IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/sagope/v11y2021i3p21582440211047566.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Managerial Attention and Export Performance: A Comparison between mMNEs and Pure SME Exporters

Author

Listed:
  • Jiasi Fan

Abstract

Drawing on the attention-based view and literature on small- and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) internationalization, we explore the value of international attention (i.e., managerial time and effort devoted to understanding the international marketplace) for SME export performance. We further argue that SMEs are heterogeneous in terms of situated contexts and organizational structures, and for that matter, differ in performance gains achieved through their managers’ international attention. A distinction is therefore made between pure exporters and so-called “micromultinationals (mMNEs)†that engage in more committed international activities besides exporting. Based on a survey of Dutch SMEs, our findings indicate a positive association between managers’ international attention and firms’ export performance. This relationship is stronger for mMNEs than for pure SME exporters, pointing to the implication that managers’ international attention should be commensurate with firm specifics in order to add values.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiasi Fan, 2021. "Managerial Attention and Export Performance: A Comparison between mMNEs and Pure SME Exporters," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:11:y:2021:i:3:p:21582440211047566
    DOI: 10.1177/21582440211047566
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21582440211047566
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/21582440211047566?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Svante Andersson & Henrik Florén, 2011. "Differences in managerial behavior between small international and non-international firms," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 233-258, September.
    2. Musteen, Martina & Francis, John & Datta, Deepak K., 2010. "The influence of international networks on internationalization speed and performance: A study of Czech SMEs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 197-205, July.
    3. Pushyarag Puthusserry & Zaheer Khan & Gary Knight & Kristel Miller, 2020. "How Do Rapidly Internationalizing SMEs Learn? Exploring the Link Between Network Relationships, Learning Approaches and Post-entry Growth of Rapidly Internationalizing SMEs from Emerging Markets," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 515-542, August.
    4. Robertson, Christopher & Chetty, Sylvie K., 2000. "A contingency-based approach to understanding export performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 211-235, April.
    5. Richard L Daft & Juhani Sormunen & Don Parks, 1988. "Chief executive scanning, environmental characteristics, and company performance: An empirical study," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 9(2), pages 123-139, March.
    6. John W Cadogan & Adamantios Diamantopoulos & Judy A Siguaw, 2002. "Export Market-oriented Activities: Their Antecedents and Performance Consequences," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 33(3), pages 615-626, September.
    7. Keith D. Brouthers & George Nakos & Pavlos Dimitratos, 2015. "SME Entrepreneurial Orientation, International Performance, and the Moderating Role of Strategic Alliances," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(5), pages 1161-1187, September.
    8. Benjamin M. Oviatt & Patricia P. McDougall, 2005. "Defining International Entrepreneurship and Modeling the Speed of Internationalization," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 29(5), pages 537-553, September.
    9. José Luis Ferreras-Méndez & Anabel Fernández-Mesa & Joaquín Alegre, 2019. "Export Performance in SMEs: The Importance of External Knowledge Search Strategies and Absorptive Capacity," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 413-437, June.
    10. Jan Johanson & Jan-Erik Vahlne, 1977. "The Internationalization Process of the Firm—A Model of Knowledge Development and Increasing Foreign Market Commitments," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 8(1), pages 23-32, March.
    11. Dimitratos, Pavlos & Johnson, Jeffrey & Slow, Jonathan & Young, Stephen, 2003. "Micromultinationals:: New Types of Firms for the Global Competitive Landscape," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 164-174, April.
    12. Andersen, Poul Houman, 2006. "Listening to the global grapevine: SME export managers' personal contacts as a vehicle for export information generation," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 81-96, February.
    13. William Ocasio, 1997. "Towards An Attention‐Based View Of The Firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(S1), pages 187-206, July.
    14. Dimitratos, Pavlos & Amorós, José Ernesto & Etchebarne, María Soledad & Felzensztein, Christian, 2014. "Micro-multinational or not? International entrepreneurship, networking and learning effects," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 908-915.
    15. Cyril Bouquet & Allen Morrison & Julian Birkinshaw, 2009. "International attention and multinational enterprise performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(1), pages 108-131, January.
    16. Armstrong, J. Scott & Overton, Terry S., 1977. "Estimating Nonresponse Bias in Mail Surveys," MPRA Paper 81694, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Jean, Ruey-Jer “Bryan” & Kim, Daekwan, 2020. "Internet and SMEs' internationalization: The role of platform and website," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(1).
    18. Samiee, Saeed & Walters, Peter G. P., 1990. "Influence of firm size on export planning and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 235-248, May.
    19. Kevin Ibeh & Jeffrey E. Johnson & Pavlos Dimitratos & Jonathan Slow, 2004. "Micromultinationals: Some Preliminary Evidence on an Emergent ‘Star’ of the International Entrepreneurship Field," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 2(4), pages 289-303, December.
    20. Majocchi, Antonio & Bacchiocchi, Emanuele & Mayrhofer, Ulrike, 2005. "Firm size, business experience and export intensity in SMEs: A longitudinal approach to complex relationships," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 14(6), pages 719-738, December.
    21. Harzing, Anne-Wil, 1997. "Response rates in international mail surveys: Results of a 22-country study," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 6(6), pages 641-665, December.
