Received 22 April 2016; accepted 28 June 2016; published 1 July 2016

ABSTRACT

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are still hailed as the panacea of economic development of many countries, since they play a fundamental part of the economic fabric in developing a crucial role in furthering growth, innovation and prosperity. In the quest to achieve growth, SMEs unfortunately face severe challenges including the marketing of their products, which stem from unqualified employees in the marketing department, inadequate finance to undertake marketing research, go international, and to participate in trade fairs among other factors. Leaving most SMEs to face these challenges alone usually leads to high rate of demise and low growth rate, hence government and other multi donor organizations provide support to these SMEs in the area of finance, market, managerial capacity building among others. This research assesses the impact of the government support in the form of marketing assistance (training of marketing staffs, access to foreign marketing, trade fairs and exhibitions) to some selected retail SMEs in the ten Regional Capitals of Ghana on their growth. Using firm data report, the results indicated that the provision of support for SMEs to participate in trade shows and exhibitions highly impact positively on SMEs growth, followed by the provision of support in access to international market, and support in the training of marketing staffs of SMEs.

Keywords:

SMEs, Growth, Marketing Challenges, Government Support

1. Introduction

Several researchers across the globe have recommended the need for external support from both government and non-governmental institutions to improve SMEs’ performance for the needed economic growth [1] - [4] . Realizing the significant role external support had on the growth of SMEs, most governments from both developed and developing countries had come out with policy interventions based on the needs of SMEs in their jurisdiction, all with the aim of boosting growth [5] .

In the UK, the government policies for SMEs development entered crescendo following the Bolton Report in 1971 [6] , leading to the establishment of the Small Firms’ Services (SFS), which happened to be UK government’s first SMEs focus support agency. Further research on the challenges facing SMEs in Africa by [7] - [9] , made a recommendations that external governmental support is needed for the SMEs to flourish.

Studies have shown that, aside the governmental support, other multinational institutions such as the World Bank, European Commission, DANIDA, ADRA, GTZ among other organizations have been supporting SMEs, in the form of finance, advisory services, management capacity building and training [10] .

Though some researchers like [11] has argued that the impact of the support on SMEs growth is difficult to ascertain. Yet empirical evidence on the impact of the institutional support on SMEs growth had been established among SMEs in the Asian countries such as: North Korea, Japan and China [12] . In another development, [2] was of the view that, for maximum returns from support offered to the SMEs, the external support should base on developing the owner or manager networking efficiency, provision of additional capital and advisory services among other services and all with the aim of improving business performance and growth. This view had been supported and proven empirically by [13] , when they observed that, government assistance to SMEs in Tanzania in the form of favorable business environmental regulation in the area of taxes, improvement in infrastructures and the provision of financial assistance in the form of loans, grants and subsidies were translated into the growth of the country’s SMEs which resulted in the growth of GDP.

Aside financial challenges, SMEs are faced with non-financial challenges such as inadequate technical skills, poor access to market and lack of information. These were revealed by [14] , researching on SMEs challenges in South Africa where a positive correlation between problems experienced by SMEs entrepreneurs and the managerial skills they possess, including poor marketing skills well established. Again, similar sentiments are reechoed by [15] in a research that, the marketing functions of SMEs is inhibited by several constraints such as size, resources constraints, poor cash flow, managerial incompetence, customer related problems, lack of clear strategy among others. The marketing challenges has been attributed to several causes, as [16] posited that, most SMEs do not motivate their employees well, because of inadequate finance compelling them to employ incompetent staff to help implement the business strategies which include marketing strategy, as they put it “limited financial resources at the disposal of the entrepreneurs, therefore use the scanty financial resources on other activities such as procurement of key assets and other recurrent expenditure at the negligence of marketing issues”. Similar sentiments have been expressed by [17] in a research into the high rate of failure of SMEs in South Africa, attributed to the fact that SMEs do not have enough fund to hire more competent marketing staff and established a positive correlation between business success and the employment of skilled marketers.

Coming out with a product or service and the presence of a market alone may not represent success for the business. But as [18] established that, the efficacious marketing of the products or services maters the most and this calls for effective marketing strategies, but when it comes to the SMEs marketing, they are perceived to lack the sophisticated marketing strategic tools due to managerial incompetence among several other challenges [19] . This is because SMEs marketing is based on certain inherent characteristics such as limited size, weak management and so on [20] .

