Synergistic effect of R&D and exports on performance in US manufacturing industries: high-tech vs low-tech

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jooh Lee ◽  
He-Boong Kwon

Purpose This study aims to explore the strategic impact of R&D and export activity on the diverse dimensions of US manufacturing firms’ performance. It also explores, using a predictive analytic model, the interactive synergistic effect that R&D and exports have on firm performance. Design/methodology/approach This study presents an innovative two-stage regression-neural network approach. Complementing conventional statistical analysis, the predictive backpropagation neural network explores the relative impact of R&D and exports and their synergistic effect on firm performance. Findings This study demonstrates the significant and positive effect of R&D and export strategy/activity on the economic performance of leading US manufacturing firms, particularly on their market-based performance (i.e. sustained growth rate or SGR). Furthermore, this study finds that the synergistic effect of R&D and exports on short-term performance (i.e. return on investment) is positive in high-tech firms but negative in low-tech firms. However, the synergistic effect on SGR is increasingly positive regardless of the level of technology. Originality/value In addition to traditional statistical analysis, this study uniquely investigates the relative importance of selected strategic variables, along with R&D and export activity and their differential synergistic effects, for firms’ economic performance in contrasting industry settings (high-tech vs low-tech).

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Fernando Del Carpio Gallegos ◽  
Francesc Miralles

PurposeFirm innovative performance in emerging markets must take into account the peculiarities of their competitive environment. Research on the effect of innovation on firm performance focuses mainly on high-tech firms in developed countries. This study proposes a model that empirically examines how technological and non-technological innovation influence Peruvian manufacturing firms' performance.Design/methodology/approachUsing the resource-based view, a model is proposed that allows the mediation effects of technological innovation and non-technological innovation on firm performance among low and medium-low technological intensity manufacturing firms to be analyzed. The study uses structural equation modeling and mediation analysis with data from 503 Peruvian firms researched in the 2012 National Survey of Innovation.FindingsThe model's validation shows that the integrated perspective is relevant for emerging markets like Peru. Moreover, the results confirm that technological and non-technological innovation and their interrelationship are important for understanding the performance dimensions of Peruvian manufacturing firms.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature on innovation in Latin American economies, proposing and validating a model that combines the mediation effects of technological and non-technological innovation to explain the relevant dimensions of firm performance in emerging markets.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel-Alejandro Ibarra-Cisneros ◽  
María del Rosario Demuner-Flores ◽  
Felipe Hernández-Perlines

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to study the moderating effect of absorptive capacity, defined as the set of organizational routines and processes through which companies acquire, assimilate, transform and exploit knowledge to produce a dynamic organizational capacity (Zahra and George, 2002), in three strategic orientations: market orientation; technology orientation and entrepreneurial orientation and their positive relationship in the performance of the medium and large Mexican manufacturing firms. Likewise, it is determined whether these three combined SOs influence firm performance.Design/methodology/approachThe data was collected from 171 medium and large-sized Mexican manufacturing firms. The proposed hypotheses are tested using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsDespite the importance of knowledge for the development of firms, the results indicate that the moderating effect of absorptive capacity is only present in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance. That is, firms cannot take advantage of knowledge simultaneously between the three strategic orientations. For their part, market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation exert a positive influence on firm performance.Practical implicationsThe main practical implication for the manufacturing industry is that they must develop mechanisms to detect what kind of knowledge affects each strategic orientation, in this way it can make the absorptive capacity influence the relationships between SO and FP.Originality/valueThe main contribution consists of studying the moderating effect of the absorptive capacity on the relationship between three strategic orientations and firm performance, and not concentrating solely on the simultaneous use of these strategies as is commonly done.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
pp. 1823-1843
Author(s):  
Mastura Ab Wahab ◽  
Ekrem Tatoglu

PurposeThis study aims to examine the impact of chasing productivity demands on worker well-being and firm performance in manufacturing firms in Malaysia. Flexible work arrangements and human resources support are used as moderators to mitigate the adverse impacts associated with chasing productivity demands.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 213 workers from manufacturing firms through a survey questionnaire utilizing structural equation modeling.FindingsThe findings of the study show that flexible work arrangements play a significant role in moderating the relationship between chasing productivity demands and well-being, and between chasing productivity demands and firm performance. The study also shows that flexible work arrangements are important to buffer the adverse effects of chasing productivity demands on worker well-being. In addition, flexible work arrangements strengthen the positive effect of worker well-being on firm performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study highlights the importance of flexible work arrangements in overcoming the negative impact of the relationship between chasing productivity demands and worker well-being and strengthening the positive impact of the relationship between worker well-being and firm performance.Originality/valueThis study has extended the variable of chasing productivity demands in the existing literature on the job demands–job control model, specifically in manufacturing firms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 292-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Lin ◽  
Jing Luo ◽  
Petros Ieromonachou ◽  
Ke Rong ◽  
Lin Huang

