Learning through exploitative and exploratory overseas R&D: impacts on EMNEs' innovation performance
International Journal of Emerging Markets
ISSN: 1746-8809
Article publication date: 17 November 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine whether exploitative and exploratory overseas R&D have independent and significant effects on emerging economy multinational enterprises' (EMNEs’) innovation performance and whether top management team (TMT) nationality diversity and openness have a moderating effect on these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
This study analyzes data collected from Chinese-listed manufacturing enterprises for 2007 to 2018.
Findings
Empirical results show that both exploitative and exploratory overseas R&D can help improve EMNEs' innovation performance. The authors further find that TMT nationality diversity and TMT openness strengthen the aforementioned relationships.
Originality/value
This study presents the first empirical evidence showing whether and when exploitative and exploratory overseas R&D have independent and heterogeneous effects on EMNEs' innovation performance.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to associate editor professor Alon, Ilan and four anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and suggestions. The authors also thank Ge, Ren for her help during the revision of this paper. Xi Zhong appreciates the National Natural Science Foundation Project of China (Grant No. 72202043) and the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Grant No. 2021A1515110864; Grant No. 2022A1515010292). Weihong Chen appreciates the Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences in Guangxi Universities and the project of Guangxi Development Strategy Institute (2022GDSIYB02).
Citation
Zhong, X. and Chen, W. (2022), "Learning through exploitative and exploratory overseas R&D: impacts on EMNEs' innovation performance", International Journal of Emerging Markets, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-12-2021-1811
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited