Technology orientation, innovation and business performance: a study of Dubai SMEs

This study examines how technology orientation interacts with innovation to affect business performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an emerging market, namely Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Survey data from 200 Dubai SMEs demonstrated, firstly, that technology orientation influenced innovation and did not have a significant and direct influence on business performance, and secondly, that innovation influenced business performance. Based on these findings, future research avenues are identified and managers of SMEs are advised to consider innovation as a mediating factor for technology orientation to achieve better business performance for their firms.