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Commitment to exporting as an antecedent of organizational skills and firm performance

Author

Listed:
  • Tânia Gonçalves

    (Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD))

  • Mário Sérgio Teixeira

    (Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD))

  • José G. Dias

    (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL))

  • Sofia Gouveia

    (Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD))

  • Ricardo Jorge Correia

    (Instituto Politécnico de Bragança)

Abstract

This study proposes the role of leader’s commitment to export activities as an antecedent of specific organizational skills. In particular, this research investigates whether the leaders’ commitment to exporting affects firm performance, through the mediating effect of entrepreneurial orientation, network competence, and dynamic capabilities of a firm, using survey data collected from 976 companies in Portugal. Results from the structural equation model show that leaders’ commitment to exporting, defined as a positive attitude towards the internationalization of their firms, acts as an antecedent of entrepreneurial orientation and network competence. Additionally, we conclude that the relation between this commitment and firm performance is mediated through entrepreneurial orientation, network competence, and dynamic capabilities. This study contributes to the understanding of the mediating effect of these specific organizational skills in the proposed relationship between leaders’ commitment to exporting and firm performance and provides a new insight into the important role of the entrepreneur or top manager.

Suggested Citation

  • Tânia Gonçalves & Mário Sérgio Teixeira & José G. Dias & Sofia Gouveia & Ricardo Jorge Correia, 2021. "Commitment to exporting as an antecedent of organizational skills and firm performance," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 91(7), pages 1063-1084, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jbecon:v:91:y:2021:i:7:d:10.1007_s11573-021-01028-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11573-021-01028-x
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Dynamic capabilities; Network competence; Leaders’ commitment to exporting; Entrepreneurial orientation; Performance; Structural equation model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M20 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - General

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