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The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the operational performance of industrial park infrastructures in Germany to find first indications for cost saving potentials.

Between 2006 and 2007, six chemical parks and chemical related industrial parks in Germany participated in a benchmarking study with focus on operation and maintenance of buildings, communication infrastructures and traffic infrastructures. Based on data analysis in combination with workshops, numerous key performance indicators were defined and calculated.

To compare the different complexities of the analysed infrastructures, the most important key performance indicators were adjusted using correction factors defined and verified during the workshops. This made a discussion based on comparable and comprehensible figures possible which increased the acceptance and applicability of the benchmarking methodology. The benchmarking results showed large differences in performance levels, indicating that there are significant cost saving potentials in some industrial parks.

The comparability may remain limited due to the partly insufficient availability of data from the participants. Other limitations are due to the small number of investigated industrial parks and the focus of the benchmarking study on Germany.

The developed benchmark and best practice methodology is well suited to evaluate best practice in the field of industrial park infrastructures. It is important for industrial parks to understand the individual performance level and to adapt best practice in all areas.

This study aims to assess the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on supply chain performance both directly and indirectly through entrepreneurial competence, as well as the moderating role of local community networking in these relationships, within the context of institutional voids in Ghana.

The study utilized a cross-sectional survey data from 225 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in order to test the hypotheses. The data analysis was conducted using partial least squares structural equation modelling techniques.

The results revealed that entrepreneurial orientation is a significant positive predictor of both entrepreneurial competence and supply chain performance. Similarly, entrepreneurial competence was shown to positively predict supply chain performance, both directly and as a mediator between entrepreneurial orientation and supply chain performance. Local community networking, however, positively moderated the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial competence but not the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and supply chain performance.

This study contributes to literature by looking at the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, entrepreneurial competence, local community networking and supply chain performance within the context of an emerging economy with institutional voids. The study shows the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset in developing the necessary skills, competences and abilities needed to survive in the turbulent business environment.