IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/iburev/v32y2023i2s0969593121000615.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Ambidexterity in MNC knowledge sourcing in emerging economies: A microfoundational perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Dodourova, Mariana
  • Zhao, Shasha
  • Harzing, Anne-Wil

Abstract

Innovation performance of multinational corporations (MNCs) derives from access to and utilization of a combination of explorative and exploitative knowledge across heterogeneous settings. These settings increasingly encompass flagship industries in emerging economies. There is limited research, however, that scrutinizes the processes of knowledge sourcing within such dynamic host environments, taking into account MNCs’ differing location capabilities. We draw on the concept of ambidexterity – the combination of exploration and exploitation – and the microfoundations approach to study eleven MNCs in the Bulgarian software development industry by focusing on their local R&D projects. We extend the explanatory capacity of ambidexterity at the micro level and clarify the relationship between exploration and exploitation by identifying four types of ambidexterity: global knowledge differentiator, global-local knowledge integrator, emerging local-global integrator, and local knowledge integrator. Our typology is underpinned by three specific dimensions of R&D capabilities: technical know-how, scope of expertise, and market potential.

Suggested Citation

  • Dodourova, Mariana & Zhao, Shasha & Harzing, Anne-Wil, 2023. "Ambidexterity in MNC knowledge sourcing in emerging economies: A microfoundational perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:32:y:2023:i:2:s0969593121000615
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2021.101854
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969593121000615
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2021.101854?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shad Morris & Ryan Hammond & Scott Snell, 2014. "A microfoundations approach to transnational capabilities: The role of knowledge search in an ever-changing world," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(4), pages 405-427, May.
    2. Srilata Zaheer & Margaret Spring Schomaker & Lilach Nachum, 2012. "Distance without direction: Restoring credibility to a much-loved construct," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(1), pages 18-27, January.
    3. Zhang, Feng & Jiang, Guohua & Cantwell, John A., 2015. "Subsidiary exploration and the innovative performance of large multinational corporations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 224-234.
    4. Bustinza, Oscar F. & Vendrell-Herrero, Ferran & Gomes, Emanuel, 2020. "Unpacking the effect of strategic ambidexterity on performance: A cross-country comparison of MMNEs developing product-service innovation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).
    5. Evers, Natasha & Andersson, Svante, 2021. "Predictive and effectual decision-making in high-tech international new ventures – A matter of sequential ambidexterity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    6. Frank Barry & Declan Curran, 2004. "Enlargement and the European Geography of the Information Technology Sector," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(6), pages 901-922, June.
    7. James G. March, 1991. "Exploration and Exploitation in Organizational Learning," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(1), pages 71-87, February.
    8. Roger Strange & John Humphrey, 2019. "What lies between market and hierarchy? Insights from internalization theory and global value chain theory," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(8), pages 1401-1413, October.
    9. Lema, Rasmus & Quadros, Ruy & Schmitz, Hubert, 2015. "Reorganising global value chains and building innovation capabilities in Brazil and India," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(7), pages 1376-1386.
    10. Harzing, Anne-Wil & Noorderhaven, Niels, 2006. "Knowledge flows in MNCs: An empirical test and extension of Gupta and Govindarajan's typology of subsidiary roles," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 195-214, June.
    11. George P. Huber & Danial J. Power, 1985. "Retrospective reports of strategic‐level managers: Guidelines for increasing their accuracy," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(2), pages 171-180, April.
    12. Haakonsson, Stine Jessen & Ujjual, Vandana, 2015. "Internationalisation of R&D: New insights into multinational enterprises’ R&D strategies in emerging markets," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 26(2), pages 101-122.
    13. Kiessling, Timothy S. & Richey, R. Glenn & Meng, Juan & Dabic, Marina, 2009. "Exploring knowledge management to organizational performance outcomes in a transitional economy," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 421-433, October.
    14. Qamar, A. & Gardner, E.C. & Buckley, T. & Zhao, K., 2021. "Home-owned versus foreign-owned firms in the UK automotive industry: Exploring the microfoundations of ambidextrous production and supply chain positioning," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    15. Haakonsson, Stine Jessen & Ujjual, Vandana, 2015. "Internationalisation of R&D: New insights into multinational enterprises’ R&D strategies in emerging markets," management revue. Socio-economic Studies, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 26(2), pages 101-122.
    16. repec:bla:jomstd:v:47:y:2010:i:s2:p:1534-1560 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Anne-Wil Harzing, 2000. "An Empirical Analysis and Extension of the Bartlett and Ghoshal Typology of Multinational Companies," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 31(1), pages 101-120, March.
    18. Julian M Birkinshaw & Allen J Morrison, 1995. "Configurations of Strategy and Structure in Subsidiaries of Multinational Structure," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 26(4), pages 729-753, December.
