Counterproductive work behavior and SME performance in a developing economy context: Evidence from Ghana

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of economic development in emerging economies. However, the behavioral determinants of their performance remain poorly understood outside Western institutional contexts. This study examines the relationship between counterproductive work behavior (CWB) and entrepreneurial venture performance (EVP) among 215 employees of SMEs in Tamale, Ghana. Drawing on social exchange theory, conservation of resources theory, and the resource-based view, this study tests four hypotheses regarding the CWB–EVP nexus across seven business sectors. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected through validated CWB and EVP instruments and analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. The results revealed no statistically significant relationship between CWB and EVP (r = −0.050, p = .467; R2 = 0.003), and no significant sectoral differences in either CWB (F(6, 208) = 0.31, p = .932) or EVP (F(6, 208) = 1.28, p = .268). The findings suggest that the CWB–performance relationship, well documented in developed economies, does not hold in this developing economy SME context. This study contributes to entrepreneurship scholarship by challenging the universal applicability of Western organizational behavior frameworks and highlighting the need for context-sensitive theoretical models that account for cultural collectivism, informal governance structures, and resource-constrained adaptation in developing economies.