How knowledge search affects the performance of reverse internationalization enterprises: the co-moderating role of causation and effectuation
Journal of Knowledge Management
ISSN: 1367-3270
Article publication date: 28 September 2020
Issue publication date: 21 June 2021
Abstract
Purpose
To address the gap of divergent conclusions on the impact of knowledge search (KS) on performance, this paper aims to discuss the nonlinear relationships between KS and reverse internationalization enterprise (RIE) performance, and the co-moderation of causation and effectuation (C&E) on KS–performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed theoretical model is developed by integrating the theory of knowledge-based view and decision rationality theory. The empirical study is based on survey data collected from 245 RIEs of the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions in China. Hierarchical multiple regression and the appropriate U-test method are used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
Empirical results suggest that both focused and multi-focus searches have inverted U-shaped effects on RIE performance. Furthermore, causation weakens the curvilinear effect between multi-focus search and RIE performance, whereas effectuation strengthens the curvilinear effect but weakens the inverted U-shaped relationship between focused search and RIE performance. Results also indicate that the integration of C&E positively moderates the relationship between focused or multi-focus searches and RIE performance.
Originality/value
Findings reveal the nonlinear effects of focused and multi-focus searches on RIE performance and clarify the dispute over the mechanism of KS on performance by proposing the different moderating role of C&E. Moreover, this research provides deeper insight into contingency mechanisms between KS and performance by integrating the co-moderating role of C&E in RIEs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Editor Manlio De Giudice, Guest Editor Fábio Lotti Oliva, the Associate Editor and the two anonymous referees for their insightful comments and constructive suggestions on earlier versions of this manuscript. We are tremendously appreciative of the suggestions and help of Lan Zhou, Bin Hao, Jiangfeng Ye and Lei Xu. This research is funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (grant no. 71772166, 71302125, 71672181).
Citation
Feng, X., Ma, X., Shi, Z. and Peng, X. (2021), "How knowledge search affects the performance of reverse internationalization enterprises: the co-moderating role of causation and effectuation", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 25 No. 5, pp. 1105-1127. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-05-2020-0393
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited