Influence of internationalization orientation on export performance: in the perspective of Malaysian manufacturing firms

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Behyan ◽  
Osman Mohamad ◽  
Azizah Omar
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Organizational Capability ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Exporting Firms ◽  
Emerging Nations ◽  
Developed Nations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate several concepts of inward and outward internationalization and their impact on export performance in the context of Malaysian manufacturing exporting firms. Design/methodology/approach – Mail survey was administered to gather data from the Malaysian manufacturing firms that have been identified to have business export trading to the major oil and gas producer countries in the Middle East. A total of 120 respondents were received and further analysis was tabulated. Findings – Findings revealed that the outward internationalization is positively related to economic and non-economic measures of export performance. It indicates that an outward internationalization related to organizational capability has a major contribution to the export performance of Malaysian manufacturing and exporting firms. On the other hand, top management international orientation as an inward internationalization is negatively and significantly associated with economic measures, but not in the non-economic measures of the export performance. Research limitations/implications – The cross-sectional nature of this study may have limitations with respect to examining the direction and causality of some of the variables. The findings are limited to Malaysian manufacturing firms exporting to targeted markets. The significant of this study emanates from its expected theoretical implications to knowledge and practical implications to business and public organization. It lends support to the internationalization theory and contributes to a firm’s performance and enhances their export marketing knowledge with useful implications for international and relationship marketing. Originality/value – The results support the proposition that internationalization of firms from emerging nations are dependent on learning, acquiring and applying the knowledge from other firms particularly from firms originating from advanced developed nations.

Branding advantage of agri-food companies in competitive export markets: a resource-based theory

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hashem Aghazadeh ◽  
Elham Beheshti Jazan Abadi ◽  
Farzad Zandi
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Export Markets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Exporting Firms ◽  
Self Reporting Questionnaire

PurposeThe purpose of the present study is to investigate the antecedents of export performance and branding advantage, as a key type of competitive advantage in export markets among entrepreneurs and managers of agri-food exporters.Design/methodology/approachA sample of entrepreneurs from 182 exporting firms of the agriculture and food industry participated in a cross-sectional survey. The data were collected by a self-reporting questionnaire and partial least squares were used to analyse the data and assess the path model.FindingsResults revealed that experiential resources strongly promote communication capabilities. Also, communication, distribution and product development capabilities contribute to the creation of the branding advantage in export markets. In addition, a positive relationship between the branding advantage and export performance of agri-food products is confirmed.Research limitations/implicationsThe study targets exporters of agri-food products. Hence, the results should be interpreted regarding the context of low-technology firms. Further, this paper delineates branding advantage considerations that managers need to account for to achieve effective exporting. Practitioners can efficaciously exploit resources to achieve a competitive advantage, considering that they focus on building capabilities, and in particular, communication capabilities.Originality/valueThe present study highlights the role of the branding advantage as an important type of competitive advantage in international entrepreneurship and export markets. It attempts to examine the combined relationships of resources and capabilities with branding advantage and export performance.

The effect of historical government affiliations on resource acquisition and organizing capability: evidence from Chinese private firms

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-360
Author(s):  
Lihua Wang ◽  
Xiaoya Liang
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
State Ownership ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Resource Acquisition ◽  
Private Firms ◽  
Organizational Capability ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
State Sector ◽  
Prior State

PurposeGrounded in the structural and relational inertia literature, this paper aims to investigate how two types of founding conditions – prior state ownership and a founder’s state career history – may individually and interactively affect the resource acquisition and organizing capability of firms.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a unique, large-scale survey of 480 manufacturing firms in China.FindingsThe findings show that prior state ownership is positively related to a firm’s resource acquisition, and the founder’s state career history moderates the relationship between prior state ownership and a firm’s organizing capability such that a founder with a state career history can help a privatized firm overcome its structural inertia and achieve superior organizing capabilities. However, it is found that a founder’s state career history is not associated with a firm’s resource acquisition or organizing capability.Research/limitations/implicationsFirst, this study is cross-sectional. Second, this paper refocuses on Chinese manufacturing firms in two regions only. Third, the authors do not have information on how long founders had been in state sector. Fourth, the measure of resource acquisition and organizational capability is a self-reported perceptual measure.Practical implicationsFirst, this study suggests that founders’ state career history does not benefit firms in resource acquisitions. Once founders do not work for government organizations, they can lose the associated resource benefits. The founders may have to actively maintain their historical connections with the current government officials to continue to receive various information and resource benefits. Second, this study indicates that it is possible for privatized firms to have resource acquisition advantages resulting from their historical heritage and at the same time overcome the inferior organizing capabilities from their histories by having a founder with a prior state career history. Such founders tend to have the ability to overcome the unfavorable imprinting effect of previous histories and to help private firms develop better strategies and structures to fit the dynamic and competitive environment.Social implicationsThis study indicates that it is possible for state-owned enterprises to become efficient if they can employ capable managers with superior managerial skills.Originality/valueCurrent literature on the effect of government affiliations on firm behavior and outcomes typically focuses on existing government affiliations and their benefits on a firm’s economic and information resources, legitimacy and new venture performance. This study is one of the first to examine how historical government affiliations may affect both the resource acquisition and organizing capability of a firm. In addition, existing studies have rarely studied simultaneously how a firm’s and a founder’s historical government affiliations may independently and interactively affect a firm’s ability to acquire resources and develop capabilities critical for a firm’s performance and survival. This study fills this gap.