    19. Fan, Di & Cui, Lin & Li, Yi & Zhu, Cherrie J., 2016. "Localized learning by emerging multinational enterprises in developed host countries: A fuzzy-set analysis of Chinese foreign direct investment in Australia," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 187-203.
    20. Marcelo Cano-Kollmann & John Cantwell & Thomas J Hannigan & Ram Mudambi & Jaeyong Song, 2016. "Knowledge connectivity: An agenda for innovation research in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(3), pages 255-262, April.
    21. Zhou, Lianxi & Xu, Shou-Ren & Xu, Hui & Barnes, Bradley R., 2020. "Unleashing the dynamics of product-market ambidexterity in the pursuit of international opportunities: Insights from emerging market firms," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).
    22. Li, Shenxue & Easterby-Smith, Mark & Lyles, Marjorie A. & Clark, Timothy, 2016. "Tapping the power of local knowledge: A local-global interactive perspective," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 641-653.
    23. Zi-Lin He & Poh-Kam Wong, 2004. "Exploration vs. Exploitation: An Empirical Test of the Ambidexterity Hypothesis," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(4), pages 481-494, August.
    24. Julian Birkinshaw & Mary Yoko Brannen & Rosalie L Tung, 2011. "From a distance and generalizable to up close and grounded: Reclaiming a place for qualitative methods in international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 42(5), pages 573-581, June.
    25. Pearce, Robert D., 1999. "Decentralised R&D and strategic competitiveness: globalised approaches to generation and use of technology in multinational enterprises (MNEs)," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(2-3), pages 157-178, March.
    26. Simon Rodan & Charles Galunic, 2004. "More than network structure: how knowledge heterogeneity influences managerial performance and innovativeness," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(6), pages 541-562, June.
    27. Michael J. Enright & Venkat Subramanian, 2007. "An organizing framework for MNC subsidiary typologies," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 47(6), pages 895-924, December.
    28. Mehmet Demirbag & Keith W. Glaister, 2010. "Factors Determining Offshore Location Choice for R&D Projects: A Comparative Study of Developed and Emerging Regions," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(8), pages 1534-1560, December.
    29. Wang, Na & Wang, Yonggui, 2021. "Does parenting matter in subsidiary innovation in emerging economies? Exploring the role of parent superior competitiveness in affecting subsidiary contextual ambidexterity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    30. Alan Rugman & Alain Verbeke & Wenlong Yuan, 2011. "Re‐conceptualizing Bartlett and Ghoshal's Classification of National Subsidiary Roles in the Multinational Enterprise," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(2), pages 253-277, March.
    31. Mehmet Demirbag & Ekrem Tatoglu & Keith W. Glaister, 2008. "Factors affecting perceptions of the choice between acquisition and greenfield entry: The case of Western FDI in an emerging market," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 5-38, February.
    32. Zeki Simsek, 2009. "Organizational Ambidexterity: Towards a Multilevel Understanding," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(4), pages 597-624, June.
    33. Sebastian Raisch & Julian Birkinshaw & Gilbert Probst & Michael L. Tushman, 2009. "Organizational Ambidexterity: Balancing Exploitation and Exploration for Sustained Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 685-695, August.
    34. Shasha Zhao & Hui Tan & Marina Papanastassiou & Anne-Wil Harzing, 2020. "The internationalization of innovation towards the South: A historical case study of a global pharmaceutical corporation in China (1993–2017)," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 553-585, June.
    35. Andersson, Ulf & Dasí, Àngels & Mudambi, Ram & Pedersen, Torben, 2016. "Technology, innovation and knowledge: The importance of ideas and international connectivity," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 153-162.
    36. Shamim, Saqib & Zeng, Jing & Shafi Choksy, Umair & Shariq, Syed Muhammad, 2020. "Connecting big data management capabilities with employee ambidexterity in Chinese multinational enterprises through the mediation of big data value creation at the employee level," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).
    37. Daniel A. Levinthal & James G. March, 1993. "The myopia of learning," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(S2), pages 95-112, December.
    38. Srivardhini K. Jha & Charles Dhanaraj & Rishikesha T. Krishnan, 2018. "From Arbitrage to Global Innovation: Evolution of Multinational R&D in Emerging Markets," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 633-661, August.
    39. Christofi, Michael & Vrontis, Demetris & Cadogan, John W., 2021. "Micro-foundational ambidexterity and multinational enterprises: A systematic review and a conceptual framework," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    40. Nicolai J. Foss & Torben Pedersen, 2019. "Microfoundations in international management research: The case of knowledge sharing in multinational corporations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(9), pages 1594-1621, December.