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide implementation insights and implications regarding the strategic orientations of servitization by testing its impacts on firm performance, including financial performance and customer service performance. Design/methodology/approach Empirical research is conducted using an online survey disseminated to manufacturing firms in Southeast China. This research develops and verifies a strategic fit framework to understand the relationship between the strategic orientation of servitization and service innovation (SI), and its resulting impacts on firm performance. Findings The results show that service orientation (SO) has direct positive impacts on firm performance in the manufacturing sector. Customer orientation (CO) and learning orientation (LO) have no direct impact on firm performance, although they have indirect impacts on it via the mediating role of SI capability. Moreover, SO has a similar indirect impact on firm performance via SI capability. Research limitations/implications The survey focuses only on China; future studies should verify whether different cultural backgrounds impact the research results. Practical implications The results suggest that firms should build up three strategic orientations (SO, CO and LO) for implementing servitization to facilitate SI capability and, thus, to improve firm performance. Originality/value This research contributes to enhancing the theory of servitization by developing a strategic fit model of servitization and revealing the impact mechanism of servitization in the manufacturing sector.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Imtiaz Mostafiz ◽  
Murali Sambasivan ◽  
See Kwong Goh

PurposeThe international entrepreneurial capability has achieved its legitimacy in international business literature. Leveraging capabilities to recognise opportunities is considered a pivotal strategy to achieve success. Drawing on the entrepreneurship literature and opportunity perspective, this study aims to investigate the role of international entrepreneurial capability in enhancing the international opportunity recognition (IOR) process and the performance of export manufacturing firms.Design/methodology/approachStructural equation modelling has been used to test the hypothesised relationship on 388 export manufacturing entrepreneurial firms operating in the apparel industry of Bangladesh.FindingsThe results signify that three international entrepreneurial capabilities, namely, international networking, learning and marketing capability, positively enhance the IOR process of export manufacturing firms. The IOR process positively mediates the relationships between these international entrepreneurial capabilities and firm performance.Originality/valueMerely having the international entrepreneurial capability is not sufficient to escalate the firm performance. It must be amplified by various strategic actions such as the IOR process. Entrepreneurs need to capitalise on the international entrepreneurial capability to leverage the IOR process and generate non-financial performance success. Entrepreneurial firms that focus more on stimulating non-financial performance can secure better financial performance.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 273-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eijaz Ahmed Khan ◽  
Mohammed Quaddus

Purpose – This study realize that the relationships between business environment and firm performance in context of small- and medium-sized enterprises and large organizations is well understood and focused, but less research has been done on microenterprises, especially in informal sector. The purpose of this paper is to examine these relationships. Design/methodology/approach – A mixed method research design was used. In the field study, data were obtained from 14 participants via one-to-one personal interview. Content analysis was applied to extract, classify, and cross-examine of the data. In the quantitative approach, questionnaire was developed and data were collected from 438 informal microenterprises (IMs) owners. The data were analysed using the partial least square structural equation modelling. Findings – Results from this field study and survey recognized these relationships and vibrates well with the existing literature and establish the hypothesis. Practical implications – In order to create more favourable environment and ensure the performance, the policy makers, professional bodies could formulate decent requirements for IMs to have a code of business practices and socio-economic performance. Originality/value – This study provides a first step towards business environment and firm performance in context IMs and makes several contributions to the literature.


