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Working capital management, cash flow and SMEs' performance

Author

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  • Godfred Adjapong Afrifa
  • Ishmael Tingbani

Abstract

The paper presents comprehensive evidence on the relationship between working capital management (WCM) and SMEs' performance by taking into consideration of the plausible effect of cash flow. The paper adopts a panel data regression analysis on a sample of 802 British quoted small and medium enterprises listed on the alternative investment market for the period from 2004 to 2013. The results of the study demonstrate the importance of cash flow on SMEs' WCM and performance. According to our findings, WCM has a significantly negative impact on SME performance. However, with the available cash flow, we find a significantly positive relationship. Additionally, our evidence revels that the cash flow constrained (non-constrained) SMEs are able to enhance their performance through decreased (increased) investment in WCM. Overall, the results demonstrate the importance of cash flow availability on SMEs' working capital needs. Our findings suggest that in an event of cash flow unavailability (availability) managers should strive to reduce (increase) the investment in working capital in order to the improve performance. This current study incorporates the relevance of cash flow in assessing the association between WCM and firm performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Godfred Adjapong Afrifa & Ishmael Tingbani, 2018. "Working capital management, cash flow and SMEs' performance," International Journal of Banking, Accounting and Finance, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 9(1), pages 19-43.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:injbaf:v:9:y:2018:i:1:p:19-43
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yang Yang & Xuezheng Chen & Jing Gu & Hamido Fujita, 2019. "Alleviating Financing Constraints of SMEs through Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-19, January.
    2. LAMBE, Isaac, Ph.D & ORBUNDE, Bemshima, Ph.D & TION, Williams A. & HARUNA, Dzugwahi, 2022. "Moderating Role of Managerial Ownership on the Effect of Cash Conversion Cycle and Receivable to Payable ratio on Firm Performance in Listed Industrial and Consumer Goods Companies in Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 6(11), pages 868-880, November.
    3. Sharif N. Ahkam & Khairul Alom, 2019. "Liquidity, Level of Working Capital Investment, and Performance in an Emerging Economy," International Journal of Business and Economics, School of Management Development, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan, vol. 18(3), pages 307-328, December.
    4. Lucky Hikmat Maulana, 2023. "The existence of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in economic growth, employment, and national income is the main reason for making it a priority for government and community attention. The," Technium Business and Management, Technium Science, vol. 4(1), pages 67-76.
    5. Hossain Mohammad Reyad & Mohd Ashhari Zariyawati & Tze San Ong & Haslinah Muhamad, 2022. "The Impact of Macroeconomic Risk Factors, the Adoption of Financial Derivatives on Working Capital Management, and Firm Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, November.

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