IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v11y2024i1d10.1057_s41599-024-03227-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

CEO overseas experience, dynamic capabilities and corporate digital transformation: An imprinting theory perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Zhaocheng Xu

    (Shanghai Dianji University)

  • Jingchuan Hou

    (East China Normal University)

Abstract

The drivers of corporate digital transformation have been the focus of industry and academic attention. To deeply explore the driving factors and influencing mechanisms of corporate digital transformation (CDT), this paper takes Chinese listed manufacturing companies from 2007–2021 as the research object, based on imprinting theory, adopts the Driscoll-Kraay standard error method, examines the impact of CEO overseas experience on CDT, analyzes the moderating mechanisms of market competition and organizational resources, as well as the mediating effect of dynamic capabilities. The study shows that CEO overseas experience significantly promotes CDT, while market competition intensity and organizational slack resources strengthen the above relationship. Dynamic capabilities play a mediating role in the relationship between CEO overseas experience and CDT. The above findings still hold after considering robustness tests and endogeneity treatments. Further research finds that the overseas working experience of a CEO outweighs the learning experience when it comes to CDT; a CEO with overseas experience has a more significant influence on CDT in the company with a low growth rate; when the CEO is also the chair of the board in the executive team of a company, the overseas experience matters more to CDT; the overseas experience of CEOs with deep academic backgrounds has a more significant impact on CDT. This paper states the driving mechanism of corporate digital transformation from the imprinting theory perspective, and the findings are proven to be substantial and offer practical value for the in-depth development of corporate digital transformation.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhaocheng Xu & Jingchuan Hou, 2024. "CEO overseas experience, dynamic capabilities and corporate digital transformation: An imprinting theory perspective," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-03227-7
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-03227-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-024-03227-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-024-03227-7?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. James S. Ang & Yingmei Cheng & Chaopeng Wu, 2014. "Does Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Matter in China? Evidence from Financing and Investment Choices in the High-Tech Industry," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 96(2), pages 332-348, May.
    2. Vu Minh Ngo & Hiep Cong Pham & Huan Huu Nguyen, 2022. "Drivers of digital supply chain transformation in SMEs and large enterprises – a case of COVID-19 disruption risk," International Journal of Emerging Markets, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 18(6), pages 1355-1377, July.
    3. John C. Driscoll & Aart C. Kraay, 1998. "Consistent Covariance Matrix Estimation With Spatially Dependent Panel Data," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 80(4), pages 549-560, November.
    4. Malen, Joel, 2015. "Motivating And Enabling Firm Innovation Effort: Integrating Penrosian And Behavioral Theory Perspectives On Slack Resources," Hitotsubashi Journal of commerce and management, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 49(1), pages 37-54, October.
    5. Kao, Chihwa, 1999. "Spurious regression and residual-based tests for cointegration in panel data," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 1-44, May.
    6. Zhaocheng Xu & Jingchuan Hou, 2021. "Effects of CEO Overseas Experience on Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-24, May.
    7. Kathleen M. Eisenhardt & Jeffrey A. Martin, 2000. "Dynamic capabilities: what are they?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(10‐11), pages 1105-1121, October.
    8. Florian Ederer & Gustavo Manso, 2013. "Is Pay for Performance Detrimental to Innovation?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(7), pages 1496-1513, July.
    9. Sidney G. Winter, 2003. "Understanding dynamic capabilities," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(10), pages 991-995, October.
    10. Justin Tan & Mike W. Peng, 2003. "Organizational slack and firm performance during economic transitions: two studies from an emerging economy," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(13), pages 1249-1263, December.
    11. Jian Zhang & Dongmin Kong & Ji Wu, 2018. "Doing Good Business by Hiring Directors with Foreign Experience," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(3), pages 859-876, December.
    12. Kewei Hou & David T. Robinson, 2006. "Industry Concentration and Average Stock Returns," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 61(4), pages 1927-1956, August.
    13. Si Luo & Miaochao Chen, 2022. "Digital Finance Development and the Digital Transformation of Enterprises: Based on the Perspective of Financing Constraint and Innovation Drive," Journal of Mathematics, Hindawi, vol. 2022, pages 1-10, March.
    14. Hasan Erbay & Nıhan Yıldırım, 2022. "Combined Technology Selection Model for Digital Transformation in Manufacturing: A Case Study From the Automotive Supplier Industry," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 19(07), pages 1-34, November.
    15. Peiyan Zhou & Shuya Zhou & Ming Zhang & Shujuan Miao, 2022. "Executive Overconfidence, Digital Transformation and Environmental Innovation: The Role of Moderated Mediator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-28, May.
    16. Xueming Luo & Qinqin Zheng, 2013. "Reciprocity in Corporate Social Responsibility and Channel Performance: Do Birds of a Feather Flock Together?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(1), pages 203-213, November.
