Export Performance in SMEs: The Importance of External Knowledge Search Strategies and Absorptive Capacity

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Luis Ferreras-Méndez ◽  
Anabel Fernández-Mesa ◽  
Joaquín Alegre
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Search Strategies ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Search

Innovation type and external knowledge search strategies in KIBS: evidence from Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Doloreux ◽  
Ekaterina Turkina ◽  
Ari Van Assche
Keyword(s):  
Search Strategies ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Search ◽  
Innovation Type

Knowledge absorptive capacity: do all its dimensions matter for export performance of SMEs?

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Godwin Mwesigye Ahimbisibwe ◽  
Stephen Korutaro Nkundabanyanga ◽  
Gideon Nkurunziza ◽  
David Nyamuyonjo
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Sampling Error ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
General Effect ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
External Knowledge Acquisition

Purpose In this paper we aim to study the relationship between knowledge absorptive capacity (KAC) of exporting SMEs in Uganda and their export performance. Design/methodology/approach This study is correlational and cross-sectional, and adopts firm-level data collected via questionnaires from Ugandan exporting SMEs. As we use the sub-domains of KAC to predict export performance and therefore these sub-mains are expected to be correlated, we apply hierarchical regression as an appropriate tool for analysis when variance on a criterion variable is being explained by predictor variables that are correlated with each other (Pedhazur, 1997). Using this tool we analyze the effect of a given sub-domain after controlling for other indicators (sub-domains) of KAC; a “control” achieved by calculating the change in the adjusted R2 and the significance of this change. Findings We find that only external knowledge acquisition (a dimension of potential absorptive capacity) and external knowledge application (a dimension of realised absorptive capacity) are the only significant predictors of export performance in our model. Contrary to previous thinking, we find that external knowledge assimilation and transformation are not significant predictors of export performance. Taken together, our independent variables explain about 35.4 percent of the variance in export performance of SMEs in Uganda. Research limitations/implications The use of hierarchical regression is susceptible to problems associated with sampling error. However, the likelihood of these problems is reduced by our interaction with the data Practical implications – Our results imply that the initial focus of exporting SMEs should be on external knowledge acquisition and application. Originality/value Unlike most of the export performance literature, which have focused on the general effect of knowledge absorptive capacity as a global variable, this study explores the role played by the four dimensions of KAC and methodologically isolates the contribution played by each individual dimension in the context of exporting SMEs in a developing nation. As such we uncover the reality that not all the sub-domains of KAC are significant for export performance of SMEs in a developing country context.

External Knowledge Search Strategies in China's Technology Ventures: The Role of Managerial Interpretations and Ties

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjiang Liu ◽  
Lu Chen ◽  
Wiboon Kittilaksanawong
Keyword(s):  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Search Strategies ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Managerial Ties ◽  
Threat Rigidity ◽  
Knowledge Search ◽  
Technology Ventures

AbstractDrawing on the threat-rigidity hypothesis, we examine how managerial opportunity and threat interpretations of external environments affect a technology venture's choice of external knowledge search strategies in an emerging market. Results from a sample of 141 technology ventures in China reveal that opportunity interpretation directly and positively influences both the breadth and depth of external search, whereas threat interpretation directly and negatively influences only external search depth. Furthermore, managerial ties strengthen the positive relationship between opportunity interpretation and external search breadth but weaken the positive relationship on external search depth. Managerial ties weaken the negative relationship between threat interpretation and external search breadth but strengthen the negative relationship on external search depth. Implications for both research and practice are offered.

