Internationalization Orientation in SMEs: The Mediating Role of Technological Innovation
Internationalization Orientation in SMEs: The Mediating Role of Technological Innovation
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中小企业国际化导向：技术创新的中介作用
DOI：
10.1016/j.intman.2018.08.002
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发表时间：
2019-03-01
影响因子：
6.1
通讯作者：
Nikolopoulos, Konstantinos
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Bagheri, Mahshid;Mitchelmore, Siwan;Nikolopoulos, Konstantinos
本研究考察了中小企业国际化取向与国际绩效之间的关系，以及技术创新的中介作用。先前的研究表明，国际化是中小企业发展和盈利的重要战略选择。然而，对于国际化如何影响国际绩效仍没有明确的共识。同样，创新对绩效的作用长期以来一直被强调，但技术创新对国际绩效的影响仍然让我们困惑。我们对英国116家中小企业的调查显示，国际化导向对其国际绩效有显着影响，同时采用内向型和外向型国际化导向的中小企业取得了优异的成绩。我们进一步证明，中小企业技术创新与国际企业绩效之间存在倒U型关系。同时，我们发现技术创新正向调节国际化导向对国际企业绩效的影响，特别是对于技术创新活动处于中等水平的中小企业而言。本研究的结果表明，管理者可以通过在战略决策中将内向和外向国际化导向与技术创新活动相结合来提高国际绩效。
This study examines the relationship between internationalization orientation and international performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the mediating effect of technological innovation. Prior research suggests that internationalization is a prominent strategic choice for SMEs growth and profitability. However, there is still no explicit agreement on how internationalization affects international performance. Similarly, the role of innovation on performance has long been emphasized, but the implications of technological innovation on international performance are still eluding us. Our investigation of 116 SMEs in the United Kingdom reveals that internationalization orientation has a significant effect on their international performance, with SMEs adopting simultaneously an inward and outward international orientation achieving superior results. We further demonstrate that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between technological innovation and international firm performance among SMEs. Meanwhile, we find that technological innovation positively mediates the effect of internationalization orientation on international firm performance, particularly for the SMEs exhibiting moderate levels of technological innovation activities. The findings of this study suggest that managers can improve international performance by combining inward and outward internationalization orientation with technological innovation activities in their strategic decisions.