Internationalisation strategies of technology-driven small- and medium-sized enterprises

SMEs are increasingly active in international markets. Absence of sufficient resources limits the strategic options available to SMEs. This study examines SMEs’ use of the cooperation strategy to internationalise, both from a cross-sectional and longitudinal perspective. An analysis of data collected in 54 multinational SMEs operating in technology-driven industries suggests an inverted U-shaped relationship between SMEs’ size and their tendency to cooperate with partners to internationalise. In addition, SMEs’ internationalisation strategies are relatively inert. The results of the paper suggest that SMEs can make more effective use of different internationalisation strategies by acquiring knowledge of the pros and cons of the different strategies and by evaluating their choices on a periodical, structural basis, using their resource position as a guiding parameter.     

Is there a ‘business case’ for board gender diversity within French listed SMEs

Many studies have investigated the relationship between women on corporate boards (WOCB) and firm performance in accordance with the ‘business case’ for board gender diversity. However, these have been conducted on large firms. This study re-examines this relationship for a sample of French listed SMEs over the period 2010–2014 using a dynamic panel GMM estimator to mitigate endogeneity issues. We find that the percentage of WOCB is positively and significantly related to firm performance. However, the other proxies for board gender diversity are not statistically different from zero. We argue that the relationship is not straightforward. This finding is interesting as it sheds light on the ‘business case’.     

领导行为与团队双元创新能力构建关系研究

双元领导能较好地满足复杂创新过程中的差异化需求,但对双元领导与创新过程的匹配机制尚缺乏深入研究。针对双元领导这一领导行为理论的新发展,基于社会认知理论,采用问卷调查法收集45个知识团队的领导-下属配对数据,构建并检验一个有中介的调节效应模型。结果表明,双元领导能显著正向预测团队双元能力构建;团队心理安全在双元领导与团队双元能力之间发挥有中介的调节作用。与团队心理安全较高时,双元领导对团队双元能力的正向影响更强;团队心理安全的调节作用通过团队反思这一中介路径实现。团队心理安全较高时,双元领导通过团队反思对团队双元能力的正向影响更强。研究结论拓展了双元领导及团队双元能力构建相关研究。     

Information technology and firm performance: mediation role of absorptive capacity and corporate entrepreneurship in manufacturing SMEs

ABSTRACT

The success of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) depends on dynamic capabilities, as it provides opportunities to remain competitive and perform well in the dynamic business environment. Although several studies show the significant positive impacts of dynamic capabilities on firm performance, our knowledge of the underlying mechanism through which IT capabilities affect the firm performance is not yet clear. Applying the dynamic capability view, this study investigates the intervening role of absorptive capacity and corporate entrepreneurship. The data of 417 respondents is collected from medium-sized manufacturing sector SMEs in Punjab, Pakistan. The research hypotheses have been analysed through the structural equation modelling method by using the Smart-PLS software. The research findings show that absorptive capacity and corporate entrepreneurship partially mediates the relationship between IT capabilities and firm performance. Furthermore, the sequential path of IT technical skills, absorptive capacity, corporate entrepreneurship, and firm performance is highly significant as compared to other paths.     

管理创新能力调节下技术创新能力对企业绩效的影响

旨在检验技术创新能力、管理创新能力及企业绩效之间的关系。通过梳理相关文献,并利用企业调研数据,提出了技术创新能力对企业绩效有正影响、管理创新能力对该影响过程起正向调节作用的假设。在此基础上,构建了理论模型,并以我国高新技术上市公司为研究对象,运用SPSS软件对上述假设进行实证检验。检验结果显示:技术创新能力对企业绩效有显著的正向影响;管理创新能力对技术创新能力与企业绩效间的关系有显著的正向调节作用。     

The innovation and performance impacts of venture capital investment on China’s small- and medium-sized enterprises

This study examines the impacts of venture capital (VC) on performance and innovation of China’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Using unbalanced panel data of 2699 VC-backed and non-VC backed firms in China’s pilot over-the-counter equities market, namely the National Equity Exchange and Quotation (NEEQ) market, during 2005–2014, we find that venture capital financing not only spurs innovation in the Chinese market, but also exhibits significantly positive impact on financial performance. Empirical evidence reveals that syndication of venture capital investment as well as the reputation of venture capitalists helps to create value for VC-backed firms. However, no evidence is found that foreign VC-backed firms perform better than domestic VC-backed ones. The results are robust to a variety of specifications. Our findings imply that the VC financing is an effective channel to promote the development of SMEs at China’s multi-layer capital market and syndicated VC investments and venture capitalists with high reputation shall be encouraged to play a bigger role in nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship in the future.     

