ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP AND INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL: CATALYSTS FOR SME PERFORMANCE IN NORTHERN THAILAND
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/aamr.2026.13Keywords:
Entrepreneurial Leadership, Intellectual Capital, Organizational Resilience, Structural Equation Modeling, SME CompetitivenessAbstract
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face critical structural constraints requiring dynamic organizational capabilities to sustain competitiveness in emerging economies. This study investigates the impact of entrepreneurial leadership on SME performance, specifically examining the mediating mechanism of intellectual capital, encompassing human, structural, and relational dimensions. Using cross-sectional survey data from 105 executives and 1,001 employees in SMEs in Upper Northern Thailand, the research employs structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypothesized pathways. The empirical findings reveal that entrepreneurial leadership exerts a significant positive influence on organizational performance, both directly and indirectly. Intellectual capital serves as a substantive partial mediator, demonstrating that leaders who effectively cultivate employee competencies, institutionalize knowledge systems, and foster stakeholder networks significantly amplify firm-level outcomes. These results extend the resource-based and knowledge-based views, offering actionable insights for strategic management. Fostering entrepreneurial leadership and developing intellectual capital are highly imperative for policymakers and managers seeking to build robust organizational resilience and sustainable economic growth in competitive modern markets.
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