Abstract:

This study aims at investigating the influence that intangible resources has on export performance of Portuguese footwear small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Therefore, a quantitative methodological approach was used, conducting a descriptive, exploratory and transversal empirical study, having applied a questionnaire to a sample of Portuguese companies exporting footwear. The research results suggest that only the access to financial resources enhances export performance in the analysed SMEs. Therefore, in this context, the findings sustain the necessity to invest in intangible resources as a strategic determinant, which contributes to the growth of small firms in foreign markets. Finally, the main limitation of this study is related to the sample size, since it was difficult to find companies willing to collaborate with this kind of research.