From Productivity To Sustainable Competitive Advantage: Unpacking The Mediation Of Financial Performance And Business Diversification

Ni Putu Santi Suryantini (Universitas Udayana)
I Wayan Edi Arsawan (Politeknik Negeri Bali)
Viktor Koval (Izmail State University of Humanities)
Ni Ketut Purnawati (Universitas Udayana)
Ni Wayan Emmy Rosiana Dewi (Universitas Udayana)

MIX : Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen
Vol. 16 No. 3 (2026): MIX : Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen

Objectives: This research aimed to examine the full sequential mechanism of sustainable competitive advantage (SCA). Specifically, it examined fintech adoption and organizational creativity as antecedents of productivity, and evaluated financial performance and business diversification as mediators bridging productivity and SCA.Methodology: A three-wave procedure including 420 respondents from 210 SMEs was conducted and analyzed using Smart PLS.Finding: The results showed that productivity was an important driver of financial performance, business diversification, and SCA. Additionally, financial performance and business diversification mediated the relationship between productivity and SCA. This study provided a basis for understanding the relevance of technology adoption and creativity to improve performance and competitiveness in SMEs. Furthermore, it provided insight into the importance of collaboration at the individual and management levels as a strong foundation for building competitiveness.Conclusion: This study shows that there is a significant direct relationship between financial technology and organizational creativity on organizational productivity, organizational productivity on financial performance, business diversification, and SCA. This study also shows the role of financial performance and business diversification as mediators.