scholarly journals Knowledge management competences, exporting and productivity: uncovering African paradoxes

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferran Vendrell-Herrero ◽  
Christian K. Darko ◽  
Pervez Ghauri
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Exporting Firms ◽  
Domestic Markets ◽  
Conditional Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Intensive ◽  
Productivity Gains

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the importance of relational and conditional knowledge by assessing how service and signaling competences affect manufacturing firms’ productivity. These relationships are explored in the context of Africa, where, paradoxically, firms selling abroad must satisfy different market demands than firms that serve only domestic markets.Design/methodology/approachThe authors draw on the World Bank Enterprise Survey to perform a cross-sectional analysis of 4,683 manufacturing firms. These surveys cover the period 2009-2017 and 35 different African countries. The authors define service competence development as co-location with knowledge-intensive business service (KIBS) firms, measured through KIBS density at city level. Signaling is measured through outward-looking competences.FindingsThis paper shows that African exporters differ significantly from their non-exporting counterparts in terms of productivity and competences. External service competence generates productivity gains for exporters but has the opposite effect for non-exporters. Results consistent with previous research also show that signaling competences generate productivity gains, but the effect for firms serving domestic markets is stronger than the effect for exporting firms. The authors use paradoxes of learning to interpret these results.Research limitations/implicationsThis study detects nuances of the African context that increase the understanding of knowledge management in emerging markets. The findings would benefit from confirmation in a longitudinal and causal setting.Practical implicationsAfrican exporting firms should establish mechanisms to develop joint knowledge with external partners (know-with) to enhance their competitiveness, whereas African non-exporters should prioritize building knowledge credibility.Originality/valueThe study develops a novel empirical approach to analyzing firm competences in Africa. It also shows that contextualization of existing knowledge management theories matters, opening a research avenue to test further existing theories in emerging economies.

The influence of export information use on export knowledge and performance

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kjell Toften
Keyword(s):  
Export Performance ◽  
Information Use ◽  
Postal Survey ◽  
Export Market ◽  
Market Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Seafood Industry ◽  
And Performance

PurposeTo test empirical relationships between export market information use and export knowledge and export performance.Design/methodology/approachConfirmatory factor analysis, using LISREL 8.50, based on a postal survey. The setting selected was the Norwegian seafood industry, mainly consisting of a number of small and medium‐sized firms with a strong export dependency.FindingsThe results indicate that “instrumental/conceptual” use of information positively affects both export knowledge and export performance, while “symbolic” use does not affect either. Export knowledge is found to have no direct influence on export performance in this study.Research limitations/implicationsFor generalisation purposes, longitudinal studies in multiple settings would be preferable to this cross‐sectional survey in a specific setting.Practical implicationsFirms accumulate knowledge and expertise by integrating and incorporating information that has been processed, interpreted and used. This study underscores the importance, for success in export markets, of a commitment to systematically generating, disseminating and responding to export market information. There are clear implications for the management of market intelligence and planning, to enhance the firm's performance.Originality/valueProvides a better understanding of export market information use and its consequences, by integrating it with the concepts of export knowledge and export performance, and testing their structural relations.