Depth and breadth of external knowledge search and performance: The mediating role of absorptive capacity

2015 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 86-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Luis Ferreras-Méndez ◽  
Sue Newell ◽  
Anabel Fernández-Mesa ◽  
Joaquín Alegre
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Knowledge Search ◽  
And Performance

The relationship between knowledge search strategies and absorptive capacity: A deeper look

Technovation ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 48-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Luis Ferreras-Méndez ◽  
Anabel Fernández-Mesa ◽  
Joaquín Alegre
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Search Strategies ◽  
Knowledge Search ◽  
The Relationship

Environmental turbulence, absorptive capacity and external knowledge search among Chinese SMEs

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 258-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Guo ◽  
Yueqi Wang
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Search Behavior ◽  
Environmental Turbulence ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Search

Purpose – This paper tests which theoretical perspective(s) can better explain firms’ external knowledge search behavior. Information processing and resource-based view theories propose a positive relationship between environmental turbulence and knowledge search breadth, whereas transaction cost economics and managerial attention theoretical perspectives posit that knowledge search breadth will be negatively influenced by environmental turbulence. In the context of Chinese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this study examines the direct effect of environmental turbulence and the interactive effect of environmental turbulence and absorptive capacity (ACAP) on external knowledge search breadth. Design/methodology/approach – This study adopted firm-level data collected via questionnaires from SMEs within the manufacturing sector in China. The partial least squares method was used to explore the determinants of the external knowledge search breadth of Chinese SMEs. Findings – The results reveal that external search breadth tends to increase with an increase in a firm’s perceived environmental turbulence. In addition, the interaction between ACAP and environmental turbulence will be negatively related to external knowledge search breadth. The empirical evidence indicates information processing and resource-based view theories are more powerful in explaining the external knowledge search behavior of Chinese SMEs. Originality/value – Unlike most of the innovation search literature, which have focused on the effect on performance of external search, this study focuses on the antecedents of firms’ innovation search behavior. The study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between environmental turbulence and knowledge search breadth as well as the understanding of the influence of ACAP on external knowledge search in the context of SMEs from emerging economies.

scholarly journals Ambidexterity in External Knowledge Search Strategies and Innovation Performance: Mediating Role of Balanced Innovation and Moderating Role of Absorptive Capacity

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 5111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Choo Yeon Kim ◽  
Myung Sub Lim ◽  
Jae Wook Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Search Strategies ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Modes Of Innovation ◽  
Moderating Role ◽  
External Knowledge Acquisition

The importance of external knowledge acquisition for innovation by firms is well established. In particular, there has been an increasing focus on the two distinct modes of firms’ external search strategies, which have a differential effect on their learning and innovation: search breadth and depth. By applying organizational ambidexterity lens, we hypothesize that pursuing high levels of both external search strategies is beneficial to achieve a balance between exploitative and explorative innovation, which, in turn, has a positive impact on the firm’s innovation performance. We also hypothesize that, even among the firms that maintain high levels of both search strategies, firms with higher absorptive capacity better achieve a balance between both modes of innovation, thereby producing higher performance. The findings on a multi-industry sample of Koran manufacturing firms confirm our hypotheses and imply that it is essential for firms to develop capabilities for different modes of external search activities in conjunction with internal absorptive capacity for superior innovation performance.

DETERMINANTS OF FIRM’S INNOVATION-RELATED EXTERNAL KNOWLEDGE SEARCH STRATEGY: THE ROLE OF POTENTIAL ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY AND APPROPRIABILITY REGIME

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (06) ◽  
pp. 1850044 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHIGU KIM ◽  
CHUL LEE ◽  
JINA KANG
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Curvilinear Relationship ◽  
Moderation Effect ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Based Economy ◽  
Exogenous Factors ◽  
Knowledge Search

Firms, especially those in the knowledge-based economy, make increasing use of external knowledge in their innovation processes. To tap into external knowledge sources, the firm follows a search strategy, which is known to be affected by both endogenous and exogenous factors. This study examines the influence of potential absorptive capacity on firms’ external knowledge search strategy. We also propose and test a moderation effect of the appropriability regime on this relationship. Based on a panel dataset of 170 international firms from various industries, we find a curvilinear relationship between the level of a firm’s potential absorptive capacity and the external knowledge search breadth. We also confirm the moderating role of the appropriability regime on this relationship. Our results highlight the role of the endogenous and exogenous factors determining the firm’s use of external knowledge in the innovation process.

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