Relational embeddedness in home-based network and dynamic capabilities: evidence from Chinese MNCs

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 222-242
Author(s):  
Jian Du ◽  
Keying Lu ◽  
Chao Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Home Country ◽  
Foreign Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Domestic Firms ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Relational Embeddedness ◽  
Chinese Mncs ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Prior studies have argued that multinational firms with dynamic capabilities can reconfigure and upgrade their internal and external resources and adapt to an ever-changing competitive global environment. The impact of home country networks exerting on multinational corporations’ (MNCs) dynamic capabilities has been rarely discussed in extant research. This paper aims to explore how two types of home country networks’ relational embeddedness (from domestic firms and foreign firms) affect Chinese MNCs’ dynamic capabilities. Design/methodology/approach Several hypotheses were tested by analyzing the survey data from 204 multinational companies in china. Findings The results reveal the impact mechanism of the home country network on dynamic capabilities. Embeddedness in domestic networks positively affects embeddedness in the foreign network; embeddedness in foreign firms exerts positive effects on the three dimensions of MNC’s dynamic capabilities. Additionally, the effect of domestic firms’ relational embeddedness on resource reconfiguring capability is mediated by foreign firms’ embeddedness. Consequently, this study provides a theoretical introduction for MNCs from emerging economies. Practical implications This study has several managerial implications for emerging MNCs’ international operations. For MNCs from emerging economies, close cooperation with domestic firms helps firms to develop a close relationship with foreign firms; meanwhile, developing a close relationship with foreign firms can obtain spillover about technology and management experience better, improving dynamic capability. Specifically, domestic embeddedness, through foreign embeddedness, can extend the impact to focal firms in developing resource reconfiguring capability. Originality/value This study provides an alternate view of how home country networks influence the dynamic capabilities of Chinese MNCs and outlines its impact mechanism. Therefore, the study contributes both to the international business literature and social network literature.

The impact of gender diversity in foreign subsidiaries’ innovation outputs

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Foreign Firms ◽  
Foreign Subsidiaries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Domestic Firms ◽  
Gender Policies ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Innovation Outcomes

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the effect of R&D teams’ gender diversity on different innovation outputs. The paper argues that some innovations are best positioned to capitalize on the benefits of gender diversity because of the greater relevance of market insight and personal interactions. Moreover, it argues that gender diversity is not a source of innovation for foreign firms because of the subsidiaries’ role in the multinational group, the tacit nature of gender policies and the institutional distance between multinationals’ home and host countries. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing from data of the Spanish Survey of Technological Innovation Panel de Innovación Tecnológica (PITEC), this study uses multivariable probit models that allow for systematic correlations among the different innovation outcomes to determine the impact of R&D workforce gender diversity on the likelihood of introducing different innovation outputs. Findings – Allowing for systematic correlations among different innovation outcomes, results indicate that the relationship between gender diversity and product and process innovation has the shape of an inverted-U, while there is a positive linear association with service innovation. Moreover, gender diversity produces a greater impact on product innovation than on process innovation. Results also indicate that while gender diversity fosters every innovation outcome of domestic firms, it only contributes to foreign firms’ services innovation in a positive non-linear way. Research limitations/implications – Because of the availability of data, this paper has focused on how firms’ multinationality and group affiliation influence the relationship between gender diversity and innovation; however, other firms’ differences might also play a role on the effectiveness of the R&D workforce’s gender diversity. Firms differ on strategies, structures and capabilities (Nelson, 1991), and these differences may condition the potential of gender diversity. Therefore, this paper opens future research lines. Practical implications – Innovative firms should be concerned with human resource management practices for gender diversity regardless of their innovation output strategy. However, managers should not consider forming teams with equal proportions of men and women. Those firms aiming at introducing innovations that involve interactions among internal and external agents and those that require a better interface with the marketplace will benefit more from gender diversity than those firms pursuing innovations related to the solution of technical problems. Finally, the paper shows that foreign subsidiaries have problems with the implementation of gender policies, especially when it comes to service and process innovation activities. Originality/value – This paper contributes by examining the influence of two contextual factors that may affect the relationship between gender diversity and innovation. First, it examines how gender diversity affects the likelihood of introducing different innovation outputs (product, service and process) as the different tasks required by each innovation represent different contexts that may affect the effectiveness of gender diversity. Second, the paper analyzes whether the influence of R&D workforce’s gender diversity on innovation outputs is different for domestic and foreign firms as foreign firms’ national culture, organizational culture, strategy and HR practices differ from those of domestic firms.

scholarly journals Dynamic capability of the firm: analysis of the impact of internationalisation on SME performance in an emerging economy

