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Knowledge assets and firm international performance

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  • Denicolai, Stefano
  • Zucchella, Antonella
  • Strange, Roger

Abstract

This paper investigates how intangible knowledge assets impact upon firm international performance through the analysis of a sample of 290 European listed companies. We draw upon the knowledge-based view of the firm, and argue that more knowledge assets have a positive impact on foreign sales intensity, but only a up to a point. The inverse quadratic relationship found suggests that it is necessary to balance knowledge assets with complementary assets in order to achieve a higher degree of international performance. Furthermore we also suggest that externally-generated knowledge assets may have a positive impact upon international performance, but that the impact will be mediated by the possession of internally generated knowledge assets.

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  • Denicolai, Stefano & Zucchella, Antonella & Strange, Roger, 2014. "Knowledge assets and firm international performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 55-62.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:23:y:2014:i:1:p:55-62
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2013.08.004
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