Determinant analysis of employee attitudes toward pro-environmental behavior in textile firms of Pakistan: a serial mediation approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sundas Nisar ◽  
Naveed R. Khan ◽  
Mustafa Rehman Khan
Keyword(s):  
Textile Industry ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Employee Attitudes ◽  
Psychological Climate ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Purposive Sampling ◽  
Exporting Firms ◽  
Mediation Analyses

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine how environmentally specific transformational leadership (ETFL), green training (GT) and psychological green climate (PGC) affect environmental passion (EP) of employees which leads to pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs).Design/methodology/approachThe context of the study was set in textile industry of Pakistan which holds a promising future in the international markets as an emerging export-based industry. Using purposive sampling technique, cross-sectional self-report data were collected from the employees of textile exporting firms (n = 239) of Pakistan. Hypotheses were tested using PLS-SEM.FindingsThe findings revealed that ETFL and PGC act as important predictors of EP, whereas GT plays no role in influencing EP. EP predicts green behavioral intention (GBI) of employees, in turn, GBI predicts employees' PEBs. Further, mediation analyses revealed that EP and GBI sequentially mediated the link between PGC and PEBs.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study is not free from its limitations. First, the study adopted cross-sectional design that prevents the causal inferences which the researcher can make from the population. Second, the present study adopted purposive sampling technique which is a non-probability sampling technique. Third, the constructs of this study were assessed with self-report measures which are associated with social desirability bias (Podsakoff and Organ, 1986) or common-method variance (Podsakoff et al., 2003). Hence, this research suggests on the future direction of research based on these limitations.Practical implicationsAs per the results of this study, it is also suggested that managers may focus more on the overall organizational and psychological climate rather than on leadership styles alone. While conducting training, the leaders must pay close attention to training objectives to ensure that they do not lead to counterproductive behaviors.Originality/valueThis research adds to the literature in the area of PEBs at micro-level by focusing on how and why employees engage in PEBs.

Determinants of opportunism in Uganda’s manufacturing sector:a comparison of two sectors

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Eyaa ◽  
Ramaswami Sridharan ◽  
Suzanne Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Information Sharing ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Environmental Uncertainty ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Power Asymmetry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Manufacturing Sectors ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual model investigating the impact of three constructs, environmental uncertainty, power asymmetry and information sharing on opportunism engagement in exchange relationships. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from procurement or sales managers of 99 manufacturing firms in Kampala, Uganda’s capital using a cross-sectional survey. Hypotheses were tested in both the agricultural and non-agricultural manufacturing sectors using multiple regression runs in the SPSS software. Findings Environmental uncertainty increases opportunism in the agricultural sector whilst power asymmetry increases opportunism in the non-agricultural sector. Across both sectors, information sharing does not have a significant impact on opportunism. Originality/value This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of opportunism in a developing country context by highlighting the contextual factors within the agricultural and non-agricultural manufacturing sectors that influence opportunism engagement under conditions of environmental uncertainty, power asymmetry and information sharing. This paper presents implications for practice and policy to minimise opportunism with the goal of enhancing the participation of Ugandan manufacturing firms in global supply chains.

Agile production, innovation and technological cooperation

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 597-615
Author(s):  
Ángel Martínez Sánchez ◽  
Manuela Pérez-Pérez ◽  
Silvia Vicente-Oliva
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Agile Manufacturing ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technological Cooperation ◽  
Production Flexibility ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Agile Production

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze in a sample of Spanish manufacturing firms the relationship between agile manufacturing and the firm’s management capacities related to innovation and production flexibility. Complementarily the survey addresses the implementation of agile production and its measurement. Design/methodology/approach For data collection, a survey through mail to operations and human resource managers of manufacturing firms and telephonic interviews with managers from 25 selective firms was carried out. The population of the study included firms from the Sistema de Análisis de Balances Ibéricos database with NACE codes 24–32 and at least 200 employees. Quantitative methods (linear hierarchical regression and mean differences) were used to test research hypotheses, and a qualitative method (interview analysis) was used to analyze an implementation and measurement model of agile production. Findings The results of the study show that high-agile firms use more intensively a comprehensive set of agile facilitators (design, manufacturing and supply). They also innovate and cooperate externally more on innovation than low-agile firms. The authors have found that external technological cooperation moderates the firm’s production flexibility. Research limitations/implications The implications of this research indicate, on one hand, that firms interested in implementing agile production should focus on the agility management of supply chains, the skills and knowledge development of human resources and in the implementation of agile manufacturing technologies. On the other hand, firms in less cooperative environments should focus more on their internal manufacturing systems to reinforce the relationship between production flexibility and agility that offers broader scenarios to compete under this production paradigm. The main limitations of the research design are the use of cross-sectional data and the use of managerial perceptions to assess most of the variables. Originality/value This paper offers a model of agile production implementation that it is complemented with measurement indicators to analyze the firm’s evolution toward agility. The combination of multivariate analysis and managers’ interviews to obtain and validate results creates a value for managers interested in agile production.

