturing settings. Moreover, this is the first examination of the influence of SMEs decision-makers culture characteristics within the Saudi Arabian contexts. A total of twenty two interviews with Saudi SMEs mangers/owners within manufacturing industries were completed. The results suggest that managers’ Culture characteristics (operationalised as Hofested ‘s Five Dimensional Model)  influence their perceptions of risks associated with the exporting decision.

Keywords: Risk perception, Saudi Arabia, SMEs decision-makers, Culture characteristics, Exporting SMEs, Saudi SMEs, Small Businesses