Extending the Resource-Based View through Curator Performance and Government Policy in East Java MSMEs

Purpose: This study examines the effects of seven curator capability dimensions on MSME performance through curator performance as a mediator and government policy as a moderator in East Java, Indonesia. Research Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional survey involved 126 certified curators and 125 MSMEs affiliated with Rumah Kurasi East Java. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed through multiple linear regression, moderated regression analysis, and PROCESS Macro Model 4 with 5.000 bootstrap resamples. Results: Curator competence, digital curation technology, work environment, work targets, and teamwork significantly influenced curator performance, whereas work motivation and personality traits did not. All capability dimensions except work environment significantly influenced MSME performance. Curator performance mediated the relationships involving competence, work environment, work targets, and teamwork but not those involving digital technology, motivation, or personality traits. Government policy did not significantly moderate the curator performance–MSME performance relationship. Conclusions: Technical competence, digital technology, and collaborative capabilities are important determinants of curator effectiveness and MSME performance, while government policy moderation was not supported. Limitations: The study was geographically limited to East Java and employed a three-point Likert scale, potentially restricting generalizability and measurement sensitivity. Contributions: This study extends the Resource-Based View and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Theory by conceptualizing curators as external strategic resources and identifying curator performance as a mechanism linking selected curator capabilities to MSME outcomes.