Journal of Innovation in Business and Economics
Vol. 10 No. 01 (2026): Journal of Innovation in Business and Economics

Product innovation and business sustainability of MSMEs: The role of competitive advantage and gender

Hunik Sri Runing Sawitri (Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)
Asri Laksmi Riani (Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)
Suryandari Istiqomah (Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)
Anastasia Riani Suprapti (Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)
Intan Novela Qurrotul Aini (Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)
Mugi Harsono (Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
04 Nov 2025

Abstract

This study investigates how product innovation influences the business sustainability of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia, considering competitive advantage as a mediating variable and gender as a moderating variable. Drawing on the Resource-Based View (RBV), the study posits that innovation acts as a strategic internal capability that strengthens competitive advantage and long-term business survival. Data were collected from 91 MSME owners in the Solo Raya region through online and offline surveys and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results reveal that product innovation significantly enhances competitive advantage and business sustainability. Competitive advantage also directly and indirectly contributes to sustainability, confirming its mediating role in the innovation–sustainability relationship. However, gender does not moderate this relationship, indicating that innovative capability and sustainability outcomes are not inherently gendered. These findings highlight the importance of continuous innovation and strategic differentiation for MSME resilience in volatile post-pandemic markets, while emphasizing the need for inclusive policies to ensure equal access to innovation resources for all entrepreneurs.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jibe

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

The Journal of Innovation in Business and Economics (JIBE) is published by the Department of Economics and Business at University of Muhammadiyah Malang in 2017. Previously this journal was known as Jurnal Media Ekonomi that was initially published in 2000. In 2011 until 2016, this journal was ...