Looking at the enormous challenges SMEs face in the sector of marketing, in relation to the poor survival rate of SMEs as compared with their larger counterpart is very low as [7] , reported that only 16% of SMEs startups sur- vived the 5th year in developing countries, while similar research by [21] on the survival rate of SMEs in the United Kingdom, revealed the only 19% of SMEs startups survive their 6 years of operations. It will be in good taste that, support for SMEs growth target the marketing aspect to maximize returns from the scarce resources invested.

2. Empirical Literature Review

2.1. Forms of Institutional Support to SMEs

Depending on the mode and form external support to SMEs may take, the support can be grouped into financial assistance (grants, soft loans, credit suppliers or subsides), managerial capacity building (training or workshops) advisory services and marketing facilitation [22] [23] .

Similarly, [24] classified the support into four categories, as capital assets (physical, social, natural and human capital), the study further explained that the physical comprises provision of infrastructure such as water, electricity, and road and business site. Social support also consists of the development of business linkages, through information dissymmetry, cluster, business association and access of external marketing information. The human capital is also made up of the provision of training towards capacity building, consultancy services, management training and customer service related training. Whiles, the natural capacity refers to the environmental issues and sustainability of the eco-system. Some researchers [4] [22] , just classifies the external institutional support into social and human capital assets.

2.2. Empirical Evidence on Institutional Support and SMEs Growth

Several findings by researchers on the impact of external institutional support on SMEs growth shows a positive correlation between them [25] [26] . As there is ample evidence on the positive impact of external institutional support on SMEs growth in the UK, since the recommendations by Bolton Commission.

In a comprehensive survey by [25] , on the impact of the external support on over 5000 SMEs in the UK, the results indicated that, 19% of the SMEs had increased the workforce (number of employees gone up), 64% were employing the same number, while 17% have reduced the workforce, but in the end there was a net employee increase over the survey period from 2012 to 2013. Also 72% of the SMEs had an increase in their annual profit over the period under review [25] . Out of the 532 SMEs surveyed, 45% ad sought for external business support. This finding was in line with the earlier study by [26] , where there was a positive correlation between the external institutional support and SMEs growth in the UK.

In determining the impact of external institutional support on the operations of SMEs in the area of access to external finance, growth, decision marking, managerial training and capacity building, in all there was a positive impact on the growth and development of the SMEs [27] - [30] . Similarly, research by [27] [30] [31] , shows the vital role play by external accountants in the SMEs sector, which confirms the rationale for an increase in demand for external accountants by SMEs in the area of external support.

Studies conducted by numerous researcher, [7] [22] [32] on the impact of institutional support on SMEs growth in the US and most parts of Europe, also indicated a positive correlation between the support and SMEs growth.

A renewed Ghana government policies on SMEs growth were intensified upon the introduction of the second Growth and Policy Reduction Strategy (GPRS II 2006 to 2009), and Growth Agenda (GA III 2010-2013), which saw the state increasing it support to SMEs in diverse forms. All with the aim of reducing poverty and moving Ghana to the middle-income country, with SMEs growth as the catalyst. The positive impact of the policy on the economy of Ghana led the World Bank and [33] ranking Ghana 10th in the best Global reformer for the period 2006 to 2009.

Specifically, obtaining external advice in the field of business strategy and staff recruitment have a positive impact on the growth of SMEs, these findings came out from a research conducted by [32] on the impact of institutional support and SMEs growth in member countries, though there is a little evidence statistically on the contribution on the external support of SMEs growth as indicated by [34] on the contribution of the external support of SMEs growth. [35] , in earlier research concluded that, there is no significant contribution of the provision of managerial training support on SMEs growth. [36] gave the reason as the problems associated in establishing the real contribution of the external support the SMEs growth as several factors may have accounted for such growth.

It is therefore not surprise for an upsurge in demand for external institutional support in the form of Accountants’ advice financial and managerial support from several support institutions over the years. [37] said this shows that there is a growing trust and interest in the activities of the support institutions globally [38] .

2.3. The Need for External Support in the Training of Marketing Staffs of SMEs

Research by the [39] indicated a high failure rate of SMEs in 25 EU countries, with over 50% not surviving the first five years of their establishment and the annual average demise rate is 7%. Similar research by [40] on the survival rate of SMEs in the USA recorded a lower survival rate even more than it pertains in the UE and this was attributed to economic dynamism and market failure among other factors. The research further established that, increasing global competition and limited market size may be pushing entrepreneurs to creative destruction tactics.