    22. Pierre–André Julien & Charles Ramangalahy, 2003. "Competitive Strategy and Performance of Exporting SMEs: An Empirical Investigation of the Impact of Their Export Information Search and Competencies," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 27(3), pages 227-245, July.
    23. Benjamin M Oviatt & Patricia P McDougall, 2005. "The internationalization of entrepreneurship," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 36(1), pages 2-8, January.
    24. Jolanda Hessels, 2005. "Internationalisation of Dutch SMEs," Scales Research Reports M200507, EIM Business and Policy Research.
    25. Joan Freixanet & Gemma Renart & Alex Rialp-Criado, 2018. "The Impact of Managers’ Global Orientation on SME Export and Economic Performance," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 571-604, August.
    26. Jane W. Lu & Paul W. Beamish, 2001. "The internationalization and performance of SMEs," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(6‐7), pages 565-586, June.
    27. Muzychenko, Olga & Liesch, Peter W., 2015. "International opportunity identification in the internationalisation of the firm," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(4), pages 704-717.
    28. Cavusgil, S. Tamer & Naor, Jacob, 1987. "Firm and management characteristics as discriminators of export marketing activity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 221-235, June.
    29. Cyril Bouquet, 2005. "Building Global Mindsets," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-0-230-52255-8, October.
    30. Fischer, Eileen & Reuber, A Rebecca, 2003. "Targeting Export Support to SMEs: Owners' International Experience as a Segmentation Basis," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 69-82, February.
    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. Sinkovics, Rudolf R. & Kurt, Yusuf & Sinkovics, Noemi, 2018. "The effect of matching on perceived export barriers and performance in an era of globalization discontents: Empirical evidence from UK SMEs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 1065-1079.
    2. Hultman, Magnus & Iveson, Abbie & Oghazi, Pejvak, 2021. "The Information Paradox in Internationalization: Can ignorance ever be bliss? Evidence from emerging market SME managers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 268-277.
    3. Viktor Fredrich & Siegfried Gudergan & Ricarda B. Bouncken, 2022. "Dynamic Capabilities, Internationalization and Growth of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises: The Roles of Research and Development Intensity and Collaborative Intensity," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 611-642, August.
    4. Manolopoulos, Dimitris & Chatzopoulou, Erifili & Kottaridi, Constantina, 2018. "Resources, home institutional context and SMEs’ exporting: Direct relationships and contingency effects," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 993-1006.
    5. Oscar Malca & Jesús Peña-Vinces & Francisco J Acedo, 2020. "Export promotion programmes as export performance catalysts for SMEs: insights from an emerging economy," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 831-851, October.
    6. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Adomako, Samuel & Danquah, Joseph Kwadwo & Opoku, Robert A. & Zahoor, Nadia, 2022. "Foreign market knowledge, entry mode choice and SME international performance in an emerging market," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(4).
    7. Srivastava, Mohit & Moser, Roger & Hartmann, Evi, 2018. "The networking behavior of Indian executives under environmental uncertainty abroad: An exploratory analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 230-245.
    8. Child, John & Hsieh, Linda H.Y., 2014. "Decision mode, information and network attachment in the internationalization of SMEs: A configurational and contingency analysis," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 598-610.
    9. D’Angelo, Alfredo & Buck, Trevor, 2019. "The earliness of exporting and creeping sclerosis? The moderating effects of firm age, size and centralization," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 428-437.
    10. Anne Domurath & Holger Patzelt, 2016. "Entrepreneurs’ Assessments of Early International Entry: The Role of Foreign Social Ties, Venture Absorptive Capacity, and Generalized Trust in Others," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 40(5), pages 1149-1177, September.
    11. Paul, Justin, 2020. "SCOPE framework for SMEs: A new theoretical lens for success and internationalization," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 219-230.
    12. Glavas, Charmaine & Mathews, Shane, 2014. "How international entrepreneurship characteristics influence Internet capabilities for the international business processes of the firm," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 228-245.
    13. Wu, Aiqi & Voss, Hinrich, 2015. "When does absorptive capacity matter for international performance of firms? Evidence from China," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 344-351.
    14. Ji, Junzhe & Li, Nicolas & Liouka, Ioanna & Fletcher, Margaret & Tang, Yee Kwan & Slow, Jonathan, 2021. "“Where to” micromultinationals? A tribute to Professor Pavlos Dimitratos," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 404-409.
    15. Wilkinson, Timothy & Brouthers, Lance Eliot, 2006. "Trade promotion and SME export performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 233-252, June.
    16. Hashai, Niron & Zahra, Shaker A., 2022. "A double-edged sword? Founder Teams' Prior International Experience and INV International Scale-up," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(2).
    17. Mohamad D. Revindo & Christopher Gan, 2018. "Factors Affecting Variation in SMES' Export Intensity," LPEM FEBUI Working Papers 201820, LPEM, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia, revised May 2018.
    18. Christian Schwens & Florian B. Zapkau & Michael Bierwerth & Rodrigo Isidor & Gary Knight & Rüdiger Kabst, 2018. "International Entrepreneurship: A Meta–Analysis on the Internationalization and Performance Relationship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 42(5), pages 734-768, September.
    19. Zahoor, Nadia & Al-Tabbaa, Omar, 2021. "Post-entry internationalization speed of SMEs: The role of relational mechanisms and foreign market knowledge," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    20. Eduardsen, Jonas & Marinova, Svetla, 2020. "Internationalisation and risk: Literature review, integrative framework and research agenda," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).

    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:sae:sagope:v:11:y:2021:i:3:p:21582440211047566. 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: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    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.