    41. Nicolai J. Foss & Torben Pedersen, 2016. "Microfoundations In Strategy Research," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(13), pages 22-34, December.
    42. Yadong Luo, 2002. "Capability Exploitation and Building in a Foreign Market: Implications for Multinational Enterprises," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(1), pages 48-63, February.
    43. Mehmet Demirbag & Martina McGuinness & Hüseyin Altay, 2010. "Perceptions of Institutional Environment and Entry Mode," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 207-240, April.
    44. Snehal Awate & Marcus M Larsen & Ram Mudambi, 2015. "Accessing vs sourcing knowledge: A comparative study of R&D internationalization between emerging and advanced economy firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(1), pages 63-86, January.
    45. Hsu, Chia-Wen & Lien, Yung-Chih & Chen, Homin, 2013. "International ambidexterity and firm performance in small emerging economies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 58-67.
    46. Dubois, Anna & Gadde, Lars-Erik, 2002. "Systematic combining: an abductive approach to case research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 55(7), pages 553-560, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dodourova, Mariana & Zhao, Shasha & Harzing, Anne-Wil, 2023. "Ambidexterity in MNC knowledge sourcing in emerging economies : A microfoundational perspective," Other publications TiSEM b61c5495-162a-4686-9614-0, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    2. Zhao, Shasha & Liu, Xiaohui & Andersson, Ulf & Shenkar, Oded, 2022. "Knowledge management of emerging economy multinationals," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(1).
    3. Liu, Ting & Li, Xizhuo, 2022. "How Do MNCs Conduct Local Technological Innovation in a Host Country? An Examination From Subsidiaries' Perspective," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(3).
    4. Andrea Coveri & Antonello Zanfei, 2023. "Who wins the race for knowledge-based competitiveness? Comparing European and North American FDI patterns," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 292-330, February.
    5. Khan, Zaheer & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Lew, Yong Kyu & Puthusserry, Pushyarag & Czinkota, Michael, 2022. "Strategic ambidexterity and its performance implications for emerging economies multinationals," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(3).
    6. Roth, Linus & Corsi, Simone, 2023. "Ambidexterity in a geographic context: A systematic literature review on international exploration and exploitation of knowledge," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    7. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 0. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-39.
    8. David B. Audretsch & Maribel Guerrero, 2023. "Is ambidexterity the missing link between entrepreneurship, management, and innovation?," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(6), pages 1891-1918, December.
    9. Mark Lorenzen & Ram Mudambi & Andreas Schotter, 0. "International connectedness and local disconnectedness: MNE strategy, city-regions and disruption," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-24.
    10. Altintas, Gulsun & Ambrosini, Véronique & Gudergan, Siegfried, 2022. "MNE dynamic capabilities in (un)related diversification," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(1).
    11. Bustinza, Oscar F. & Vendrell-Herrero, Ferran & Gomes, Emanuel, 2020. "Unpacking the effect of strategic ambidexterity on performance: A cross-country comparison of MMNEs developing product-service innovation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).
    12. Shasha Zhao & Marina Papanastassiou & Robert D. Pearce & Chie Iguchi, 2021. "MNE R&D internationalization in developing Asia," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 789-813, September.
    13. Ferraris, Alberto & Degbey, William Y. & Singh, Sanjay Kumar & Bresciani, Stefano & Castellano, Sylvaine & Fiano, Fabio & Couturier, Jerome, 2022. "Microfoundations of Strategic Agility in Emerging Markets: Empirical Evidence of Italian MNEs in India," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(2).
    14. Magnani, Giovanna & Zucchella, Antonella, 2021. "Portfolios of learning in entrepreneurial internationalisation," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(2).
    15. Mark Lorenzen & Ram Mudambi & Andreas Schotter, 2020. "International connectedness and local disconnectedness: MNE strategy, city-regions and disruption," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(8), pages 1199-1222, October.
    16. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 2020. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 538-576, June.
    17. Vahlne, Jan-Erik & Jonsson, Anna, 2017. "Ambidexterity as a dynamic capability in the globalization of the multinational business enterprise (MBE): Case studies of AB Volvo and IKEA," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 57-70.
    18. Hsiang-Lin Cheng & Ming-Chang Huang, 2021. "Does dual Embeddedness matter? Mechanisms and patterns of subsidiary ambidexterity that links a Subsidiary’s dual Embeddedness with its learning strategy," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(4), pages 1431-1465, December.
    19. Olga Kassotaki, 2022. "Review of Organizational Ambidexterity Research," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
    20. Al-Atwi, Amer Ali & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Khan, Zaheer, 2021. "Micro-foundations of organizational design and sustainability: The mediating role of learning ambidexterity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:32:y:2023:i:2:s0969593121000615. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/133/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.