Research by [41] , established a positive relationship between SMEs failure and the absence of proper and adequate marketing skills among entrepreneurs in South Africa. This has been attributed to the fact that most SMEs do not pay enough attention to marketing issues [42] . While [43] is of the view that, entrepreneurs exhibit certain character traits which does not support marketing research and formal marketing leading to business failures.

SMEs marketing challenges was also given prominence by [44] , in a research on the challenges faced by SMEs, where market size and distortions was ranked as the second most challenging problem of the SMEs surveyed in developing countries, while research by [45] , on SMEs market challenges, revealed that there is a thin line between marketing and selling in most SMEs firms, since marketing usually take place at point of selling process, and attributed this to inadequate marketing skills among entrepreneurs.

Again, marketing problem faced by most SMEs, were highlighted by recent research conducted by the [46] on the challenges face by SMEs in the region, where “Finding Customer” was the most concern of the businesses as 24% of the respondent cited inadequate customers (market) following by cost of production and access to fi- nance.

Research by [15] basing on the findings by [47] on the failure of SMEs in Macedonia also established that inadequate customers resulting in low sales was ranked as the topmost challenge.

The situation is not much different among SMEs in developing countries, even though research conducted by [7] on the challenges facing SMEs in the region, ranked access to finance as their major constrain followed by limited size of the market, and the marketing challenges have been blamed on poor marketing staff among other issues. There is therefore the need to boost the marketing staff competence through training, education and capacity building [48] . We therefore hypothesized that, external support in the training of marketing staffs of SMEs have positive impact on the growth in the SMEs in the form of sales.

2.4. Access to Foreign Marketing and SMEs Growth

Internationalization and international entrepreneurship among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is receiving much attention in recent times due to contemporary relevance that researchers have identify with cross-border trade, such as business growth and economic development in the long-run levels [49] . Empirically, research by [50] on the impact of cross-border trade on firms’ growth, established an increase in profit and market share of hospital device manufacturers in the UK, which was also the major rationale for going international. Growth in the area of profit and market share as well as finding external distributors, remain the major motivator for most SMEs going international [51] [52] . This motive explain the high growth rate associated with firms that are engage in cross-border business as it open access and integration into the lucrative supply chains of international players [53] . The [54] reported that firms in Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish enterprises involve in the global business frequently gain due to sourcing from outside their home country.

Despite these goodies in trading abroad, several challenges such as 1) shortage of working capital to finance exports; 2) Identifying foreign business opportunities; 3) Limited information to locate/analyze markets; and 4) Inability to contact potential overseas customers restrict some SMEs especially from the developing countries [55] . Others are of the view that, when it comes to SMEs accessing the international market, problems including; ignorance of regulations and standards, lack of financial assistance, foreign exchange fluctuation problems, taxes and inadequate of information, weak network linkages limits their activities in international marketing [55] , coupled with the negative perception the overseas market have on products from the developing countries as inferior. Against this backdrop that [20] suggested the involvement of home governments in the provision and upgrading of business environment conducive for international business.

The SMEs are again, been reported by [56] as facing challenges in the strategic marketing for commercialization.

It has been suggested that, measures to ease SMEs international marketing challenges have been focused on access to international markets [51] . This is in line with empirical evidence from the support in the form of export credit guarantees, pre-shipment financing, and working capital augmenting facilities provided by Australia’s export credit agency and Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) which have resulted in a boost in international trade among SMEs in the region. Likewise in Russia, the Chamber of Commerce Network is involved in developing the SME export support program. Also the French Chambers of Commerce support its SMEs and others with a wide variety of services, including market research, expert advice, prospecting clients and training sessions financed by the government [51] .

Against this backdrop, we hypotheses that, the provision of support in SMEs access to international market, impact positively on the growth of SMEs in the form of sales.

2.5. Trade Fairs and Exhibitions and SMEs Growth

Studies into the effect of trade fairs and exhibitions on firms’ performance indicate a positive returns in the forms of sales and profit, as research by [57] posited that, trade shows and fairs provide positive economic returns to the firms as well as evidence of a positive effects on generating product awareness and interest. The Center for Exhibition Industry Research [58] revealed the following about trade shows:88% of attendees have not been seen by a member of your company’s sales staff in the preceding 12 months, Seven out of ten attendees plan to buy one or more products, 76% asked for quotes and 26% signed purchase orders (average all shows), 72% of show visitors say the show influenced their buying decision, 87% of attendees will share some of the information obtained at an exhibition, 64% of attendees tell at least 6 other people about the event, 58% attend only the show in which you are exhibiting, 40% are first-time attendees.

Despite the enormous benefits accrue to firms that participate in trade fairs and shows, in developing countries, only few firms are able to participate the scantly organized fairs, partly due to the associated high cost, ignorance of the benefits, and unavailability of fairs. As study by [57] [59] [60] , indicates that, the trade fairs and shows expenditures are the second largest item in the marketing activities budget after advertisement, and that account for nearly one-fifth of the total budget for U.S. firms, and approximately one-fourth for the European firms.

Looking at the under listed objectives for the adoption of trade fairs and shows: a) Exploring new markets/(discovering market niches); b) Assessing the overall competitiveness; c) Assessing export chances; d) Assessing the overall industry situation; e) Exchanging experiences; f) Forging successful partnerships; g) Taking part in professional events; h) Spotting new trends; i) Tapping into new markets for the company/product; j) Combining participation with other measures (activities, seminars, company tours); k) Meeting competitors (which competitors exhibit at which trade fairs?); l) Increasing sales volume [61] .

Trade fairs and shows are not only to be seen as an efficient communication and sales tool, but also have the tendencies of influencing product and pricing strategies [62] . We therefore hypothesize that, the provision of support for SMEs to participate in trade shows and exhibitions will impact positively on SMEs growth.

3. Methodology

This study adopted a positive, quantitative and qualitative research approach [63] . According to [64] a quantitative approach ensured that the logical reasoning is applied to the research so that precision, objectivity and rigor replace hunches, experience and intuition as the means of investigation research problems’. Notwithstanding this benefit, [65] noted that a quantitative approach to the study of small business implied that some questions simply do not get asked or cannot be asked.

Evidence was collected in the form of taped interviews, and field notes using the daily diary approach. Also, focus groups representing a “diagonal slice” through the organization were interviewed to give broader and deeper data and to obtain triangulation [66] [67] .

Wherefore, a psychometric analysis was used in finding the relationship between SMEs growth and TFE, TSM, AFM. The survey of the SMEs was done on a large scale, comprising 500 SMEs (owner/managers) in ten regional capitals of Ghana. The questioners consist of two parts, with the first part concentrated on the biographic information of respondents and the second section consisting of Likert scale items demanding the extents of agreement and disagreement to items specified for the study regarding the impact of independent variables on the growth and developments of their businesses.

The use of both qualitative and quantitative approaches was to obtain in-depth information from the selected support institutions through interviews in addition to the primary data obtained through the use of the questionnaires.

The analysis of the quantitative data gathered was undertaken by the use of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Microsoft excel and excel tool package. Obtained data was presented and analyzed using statistical techniques such as descriptive statistic (frequencies and simple percentages), Principal Component Analysis with Factor Analysis as an extraction method followed by a CFA to confirm the measurement items and a Structural Equation Model.

Validity and reliability test were computed to validate and confirm the strength of items on each constructs. Convergent and discriminant validity were considered for indications of validity problems whiles Composite and Cronbach’s alpha values were examined for reliability issues.

Utilizing the stats tools package (excel), estimates were computed for convergent validity (with AVE and square root for AVEs).Composite reliability (CR) ratios were simultaneously computed for all factors and were compared with a minimum threshold of 0.70. The section next describes in detail the outcome of the analysis.

4. Presentation and Discussion of Research Analysis

As this study bents on exploring the potential relationships between combinations of constructs, five modified scales from existing studies were used for data collection from purposively sampled views of 500 entrepreneurs located in the ten regional capitals of Ghana.437 cases constituting 87.4 % were retrieved for analysis whiles respondents’ bio-characteristics were not factored as prerequisites for selection. It is discernible that, 224 (51.3%) males and 213 (48.7%) females from which 104 (23.7%) constituted SHS &below education, 108 (24.7%) with CERT/DIP/HND, 113(25.8%) with First Degree education and 112 (25.6%)with above First Degree education took part in the study. On the score of age, 100 (22.8%) of them fell into the age range of 25 years & below, 115 (26.3%) fell into 26 to 35 years, 113 (25.8%) fell into the age range of 36 to 45 years and respondents of ages 46 years and above constituted 109 representing 24.9%.

