The Resource-Based View within the Export Context: An Integrative Review of Empirical Studies

Despite widespread research on the resource-based view (RBV) in exporting, there is a lack of any integrative review of the empirical studies connected to resources and capabilities in the extant literature. To address this gap, this study offers a comprehensive review of 129 export-related articles published between 1990 and 2016. Relevant articles were examined through content analysis in terms of the scope of research, research methodology, and conceptual issues. Certain limitations related to the scope of research are identified, particularly with regard to country setting, industry effect, and firm size. Methodologically, the sampling designs, data collection methods, and analytical approaches employed have attracted criticism. The results also demonstrate that, in spite of significant progress in the pertinent literature with respect to conceptual issues, research on the RBV within the export context is still at the stage of identification and conceptualization. This study is expected to contribute considerably to the pertinent body of knowledge by presenting a comprehensive literature review focusing on the RBV. This study also provides new insights by investigating the trends in the evolution of the RBV and by demonstrating the research gaps in the field of exporting which were not addressed by previous academic research.