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahfuzur Rahman ◽  
Dieu Hack-Polay ◽  
Sujana Shafique ◽  
Paul Agu Igwe
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Dynamic Capability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Market Expansion ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeInternationalisation is considered as a key strategy for the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between dynamic capability, SMEs internationalisation and firm performance in the context of emerging economies and to evaluate the impact of financial, asset and market expansion on internationalisation of SMEs.Design/methodology/approachUsing primary data from 212 SMEs from Bangladesh, structural equation modelling and mathematical (hierarchical reflective) model, the analysis enabled the measurement of the casual relationship on the impacts of internationalisation.FindingsThe results revealed that internationalisation of SMEs has significant impact on both financial and non-financial performance of SMEs in an emerging economy- Bangladesh. The paper found internationalisation impacts on two dimensions (financial and non-financial) with eight defined indicators – higher sales, higher profit, assets maximisation, market expansion, competitive advantage, better reputation, better customer service and added knowledge.Originality/valueDespite several studies that examine the relationship between SME internationalisation and firm performance, limited research exists on emerging economies. This is contrary to the fact that SMEs are one of the main vehicles for growth in those economies such as Bangladesh. In this research, the authors use the theories of dynamic capabilities to conceptualise how internationalisation becomes a core SME capability for SMEs in an emerging economy.

Motives and competitive assets of Pakistani international construction contracting firms

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahsen Maqsoom ◽  
Chotchai Charoenngam
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Home Country ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Experiences ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Country Specific ◽  
Construction Contracting

Purpose – This paper aims to study the impact of a firm’s size and international experience on its internationalization because it remains an under-researched area. Using an integrated theoretical approach, this study examines the motives and (firm-specific and home country-specific) competitive assets, that enable the internationalization of Pakistan-based construction contracting firms (CCFs) having varied sizes and international experiences. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected through a postal questionnaire survey. A comparative analysis of these data was undertaken for firms of varied sizes and international experiences. Findings – Findings show that firms of varied sizes did not concur over several firm-specific and home country-specific competitive assets, whereas firms of varied international experiences were in disagreement over fewer motives and home country-specific competitive assets. Small CCFs need to overcome weakness in their firm-specific competitive assets, especially international reputation and internationally experienced management. Government and home country support are needed to promote internationalization of emerging economies’ CCFs, especially younger and smaller ones that are more vulnerable due to an unstable business environment and lack of opportunities in domestic markets. Research limitations/implications – The firms included in this study represent only one service sector, i.e. the emerging economy scenario of Pakistan’s construction industry. Future research may be conducted with a deeper analysis of the differences between emerging and developed economies’ CCFs as well as other service sectors. Originality/value – The study will be helpful to those CCFs from emerging economies which are considering whether or not to internationalize and, to the regulatory bodies helping create a level playing field to nurture the internationalization process for their CCFs.

Does FDI crowd out domestic firms? Micro-level evidence from the Republic of Korea

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-416
Author(s):  
Hyelin Choi
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Foreign Firms ◽  
Crowding Out ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Domestic Firms ◽  
Crowd Out ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the foreign investment on the exit and sales of the domestic firms. Furthermore, it studies whether domestic firms undergo different influences by foreign firms according to the size of domestic firms.Design/methodology/approachKorean firm-level data for the period of 2006 through 2013 provided by Statistics Korea are used to study the impact of the foreign investment on the exit and sales of the domestic firms.FindingsThe result shows that foreign firms crowd out small firms from the market and take their shares in the domestic market. On the other hand, larger firms rather enjoy positive spillover effect from foreign firms, reducing its exit probability and increasing sales. It may be that large firms have enough competitiveness and ability to learn and apply the advanced technology of the foreign firms.Practical implicationsDespite the strong belief on the positive impacts of the foreign firms such as knowledge spillovers or job creation, there might be crowding-out or market-stealing effect from the presence of foreign firms. If the latter effect is larger than positive effect, the incentives provided by host country government to the multinational firms cannot be justified. In this regard, the question addressed in this paper is very important.Originality/valueWhile most of previous papers have focused on the impacts of the foreign firms on productivity of the domestic firms, this paper deals with their impacts on the exit and sales of the domestic firms in order to examine more direct crowding-out and market-stealing effect of foreign firms.