On warp and woof of Pallet’s (2011) assertion about the need for screened data in research studies, the gathered data for this study was put through series of screening and cleaning. Dreadful issues of unengaged responses and missing data were outlined. The analysis adduced SD values ranging from 0.690 to 0.977 which obviously discern no dislikeable pattern of responses to the items for the study. Then again, normality assumptions were vehemently met as three rules from the central theorem [68] , was applied in the study. Table 1 displays that, the results obtained for both bio-data and the Likert scale items vigorously suggest no evidence of extreme problematic skewness and kurtosis issues, such that, the observed values for skewness ranged from 0.059 to 0.148 while the values for kurtosis ranged from-0.090 to 1.892 go to support.

Successively, the need to share light on concerns of discordant relationship between the data and the proposed model was equally imperative. In respect, matters of relationships, curves or equation as and quadratic, cubic, inverse, power, exponential, logistic, compound and logarithmic equations were concurrently examine in the research data and compared to the linear equation or relationship present in the data to evince whether the data gathered sufficiently beseem the proposed model. It is unambiguously discernible that, the research data strenuously befit the proposed model such that, the observed values for linear equation between all independent variables and the criterion variable is adequately significant. Given the linear relationship between TFE, TSM, AFM and SMEs Growth, it is evidential in Table 2 that, there exists enough linear relationship among constructs in the data set which goes to evince a true reflection of the proposed relationship in the model formulated for the study.

Thenceforward, from presence of linear relationships substantiated, matters of homogeneity and heterogeneity were examined. Variability in the values of the outcome variable was compared to the variability in the values predictor variables and eventualities of unequal variability across values of predictors and outcome variable were noted as indication of heteroscedasticity. This was examined in a linear regression graph with outcome variable and the regression standardized residuals of predictor variables. Obviously, it is sighted on the graphical presentations (Figures 1-3) that, there exist no extreme increase or decrease (widen or narrow) in the values of outcome variable as the values of predictors increases or decreases. In exposition, most of the dot plots do not depart/ widens or decrease/narrow extremely from the regression fit line plotted for each predictor variable and the outcome variable which corroborates that, the research data is less or not heteroscedastic.

EFA and CFA

Up-to-the-minute, EFA has its telling contributions on social science researches such that, multiples of studies have vehemently relied on it to underline correlations among items or constructs in a data set [69] . In same tune,

The independent variable is TFE1, TMS, AFM.

this study amply engages EFA technique to outline the extent of correlation among the specified items in this study and thenceforth extract items on their corresponding construct while obtaining unambiguous factor pattern. It is evidential from the output generated that, the research data profusely shows sufficient correlation for factor analysis with X² of 5622.8697 DF of 190 is p = 0.000 it expression afore is statistically reinforced. Then also, the Kaiser Mayor Oklin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy is classified superb for obtaining a value of 0.903. Concurrently, all other assumptions regarding observed values for communalities, MSAs, and the pattern of rotated component matrix were met as shown in Table 3 in accordance with psychometric properties.

Resultantly, a measurement model was generated and validated in a covariance based method from the rotated factor matrix. The modification indices adduced suggested a clear opportunity to improve the measurement model. Respectively, the error terms e1, e2, e3, e4 and e5 in the AFM construct, e14 and e15 in the TFE construct and e16, e17, e18 and e19 in the SME Growth construct were simultaneously covaried to obtain a decent model (Figure 4).

The import thereafter was tremendously telling with sufficient relationships between observed measures (indicator) and their corresponding latent variables. It is discernible from examining the goodness of fit indices that, the measurement model poses strong predictive ability with a X²168.136, p-value = 0.223 and at the 155Df while Cmin, RMR, RMSEA, NFI and PCFI satisfactorily met their critical thresholds (Table 4).

Then again, same is true with the estimates for the paths of items to their latent variables (β = or > 0.50, 0.60 in most cases as shown in Table 5 and Figure 4) further confirming cogently to the level of fit of the measurement model.