    17. Xin Zhang & Yaoyu Xu & Liang Ma, 2022. "Research on Successful Factors and Influencing Mechanism of the Digital Transformation in SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, February.
    18. ChungMing Lau & Yuan Lu & Qiang Liang, 2016. "Corporate Social Responsibility in China: A Corporate Governance Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(1), pages 73-87, June.
    19. Robert Eller & Christopher Kronenberg & Mike Peters, 2023. "Digital transformation in small and medium-sized enterprises: business model innovation and information technology adoption - the case of Austria," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 48(3), pages 318-342.
    20. Julie Juan Li & Laura Poppo & Kevin Zheng Zhou, 2008. "Do managerial ties in China always produce value? Competition, uncertainty, and domestic vs. foreign firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 383-400, April.
    21. Mariassunta Giannetti & Guanmin Liao & Xiaoyun Yu, 2015. "The Brain Gain of Corporate Boards: Evidence from China," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 70(4), pages 1629-1682, August.
    22. Khorshed Alam & Mohammad Afshar Ali & Michael O. Erdiaw-Kwasie & Peter A. Murray & Retha Wiesner, 2022. "Digital Transformation among SMEs: Does Gender Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-20, January.
    23. van Meeteren, Michiel & Trincado-Munoz, Francisco & Rubin, Tzameret H. & Vorley, Tim, 2022. "Rethinking the digital transformation in knowledge-intensive services: A technology space analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    24. Porfírio, José António & Carrilho, Tiago & Felício, José Augusto & Jardim, Jacinto, 2021. "Leadership characteristics and digital transformation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 610-619.
    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. Zhaocheng Xu & Jingchuan Hou, 2021. "Effects of CEO Overseas Experience on Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-24, May.
    2. Yu Wang & Yetaotao Qiu & Yi Luo, 2022. "CEO foreign experience and corporate sustainable development: Evidence from China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2036-2051, July.
    3. Wen, Wen & Cui, Huijie & Ke, Yun, 2020. "Directors with foreign experience and corporate tax avoidance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    4. Guo, Bin & Zhang, Jiale & Tan, Ziyan, 2024. "Firm digitalization as strategic response: An integrated model based on the awareness-motivation-capability (AMC) framework," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    5. Li, Wanfu & Jiang, Mengmeng & Zhang, Xuejiao & Wang, Yu & Qu, Xiaoyi, 2023. "Does foreign experience of top management affect corporate environmental responsibility? Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    6. Sisi Zheng & Shanyue Jin, 2023. "Can Enterprises in China Achieve Sustainable Development through Green Investment?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-25, January.
    7. Xia, Changyuan & Yang, Junjie & Yang, Zeng & Chan, Kam C., 2023. "Do directors with foreign experience increase the corporate demand for directors' and officers' liability insurance? Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    8. Yaqun Yi & Yuan Li & Michael A. Hitt & Yi Liu & Zelong Wei, 2016. "The influence of resource bundling on the speed of strategic change: Moderating effects of relational capital," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 33(2), pages 435-467, June.
    9. Hailiang Zou & Ruijing Wang & Guoyou Qi, 2023. "The Response of CSR to Economic Policy Uncertainty: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-19, August.
    10. Tawiah, Vincent & Gyapong, Ernest & Usman, Muhammad, 2024. "Returnee directors and green innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    11. Tao, Qizhi & Wei, K.C. John & Xiang, Xueman & Yi, Biao, 2022. "Board directors' foreign experience and firm dividend payouts," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    12. Zhaocheng Xu, 2023. "CEOs’ early famine experience, managerial discretion and corporate social responsibility," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    13. White, George O. & Hemphill, Thomas A. & Joplin, Janice R.W. & Marsh, Laurence A., 2014. "Wholly owned foreign subsidiary relation-based strategies in volatile environments," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 303-312.
    14. Ruijie Jin & Xu Jiang & Helen Wei Hu, 2023. "Internal and external CSR in China: How do women independent directors matter?," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 169-204, March.
    15. Wunhong Su & Xingxing Hu & Liuzhen Zhang, 2023. "Association Between Directors With Foreign Experience and Firms’ Environmental Disclosure," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    16. Tan, Justin & Wang, Liang, 2010. "Flexibility-efficiency tradeoff and performance implications among Chinese SOEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 356-362, April.
    17. Amit Karna & Ansgar Richter & Eberhard Riesenkampff, 2016. "Revisiting the role of the environment in the capabilities–financial performance relationship: A meta-analysis," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(6), pages 1154-1173, June.
    18. Xiaoming He & Yaqun Yi & Zelong Wei, 2019. "New product development capabilities in China: the moderating role of TMT cooperative behavior," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 18(2), pages 73-97, April.
    19. Zhaocheng Xu, 2024. "Will CEO-TMT Overseas Experience Differences Reduce Innovation Investment? Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Listed Companies," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 771-800, March.
    20. Lin Liao & Yukun Pan & Daifei (Troy) Yao, 2023. "Capital market liberalisation and voluntary corporate social responsibility disclosure: Evidence from a quasi‐natural experiment in China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 2677-2715, June.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-03227-7. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    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.