FDI and incumbent R&D behavior: evidence from Indian manufacturing sector

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 380-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qayoom Khachoo ◽  
Ruchi Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Foreign Firms ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Domestic Firms ◽  
Indian Manufacturing Sector ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Two Step Estimation

Purpose The study is an attempt to analyze the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on research and development (R&D) behavior of incumbent firms’, both domestic and foreign, operating in Indian manufacturing sector. FDI inflows into the host country escalates the level of competition compelling domestic as well as existing foreign firms to adjust their spending on R&D. The purpose of this paper is to propose that response of domestic and existing foreign firms to the FDI entry vary, with domestic firms increasing their spending on R&D whereas foreign firms reducing it. Design/methodology/approach Using a rich firm level data set from Indian manufacturing for the period 2000-2012, the study utilizes Heckman’s two- step estimation strategy to estimate the impact of FDI entry on R&D behavior of incumbents. Findings FDI entry significantly increases the tendency of domestic and foreign firms to invest in R&D; however, the impact on R&D intensity for both domestic and foreign firms appears to be minimal. Originality/value The study contributes to the existing literature on two fronts. One, unlike other studies, it examines the impact of FDI entry not only on R&D behavior of domestic firms but also on the R&D behavior of existing foreign firms. Second, it addresses the problem of selection bias that has been largely ignored by majority of empirical studies on R&D.

Innovation-orientation, dynamic capabilities and evolution of the informal Shanzhai firms in China

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongwei Ren ◽  
Lei Yu ◽  
Yunxia Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Industrial Cluster ◽  
Innovation Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Damage Degree ◽  
Enhance Property ◽  
Communication Equipment

Purpose – This paper aims to study the evolution of innovation-based dynamic capabilities in informal copycat-style firms. As a kind of informal economical organizations, copycat-style firms in many emerging economies play an important role in their development of the economics. The development of Shanzhai firms, Chinese-style copycat firms, from imitation to innovation has become an important micro-foundation of China’s economic growth and the manufacturing development. With the cluster development of the Chinese mobile phone industry as the macro and industrial environment background, this paper chose Beijing Tianyu Communication Equipment Co. Ltd as the typical example of innovation in Shanzhai firms and studied the evolution of innovation-based dynamic capabilities in this company. Design/methodology/approach – This paper chose Beijing Tianyu Communication Equipment Co. Ltd as the typical example of innovation in Shanzhai firms and studied the evolution of innovation-based dynamic capabilities in this company by adopting the leading-edge dynamic capability theory, innovation theory and industrial cluster theory. The authors further discussed how to improve the dynamic capabilities in Shanzhai firms in China. Findings – It is finally suggested that Shanzhai firms should reduce innovation failures and lower damage degree of dynamic capabilities through consistent innovation and paying attention to their innovation improvement. Originality/value – It will be very significant to research the survival or diminishing of Shanzhai firms from a theoretical perspective, which will eventually enhance property right protection and innovation development in China.

Does foreign direct investment influence R&D activity in the host country? Evidence from Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Van Ha ◽  
Mark J. Holmes ◽  
Gazi Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Probit Model ◽  
Innovation Activity ◽  
Heckman Selection Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Domestic Firms ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Local Firms

PurposeThis study focuses on the linkages between foreign direct investment and the research and development (R&D) and innovation activity of domestic enterprises in Vietnam.Design/methodology/approachThe Heckman selection model approach is applied to a panel dataset of nearly 7,000 Vietnamese firms for the 2011–2015 study period to investigate the impact of foreign presence on the R&D of local firms through horizontal and vertical linkages. Probit model estimation is employed to examine how foreign investment influences the innovation activity of local companies.FindingsWhile there are a small number of firms carrying out R&D activities in Vietnam, foreign or joint domestic–foreign venture firms are less inclined than domestic firms to undertake R&D. Domestic factors that include capital, labor quality, location and export status of firm have a significant effect on the decision of domestic firms to participate in R&D activity. Only forward linkages and the gross firm output are found to have an impact on the R&D intensity of domestic enterprises, while other factors appear to have no significant influence on how much firms spend on R&D activities.Practical implicationsIn order to promote the R&D activity of domestic firms, policy should focus on (1) the backward linkages between local firms in downstream sectors with their foreign suppliers in upstream sectors, and (2) the internal factors such as labor, capital or location that affect the decisions made by domestic firms.Originality/valueGiven that foreign investment may affect R&D and innovation activity of local firms in host countries, the impact is relatively unexplored for many emerging economies and not so in the case of Vietnam. The availability of a unique survey on Vietnamese firm technology and competitiveness provides the opportunity to address this gap in the literature.

When service providers fail: outsourcing help and consumer attitudes

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
Aaron Gazley ◽  
Hamish Simmonds
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Home Country ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Service Recovery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Ethnocentrism ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Delivery Channel

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of outsourcing and offshoring on brand loyalty in a service recovery context. In addition, the effect that consumer ethnocentrism has on these relationships is examined. Design/methodology/approach An experiment was designed using a series of service recovery scenarios that manipulated whether the recovery effort was conducted by an in-house/outsourced or local/offshored party. Findings The study shows that while outsourcing service recovery within the home country has no effect on loyalty, outsourcing to an offshore location does. In addition, the effect of offshoring of loyalty is greater for consumers who hold ethnocentric tendencies. Practical implications This research suggests the need to consider the delivery channel of service recovery to recover a service failure and retain customer loyalty. The results show that outsourcing within a local country may be effective, but the risks associated with offshoring are much greater. Originality/value Despite previous attempts to understand outsourcing and offshoring in a range of service scenarios, their role in service recovery is not well understood. Similarly, the impact that ethnocentrism might have on this process is overlooked. This paper therefore responds to calls within business theory, practice and consults for further study in this under-researched area.