Economic uncertainty,ownership structure and small and medium enterprises performance

This paper investigates the effect of economic uncertainty on the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) over the period 2007–2016. This paper also examines the effects of ownership structure on the relation between Economic Uncertainty and firm performance. We find that an increase in economic uncertainty is negatively associated with the performance of SMEs. Our results also reveal that increased economic uncertainty is associated with a lower performance level for state-owned SMEs, whereas foreign-owned SMEs can better mitigate the negative impact of on their performance than domestic-owned firms.     

Intellectual capital and new product development performance: The mediating role of organizational learning capability

Previous studies rarely examined the relationship between intellectual capital and organizational learning capability. Moreover, most studies neglect the mediating effect of organizational learning capability in the relationship between intellectual capital and new product development performance. This study uses interviews and the survey method to discuss the relationships governing intellectual capital, organizational learning capability, and new product development performance. Results are based on empirical data from Taiwan's IC design industry, and are generated by the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method. Results show that human capital and relational capital actually improve new product development performance through organizational learning capability. Although structural capital positively affects organizational learning capability, managers should pay attention to possibly negative effects of structural capital on new product development performance. Relational capital is the greatest factor among these three types of intellectual capital in Taiwanese IC design companies, structural capital is second, and human capital is last. Comparing three types of intellectual capital of Taiwan's large enterprises with those of Taiwan's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) reveals that the relational capital of Taiwan's SMEs is marginally less than that of large enterprises.     

Technology capabilities,marketing capabilities and innovation ambidexterity

Linking the literature of resource-based view (RBV) with ambidexterity, we construct an integrative framework of technology capabilities, marketing capabilities, innovation ambidexterity, and organisational performance. Using data from a sample of 190 Chinese hospitals, we find that both technology capabilities and marketing capabilities have an inverse U-shape relationship with innovation ambidexterity. And they can complementarily improve innovation ambidexterity, which further enhances organisational performance. This study deepens our understanding of RBV and ambidexterity by investigating the antecedent roles of technological and marketing capabilities on innovation ambidexterity. We also investigate their interactive role on improving innovation ambidexterity.     

中国证券公司市场结构与绩效的实证分析

笔者利用2006年～2009年的面板数据,对传统的SCP假说、相对市场力量假说和效率结构假说进行了检验。研究发现,我国证券市场支持传统的SCP假说:市场集中度与证券公司绩效显著正相关,市场份额、效率与证券公司绩效之间的关系不显著,并且,效率与市场份额不相关。     

Effects of regulatory burden and corruption on firm performance: Evidence from Moldova

Firms in Moldova face a high level of regulatory burden, as proxied by the number of inspections by public authorities. At the same time, they face high levels of corruption. We examine the effect of frequent inspections on four measures of firm performance: labour and total factor productivity, and levels of tangible and intangible assets. We also investigate how corruption affects the relationship between inspections and firm performance. We perform panel data analysis using firm-level administrative data and survey data from Moldova in 2005–2015. The results show that inspections and corruption each affect firm productivity negatively, but corruption moderates the negative effect of inspections. We also find that inspections and intangible assets are positively correlated, but this correlation is weaker for higher levels of corruption. Finally we examine whether these results differ by industry, firm size and ownership types. Inspections and corruption affect medium and large firms, and state-owned enterprises differently from micro and small firms and private firms respectively.     

社交媒体背景下顾客参与对中小企业创新绩效的影响——一个双调节模型

基于社交媒体视角，将顾客参与划分为信息提供、人际互动、用户创新3个维度，分别研究其对中小企业创新绩效的影响，以及企业社交媒体导向和社交媒体能力的调节作用。通过对208家中小企业实证研究发现，信息提供、人际互动、用户创新对中小企业创新绩效均存在显著正向影响；社交媒体导向在信息提供、用户创新与创新绩效的关系中存在正向调节作用，在人际互动与创新绩效的关系中存在倒“U”形调节作用；社交媒体能力在信息提供、人际互动、用户创新与创新绩效的关系中均存在正向调节作用。     

元素—架构双元知识搜寻对企业创新绩效的影响：创新战略的调节作用

基于组织搜寻理论和战略协同理论,探讨元素—架构双元知识搜寻对企业创新绩效的影响,以及创新战略在二者关系间的调节作用。结果显示：元素知识搜寻对创新绩效具有倒U型影响,架构知识搜寻对创新绩效具有线性正向影响,双元知识搜寻平衡对创新绩效具有正向影响。知识搜寻策略与创新战略存在适配性：探索式创新正向调节元素知识搜寻与创新绩效间的关系,对架构知识搜寻与创新绩效关系的调节应用不显著;利用式创新正向调节架构知识搜寻与创新绩效间的关系,对元素知识搜寻与创新绩效关系的调节效应不显著。结论拓展了外部知识搜寻研究视角,可为企业合理选择知识搜寻策略和创新战略提供理论支持。     