The effects of strategic sourcing on supply chain strategies

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-148
Author(s):  
Sibel Yildiz Çankaya
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Competitive Performance ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Sourcing ◽  
Plant Level ◽  
Lean Supply Chain

Purpose This study aims to examine the effects of strategic sourcing (SS) on lean supply chain (LSC) and agile supply chain (ASC) strategies and investigate the role of these concepts on development of competitive performance. Design/methodology/approach A proposed research model and hypotheses are tested by using cross-sectional e-mail survey data collected from the manufacturing firms operating in Turkey. SS is conceptualized as a second-order factor. Structural equation modeling is used to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings This study reached the conclusion that SS affects LSC and ASC strategies positively. Additionally, it is seen that these concepts are effective in improvement of competitive performance. Practical implications The results are important in terms of emphasizing the significance of SS in improvement of the lean and agile nature of the supply chain. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence regarding the relationships among SS, supply chain strategies and competitive performance. Research limitations/implications This study was carried out on the plant level where one person from each organization responded to the survey.

Developing process and product innovation through internal and external knowledge sources in manufacturing Malaysian firms: the role of absorptive capacity

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1021-1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ramayah ◽  
Pedro Soto-Acosta ◽  
Khoo Kah Kheng ◽  
Imran Mahmud
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Knowledge Sources ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Organizational Capability ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Knowledge

PurposeFirms' knowledge-processing capabilities have a central role in achieving innovation performance and competitive advantage. Absorptive capacity capabilities and innovation are viewed as essential for enterprise success. Absorptive capacity is deemed as a highly important organizational capability to recognize value and assimilate both external and internal knowledge in order to enhance firm innovation. The aim of this study is to determine if innovation performance can be improved through absorptive capacity (knowledge acquisition, dissemination and utilization), when it is supported by internal (firm experience) and external knowledge sources (R&D cooperation and contracted R&D).Design/methodology/approachA quantitative methodology based on employing a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The proposed research model and its associated hypotheses are tested by using Partial Least Squares (PLS) structural equation modelling (SEM) on a data set of 248 manufacturing companies located in the Northern Region of Malaysia.FindingsResults showed that firms' experience is significantly related to absorptive capacity, while for R&D cooperation and contracted R&D findings were mixed. In addition, absorptive capacity was found as a strong predictor of innovation performance.Originality/valueOne of the defining features of competition in many industries has been the extremely rapid pace of technological change, marked by a continuous stream of innovations. Manufacturing firms, therefore, face the challenge of nurturing existing knowledge and developing novel knowledge in order to create new business opportunities. This study makes valuable contributions with regard to understanding the behavioural of manufacturing firms towards process and product innovation.

scholarly journals The influence of relational capability and marketing capabilities on the export performance of emerging market firms

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 606-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thi Song Hanh Pham ◽  
Lien Le Monkhouse ◽  
Bradley R. Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Market ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Price Setting ◽  
Marketing Capabilities ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Exporting Firms ◽  
Market Intelligence ◽  
Export Marketing ◽  
Marketing Intelligence

Purpose Drawing on the resource-based view, the purpose of this paper is to focus on the influence of relational capability and marketing capabilities on export performance. The study also examines the interaction effects of relational capability on the marketing capabilities – export performance relationships. Design/methodology/approach A stratified random sample of 1,047 exporting firms was approached. Survey data were collected from 333 Vietnamese exporting firms and analysed using hierarchical moderated regression. Findings The results reveal that a firm’s relational capability not only strengthens the efficiency of the export pricing capability – performance, marketing intelligence capability – performance, and marketing communication capability – performance relationships, but is also the strongest predictor of export performance amongst those capabilities identified. Whilst engagement in market intelligence, product development, price setting and promotional activities have a positive payoff, the findings confirm that there is less need for exporters to engage in after-sales service and distribution capabilities. Originality/value The study introduces the notion of relational capability alongside export marketing capabilities as predictors of export performance. The authors also examine the moderating influence of relational capability on the link between export marketing capabilities and export performance. By focusing on Vietnam, the study provides fresh insights surrounding the development pathway for firms in emerging markets.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document