Developing a model for supply chain agility and innovativeness to enhance firms’ competitive advantage

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1511-1534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Jou Chen
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Structural Equations ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Agility ◽  
It Integration ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Developing agility and innovativeness as dynamic capabilities are important for firms to sustain their competitive advantage in today’s global economy. The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically test a framework to investigate how the supply chain agility and innovativeness are achieved through IT integration and trust in members of supply chain and how these, in turn, can enhance firms’ competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach This research employs a survey method and data are collected from senior managers working in the supply chain or IT area. The model and hypotheses are tested utilizing data from 204 usable Taiwan manufacturing firms via structural equations modeling methodology. Findings The study demonstrates that both IT integration and trust in supply chain members significantly enhance supply chain agility and innovativeness, which in turn positively affect firm’s competitive advantage. The results indicate that IT integration and trust are antecedents and major joint partnership resources for improving supply chain agility and innovativeness. Research limitations/implications Data are collected from manufacturing industry in Taiwan and single respondent from each firm, the generalizability of current findings to other industries or countries should require additional investigation. Practical implications The study suggests that a firm should focus on IT integration and trust in supply chain members to achieve supply chain agility and innovativeness. To take advantage of supply chain agility and innovativeness, through maximizing firm’s competitive advantage, firms should continually adapt to the fast changing business environment and search for creative ways to satisfy new market needs. Originality/value Given the attention paid to supply chain agility and innovativeness in terms of importance to responding to business uncertainty and competitiveness, and more recently, as important capabilities in managing supply chain management, this paper investigates how IT integration and trust can contribute to supply chain agility and innovativeness. Provide evidence regarding the impact of IT integration and trust on agility of supply chains, innovativeness and competitive advantage.

Does foreign direct investment spillover total factor productivity growth? A study of Indian drugs and pharmaceutical industry

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1937-1955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitin Arora ◽  
Preeti Lohani
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Total Factor Productivity ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Spillover Effect ◽  
Foreign Firms ◽  
Factor Productivity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Domestic Firms ◽  
Tfp Growth

Purpose Foreign firms have certain advantages which may spillover to domestic firms in the form of improvements in total factor productivity (TFP) growth. The purpose of this paper is to empirically observe the presence of TFP spillovers of foreign direct investment (FDI) to domestic firms through analyzing source of TFP growth in Indian drugs and pharmaceutical industry. Design/methodology/approach This paper examines the sources of TFP spillovers of FDI in Indian drugs and pharmaceutical industry over the period 1999 to 2014. The data of 304 firms has been used for estimation of the growth rates of TFP and its sources under stochastic frontier analyses based Malmquist productivity index framework. For frontier estimation, the Wang and Ho (2010) model has been executed using translog form of production function. Findings The results show that there exists significant TFP spillover effect from the presence of foreign equity in drugs and pharmaceutical industry of India. The results also show that the major source of TFP fluctuations in the said industry is managerial efficiency that has been significantly affected by FDI spillover variables. In sum, the phenomenon of significant Intra-industry (horizontal) efficiency led productivity spillovers of FDI found valid in case of Indian drugs and pharmaceutical industry. Research limitations/implications The number of foreign firms is very less to imitate the significant impact of foreign investment on TFP growth of Indian pharmaceutical industry at aggregated level; and the Wang and Ho (2010) model is failing to capture direct impact of FDI on technological change under Malmquist framework. Practical implications Since, there exists dominance of domestic firms in Indian drugs and pharmaceutical industry, the planners should follow the policy which not only attract FDI but also benefit domestic firms; for example, developing modern infrastructure and institution which will further help domestic firms to absorb spillovers provided by the Multinational Corporations and also accelerate the growth and development of the economy. Social implications In no case, the foreign firms should dominate the market share otherwise the efficiency spillover effect will be negative and the domestic firms will be destroyed under the self-centric approach of foreign firms protected by the recent patent laws. Originality/value The study is a unique attempt to discuss the production structure and sources of TFP spillovers of FDI in Indian drugs and pharmaceutical industry with such a wide coverage of 304 firms over a period of 16 years under Wang and Ho (2010) model’s framework. The existing studies on TFP spillovers are using either a small sample size of firms or based upon traditional techniques of measuring spillover effects.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document