战略联盟双元性对合作创新绩效的影响：一个有调节的中介效应

双元型组织已成为动态环境下战略管理研究的新范式,然而国内外研究对双元性组织与创新绩效的关系尚未达成一致结论。基于网络理论和双元能力视角,通过采集253份企业问卷,探讨了战略联盟双元性对合作创新绩效的影响,并采用有调节的中介效应模型考察了关系承诺与共同愿景在其中的作用机制。研究表明：①战略联盟双元性对合作创新绩效有显著正向影响,关系承诺在其中起部分中介作用;②关系承诺对合作创新绩效有显著正向影响,共同愿景在其中起调节作用;③共同愿景调节关系承诺对战略联盟双元性与合作创新绩效关系的中介作用。     

Entrepreneur’s creativity and firm-level innovation performance: bricolage as a mediator

Prior literature focuses on the direct influence of entrepreneur’s creativity on firm-level innovation performance, but it ignores the intermediate mechanism of how. This study examines the role of bricolage in mediating the relationship between entrepreneur’s creativity and innovation performance. We propose that in SMEs, entrepreneur’s creativity can facilitate bricolage, which in turn influences innovation performance. Furthermore, the extent to which entrepreneur’s creativity can influence bricolage depends on firm age. Survey data from 249 SMEs indicate that bricolage functions as a mediator in the relationship between entrepreneur’s creativity and innovation performance. Entrepreneur’s creativity has a stronger effect on bricolage for young firms than for old firms.     

社交媒体背景下顾客参与对中小企业创新绩效的影响——一个双调节模型

基于社交媒体视角，将顾客参与划分为信息提供、人际互动、用户创新3个维度，分别研究其对中小企业创新绩效的影响，以及企业社交媒体导向和社交媒体能力的调节作用。通过对208家中小企业实证研究发现，信息提供、人际互动、用户创新对中小企业创新绩效均存在显著正向影响；社交媒体导向在信息提供、用户创新与创新绩效的关系中存在正向调节作用，在人际互动与创新绩效的关系中存在倒“U”形调节作用；社交媒体能力在信息提供、人际互动、用户创新与创新绩效的关系中均存在正向调节作用。     

Competition and investment in telecommunications

This study examines the relationship between competition and investment by Incumbert Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) in US telecommunications markets. A panel data model and a dynamic panel data model that have not been used in previous studies are applied in this analysis. Results of the panel data model suggest that investment by ILECs is positively related to the market share of Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs), and negatively to the absolute number of CLECs. However, once the persistence in ILECs’ investment behaviour is controlled for using the dynamic model, our measures of the existing competition from CLECs, at best, have a weak effect on ILECs’ investment. Therefore, while strengthening competition in the telecom sector may be key to restoring telecom investment, it is uncertain that competition spurred by the mandatory sharing policy in this sector stimulates ILECs’ incentives to invest in new infrastructure.     

Business model ambidexterity and technological innovation performance: evidence from China

By applying an ambidexterity perspective to the business model context, this study examines the effects of efficiency and novelty – two conflicting business model design themes – on technological innovation performance and the relationship between these themes as it relates to enhancing technological innovation performance. From an analysis of data on 173 Chinese manufacturing firms, it is found that both efficiency and novelty themes are positively related to technological innovation performance; the combined dimension (CD) of business model ambidexterity (the interaction between efficiency and novelty themes) is positively related to technological innovation performance; and the balance dimension (BD) of business model ambidexterity (the balance between efficiency and novelty themes) positively moderates the relationship between CD and technological innovation performance.     

Does dependence on internal finance help explain the prevailing pattern of manufacturing? The case of the Italian Mezzogiorno

The purpose of the paper is to ascertain a possible relationship between sectorial financial dependence and the regional industrialization pattern in the backward areas of Southern Italy, the so-called Italian Mezzogiorno. The analysis is based on a definition of financial dependence different to that of Rajan-Zingales in that it is determined as the contribution of internal resources to the financing of firm growth and is measured through the estimation of the LPE standard model augmented by the cash flow variable on a large sample of Italian SMEs observed from 2001–2008. The relationship between sectorial measures of financial dependence and composition of manufacturing in Italian Southern regions is then tested; the analysis shows that firms’ shares of the low financial dependence sectors tend to prevail in manufacturing in the Southern regions.     

外部知识搜寻及其双元性对科技型中小企业管理创新的影响

外部知识搜寻对内部资源不足的科技型中小企业管理创新有着重要意义,结合知识搜索理论和组织双元理论,探讨外部知识搜寻及其双元性对科技型中小企业管理创新的影响与边界条件。通过318家科技型中小企业调查数据,运用层次回归方法进行实证分析,得出以下结论：知识搜寻宽度对科技型中小企业管理创新有着倒U型影响;知识搜寻深度对管理创新有着正U型影响;平衡式知识搜寻正向促进科技型中小企业管理创新;组合式知识搜寻对管理创新不存在显著影响。