Organizational Cultural Values, Investment Attractiveness, and Global Competitiveness amongst Small and Medium Enterprises

Research highlights how Filipino cultural values shape the Filipino diaspora into an idealized global workforce; however, local SMEs achieving similar global recognition remain underexplored. The study aimed to address this gap by examining 100 local SMEs selected from DTI-registered businesses across the Philippines during the academic year 2024–2025. Using a descriptive-correlational design, data were collected through a three-part survey assessing the extent to which Filipino cultural values were embedded in organizational practices, investment attractiveness, and global competitiveness. Findings revealed that Filipino cultural values were strongly embedded and significantly correlated with investment attractiveness (r = 0.844, p < .001) and global competitiveness (r = 0.783, p < .001). Investment attractiveness also showed a strong and significant correlation with global competitiveness (r = 0.792, p < .001). Regression analysis confirmed that both Filipino cultural values and investment attractiveness significantly predicted global competitiveness. These findings underscore that Filipino cultural values embedded in organizational practices enhance investment attractiveness and global competitiveness among Filipino SMEs. The results highlight the need for a strategic action plan to support the sustainability and global integration of local SMEs. They also suggest that future researchers should conduct qualitative and longitudinal studies to further examine how these factors influence long-term SME performance.