In extant studies, matters of validity and reliability have been intimated on the relevance of validating regarding convergent and discriminant of factors and their items as well as examining the strength of consistency within items have their compelling effect on research findings. This study is not a reverberation of these assertions however its accord credence to this assumptions. Respectfully, this study scrutinizes items and constructs in the research data to evince problematic issues of validity concerns. In the process, convergent validity was examined with computed AVEs and the square roots of AVEs were compared to inter-factor correlations. Con-

Extraction method: Principal component analysis.

currently, MSVs and ASVs were calculated and compared to justify the level of disparity among factors in the research model. Likewise, a composite reliability (CR) values were computed and compared to a threshold of 0.70 to indicate issues of problematic internal consistency of the survey items. As referenced in the table labeled…, the observed values for both MSV and ASV are extremely less than the AVE values to explain the distinctiveness of the factors in the research model. In confirmation, the AVE values obtained were greater than 0.50 (all above 0.60) while the entire square roots of the AVEs (on the diagonal matrix in Table 6) are far higher than the correlations among the factors. Similarly, the values obtained for CR were sufficiently above the minimum threshold of 0.70, (observed values ranges from 0.873 to 0.958) with p-value < 0.001 for the path loadings for all items and their latent constructs. Table 6 exhibits in detail.

To further appease multivariate assumptions in psychometric analysis, Bias testing with Common Latent Factor (CLF) recommended by [69] was executed to account for the bias effects of the single method employed in this study such that, issues of common ratter effect, consistency motif, mood state and common scale anchors which cardinally affect the data were obtained. The results published in Table 5 parade that, the standardized regression weights obtained afore and after introducing the Common Latent Factor (CLF) shows marginal effect of the CLF. It is authenticated in the figure labeled…that, the deltas for most of the measurement items and the CLF are higher than 0.20 and 0.40 (Table 5 and Figure 5). To conservatively lodge on the safe side, the CLF is retained as composites are imputed from factor scores to adjust CMB.

5. Construct Model Formulation and Hypotheses Test

Inasmuch as all tests for assumption critically meet multivariate standards, and the fact that, the thesis for this study comprise tests of proposed hypotheses, a construct model was mounted with a covariance based method. Consequently, modification indices were cross checked to determine the level of fitness. Successively, the model derived a good fit with chi-square of 178.571, DF 155 p-value = 0.094 while all criteria were met. See the Table 7.

Given the acceptable fitness of the construct model, path estimates were generated for the effect of all predictor variables on the outcome variable while age, gender and education were controlled. Convincingly, the analysis amply displays the positive relationship between the predictor variables and the criterion variable as suggested by Figure 6 and the estimated regression coefficients.

It is noticeable that, for every unit increase in TFE, TMS and AFM, SME Growth will increase by 0.128, 0.144, and 0.332, as predicted by the estimated regression weights in the table above. Thus, approximately, 12.8% of the variability in SME Growth is explained by TFE, 14.4% variability in SME Growth is explained by TMS while 33.2% of the variability in SME Growth is attributable to AFM. Then also it is similarly convincing that, the probability of obtaining high critical ratios of 2.685, 3.049 and 6.953 to less than 0.05, and 0.01 as shown in Table 8. Boldly enough to believe in this shared evidence and to explicitly conclude that, the variability in SMEs Grow is conclusively explainable by the independent variables specified in this model when all other variables remain constant. Statistically, the coefficients and their corresponding significant levels derived for the effect of predictors on the outcome variable contest the Null hypotheses that, the slopes of TFE, TMS and AFM on SME Growth is equal to zero (Ho: 1, Ho: 2, Ho: 3, β = 0), such that, these dimensions are not predictors of SME Growth given that, other predictor variables remain unchanged. However, in strongest of terms, the model supports the assumption and the alternative hypotheses that, these independent variables (TFE, TMS and AFM) are significant predictors of SME Growth as exhibited by the regression estimates. In other words, it is certain that, at 0.05 and 0.01 level of significance, there exists enough evidence to conclude that, all the linear effects

observed in the research model are not equal to zero such that, (H1: 1, H1: 2, H1: 3, β ≠ 0). Comparably, the beta weights obtained indicate that, AFM variable has greatest effect in explaining SME Growth than does TMS and TFE. Also, the TMS variable explains greater effect on SME Growth compared to TFE as arranged by the order of effect size as shown in Table 8.

The forgoing discussion provides the bases for accepting the research hypotheses H1, H2, and H3 for which relevant recommendations are noted for SMEs in Ghana.