2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Youwen Zhang ◽  
Xiukun Wang ◽  
Xue Li ◽  
Limin Dong ◽  
Xinxin Hu ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT As increasing numbers of colistin-resistant bacteria emerge, new therapies are urgently needed to treat infections caused by these pathogens. The discovery of new combination therapies is one important way to solve such problems. Here, we report that the antitumor drug PFK-158 and its analogs PFK-015 and 3PO can exert synergistic effects with colistin against colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, including mcr-1-positive or high-level-colistin-resistant (HLCR) isolates, as shown by a checkerboard assay. The results of a time-kill assay revealed that colistin combined with PFK-158 continuously eliminated colistin-resistant Escherichia coli 13-43, Klebsiella pneumoniae H04, and Enterobacter cloacae D01 in 24 h. Images from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at 5 h postinoculation confirmed the killing effect of the combination. Finally, in vivo treatment showed that PFK-158 had a better synergistic effect than its analogs. Compared to the corresponding rates after colistin monotherapy, the survival rates of systemically infected mice were significantly increased 30% or 60% when the mice received an intravenous injection of colistin in combination with 15 mg/kg of body weight PFK-158. These results have important implications for repurposing PFK-158 to combat colistin resistance.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio César Acosta-Prado ◽  
Ana Karina Romero Severiche ◽  
Arnold Alejandro Tafur-Mendoza

Purpose This paper aims to build and analyse the validity and reliability of a measurement scale that establishes the relationship between conditions of knowledge management, innovation capability and firm performance in Colombian New Technology-Based Firms (NTBFs). Design/methodology/approach An instrumental study was carried out because of the design and revision of the psychometric properties of a scale. The techniques used for the statistical analysis were carried out in three sequences, namely, the first consists in collecting validity evidence based on test content; the second in an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to gather validity evidence based on internal structure; and third, estimate the test reliability of internal consistency through omega coefficient. Findings The results obtained show that the proposed measurement scale complies with the psychometrics properties required for a measurement instrument in social sciences. Originality/value The model of measurement scale, including three important constructs for firms, namely, conditions of knowledge management, innovation capability and firm performance, were not tested before for NTBFs. In this way, the present study contributes to the business sector. Finally, this scale can be useful to measure the variables studied in NTBFs of other countries, considering strategic purpose, flexible structure, information and communications technology and internal environment as internal conditions, and, as an external condition, the competitive environment, as conditions of knowledge management; exploration, exploitation and organizational ambidexterity as elements of innovation capability; and the non-economic performance and economic performance as one-dimensional structures.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyan Sheng ◽  
Taiwen Feng ◽  
Lucheng Chen ◽  
Dianhui Chu ◽  
Weijie Zhang

PurposeThe purpose of this study aims to develop and test a motives-mass customization (MC) capability-performance model by dividing MC capability into product-oriented MC capability and service-oriented MC capability.Design/methodology/approachThis research tests the hypothesized relationships using survey data from 277 Chinese manufacturing firms.FindingsThe results indicate that instrumental, relational and moral motives all have significantly positive impacts on product-oriented and service-oriented MC capability. The authors also find that product-oriented MC capability partially mediates the impacts of relational and moral motives on operational, environmental and economic performance, while service-oriented MC capability partially mediates the impacts of instrumental, relational and moral motives on operational, market, environmental and economic performance.Originality/valueThis study complements the existing MC literature by describing MC capability into two dimensions: product-oriented MC capability and service-oriented MC capability.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cory Hallam ◽  
Carlos Alberto Dorantes Dosamantes ◽  
Gianluca Zanella

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose an integrated theory to explain the effect of regional culture on high-technology micro and small (HTMS) firm outcomes. The integrated culture-social capital outcomes (CSCO) model examines the impact of culture on performance and evolution of HTMS firms through the mediating effect of intra-firm and inter-firm social capital. Design/methodology/approach Theoretical insights from social capital and culture are combined with the results of previous empirical observations to explain cross-cultural differences in the performance of HTMS firms. The authors then propose the CSCO model as a means to integrate and advance theory building. Findings The CSCO model explains the impact of culture on performance and evolution of HTMS firms through intra-firm and inter-firm social capital networks. Cultural context affects the performance of high-tech micro and small firms through the nature and structure of the networks involved in building and exploiting inter-firm and intra-firm social capital. Moreover, regional culture indirectly influences the balance between positive and negative effects of social capital on firm performance. These observations explain inconsistent findings from past empirical research and contribute to understanding the “embeddedness paradox” of social capital. Research limitations/implications The present model is not comprehensive. It does not account for many contextual factors identified in organizational network and cluster literature that contribute to the development of HTMS firms. Future research should consider the relationships between the three dimensions of social capital and seek to test the model with rigorous data collection and analysis. Originality/value While past studies focus on the direct relationship between regional culture and firm performance, this paper proposes the mediating effect of internal and external social capital between cultural context and firm performance. This proposal contributes to social capital and entrepreneurship literature and provides a potential explanation for inconsistent findings in past empirical research.


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