The Role of Trust, Network Competence, and Knowledge Market Dimensions in Improving Marketing Performance on MSMEs in Indonesia

This research aims to highlight the importance of networking for small companies to enhance their competitive advantage and marketing performance. It combines the concepts of networking and relational marketing to create a theoretical framework for the competitive advantage of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Employing quantitative methods, the study utilizes numerical data and statistical analysis to test hypotheses, focusing on causal relationships between variables. A survey was conducted using a questionnaire to collect data from 150 batik micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The results indicate that dimensions of network competence and market knowledge significantly influence knowledge integration mechanisms (KIMs), while trust impacts commitment. Furthermore, KIMs positively affect market performance, and commitment moderates the relationship between KIMs and market performance. The findings suggest that company owners and managers should cultivate unique and non-imitable knowledge to thrive in competitive markets through interorganizational networks. Additionally, the research underscores the importance of external networks in acquiring vital information, which is often dispersed across the market and owned by various parties, thus addressing a critical gap in the existing literature. This study also incorporates variables from relationship marketing theory, emphasizing that networking is fundamentally about the relationships between organizations.