6. Conclusions and Recommendations

Production is never complete until the product reaches the final consumer on time and in good condition. The numerous literatures reviewed in this study pointed to the fact that SMEs faced greater challenges in the marketing of their product, but turned to perform better when support was received in the form of easy access to foreign market, training of marketing staffs to become professional, and the participations in trade fairs and shows (refer to section 2.0). The research further showed that the marketing section of the SMEs had not received adequate attention and support from the government and other support institutions. There is therefore the need for governments and other institutions to support SMEs to reach out to their customers and able to stand the test of competitive world. In supporting SMEs marketing, the recommendation is that, ample effort should go the organization of trade shows and fairs and boosting the participation of the SMEs to create platform to showcase their product to both local and international market. Again, the government should create conducive conditions to enable SMEs go international through the enactment and relaxation of laws and tariffs to help accommodate the SMEs. Periodic training of marketing staff of the SMEs through workshops should be encouraged, as whereas advising SMEs to employ more qualified marketing staff. The owner-managers should prepare to relinquish some of the marketing responsibilities to more professionals where the need arises. These will go a long way to boost the marketing and growth of the SMEs.

7. Limitations and Future Research

Case study and longitudinal approach would have been more appropriate, but for limited time period and unwillingness for some selected firms to disclose their identity, the authors have no other choice, than the survey approached used.

In furtherance to apply the findings to most developing countries, a cross country comparison among developing countries with other developed countries serving as a benchmark is recommended for future research.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful and thank National Science Foundation of China under grant No. 71572028, for the research support.

Cite this paper

Abraham Osei,Kwarteng Solomon Forkuoh,Yunfei Shao,Michael Aboagye Osei, (2016) The Impact of Institutional Support in SMEs Marketing, and Growth—A Case Study of Retail SMEs in Ghana. Open Journal of Business and Management,04,408-426. doi: 10.4236/ojbm.2016.43043

References

Appendix

QUESTIONNAIRES

This research work is undertaking to have an insight on the impact of institutional support to SMEs marketing and growth in developing countries with much emphasis on Ghana.

All information you provide will be treated as confidential and anonymous, and also will be used for academic research only. Thank you.

A TYPES OF MARKETING SUPPORT

Please tick (√) the most applicable ones to your business for the last three (3) years (2012-2015).

1. Strongly disagree 2. Disagree 3. Neither agree nor disagree 4. Agree 5. Strongly agree

D. General Questions

Please provide one answer to each of the following general questions on your business.

38. Gender? 1: Male 2: Female

39. Age? 1: 20 - 30 2: 31 - 40 3: 41 - 50 4: 51 - 60 5: 61 and above

40. What is the highest educational level of the owner or general manager of the business?

1: Less than high school diploma 2: High school diploma

3: A bachelor’s degree 4: A master’s degree or above 5: Others

41. Which of the following best describes your position in this business? Are you...

1: the sole owner of this business 2: a partner in this business 3: the person in charge of finance in this business 4: general manager 5: occupying another position in this business

42. Type of the business Organization?

1: a sole proprietorship 2: a partnership 3: a franchise 4: a joint venture 5: others

43. How long has your business been in existence?

1: up to 2 years 2: From 2 - 5 3: From 5 - 9 4: From 9 - 13 5: from 13 and above

How long have been managing/running business or working in a related business?

1: up to 2 years 2: From 2 - 5 3: From 5 - 9 4: From 9 - 13 5: from 13 and above

44. What was your enterprise average total number of employees as at 2013 and 2015?

In 2013

1: 1 - 5 2: 6 - 9 3: 10 - 29 4: 30 - 250 5: Other

In 2015

1: 1 - 5 2: 6 - 10 3: 11 - 15 4: 16 - 29 5: 30 and above

45. What was your enterprise’s average total turnover for 2013 and 2015 in New Ghana Cedis (Gh₵)

1: Up to $10,000 2: Above $10,000

46. Location of the business?

47. In 2015, did your business... (Mark all that apply.)

: Import goods or services from outside your home country?

: Outsource (contract out) any business activities from home country to another country?

: Sell goods to a business in your home country that used them as an intermediate input in the production of another good that was then exported?

: Engage in foreign direct investments?

: Engage in other international business activities?

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NOTES

^*Corresponding author.