IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/jintbs/v53y2022i4d10.1057_s41267-021-00487-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Toward an action-based view of dynamic capabilities for international business

Author

Listed:
  • Shaker A. Zahra

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Olga Petricevic

    (University of Calgary)

  • Yadong Luo

    (University of Miami)

Abstract

A growing body of research highlights the importance and development of dynamic capabilities as well as the contingencies that can affect such development. However, existing research pays limited attention to the demands of competition in today’s dynamic, volatile, and ambiguous international markets. The international business (IB) realities and contexts require companies to develop and effectively deploy dynamic capabilities to achieve evolutionary fitness, adapt, and successfully exploit opportunities (and neutralize threats) stemming from technological, social, geopolitical, institutional, and economic changes and interdependencies among various layers of embeddedness. Consequently, in this article, we discuss dynamic capabilities that tailor to the specifics of IB contexts, underscore their conceptual properties relevant for the IB realities, and articulate the processes involved in their building and leveraging by established and young MNEs. We further clarify the entrepreneurial foundations and actions essential for development and effective deployment of dynamic capabilities for IB. Finally, we offer our suggestions on how future IB research should explore these issues so as to make dynamic capabilities thinking actionable.

Suggested Citation

  • Shaker A. Zahra & Olga Petricevic & Yadong Luo, 2022. "Toward an action-based view of dynamic capabilities for international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(4), pages 583-600, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:jintbs:v:53:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1057_s41267-021-00487-2
    DOI: 10.1057/s41267-021-00487-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41267-021-00487-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41267-021-00487-2?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. Kostova, Tatiana & Marano, Valentina & Tallman, Stephen, 2016. "Headquarters–subsidiary relationships in MNCs: Fifty years of evolving research," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 176-184.
    2. Bruce Kogut & Udo Zander, 1992. "Knowledge of the Firm, Combinative Capabilities, and the Replication of Technology," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 3(3), pages 383-397, August.
    3. Alan M. Rugman & Alain Verbeke, 2005. "Subsidiary Specific Advantages in Multinational Enterprises," Chapters, in: Analysis of Multinational Strategic Management, chapter 6, pages 77-90, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    4. Alan M. Rugman & Alain Verbeke, 2005. "Extending the Theory of the Multinational Enterprise: Internalization and Strategic Management Perspectives," Chapters, in: Analysis of Multinational Strategic Management, chapter 7, pages 91-103, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Teece, David J., 2016. "Dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial management in large organizations: Toward a theory of the (entrepreneurial) firm," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 202-216.
    6. Alain Verbeke & Christian Geisler Asmussen, 2016. "Global, Local, or Regional? The Locus of MNE Strategies," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(6), pages 1051-1075, September.
    7. Jean-François Hennart, 2009. "Down with MNE-centric theories! Market entry and expansion as the bundling of MNE and local assets," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(9), pages 1432-1454, December.
    8. Mie Augier & David J. Teece, 2007. "Dynamic capabilities and multinational enterprise: Penrosean insights and omissions," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 175-192, March.
    9. Eric (Er) Fang & Shaoming Zou, 2009. "Antecedents and consequences of marketing dynamic capabilities in international joint ventures," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(5), pages 742-761, June.
    10. Ron Adner & Constance E. Helfat, 2003. "Corporate effects and dynamic managerial capabilities," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(10), pages 1011-1025, October.
    11. Yadong Luo & Mike W Peng, 1999. "Learning to Compete in a Transition Economy: Experience, Environment, and Performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 30(2), pages 269-295, June.
    12. Bitencourt, Claudia Cristina & de Oliveira Santini, Fernando & Ladeira, Wagner Junior & Santos, Ana Clarissa & Teixeira, Eduardo Kunzel, 2020. "The extended dynamic capabilities model: A meta-analysis," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 108-120.
    13. Jiatao Li & Liang Chen & Jingtao Yi & Jiye Mao & Jianwen Liao, 2019. "Ecosystem-specific advantages in international digital commerce," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(9), pages 1448-1463, December.
    14. David J Teece, 2014. "A dynamic capabilities-based entrepreneurial theory of the multinational enterprise," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(1), pages 8-37, January.
    15. Svante Andersson & Natasha Evers, 2015. "International opportunity recognition in international new ventures—a dynamic managerial capabilities perspective," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 260-276, September.
    16. Michael A. Witt, 2019. "De-globalization: Theories, predictions, and opportunities for international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(7), pages 1053-1077, September.
    17. David J. Teece, 2007. "Explicating dynamic capabilities: the nature and microfoundations of (sustainable) enterprise performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(13), pages 1319-1350, December.
    18. Deng, Ping & Liu, Yang & Gallagher, Vickie Coleman & Wu, Xiaojie, 2020. "International strategies of emerging market multinationals: A dynamic capabilities perspective," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(4), pages 408-425, July.
    19. Maurizio Zollo & Sidney G. Winter, 2002. "Deliberate Learning and the Evolution of Dynamic Capabilities," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(3), pages 339-351, June.
    20. Mie Augier & David J. Teece, 2009. "Dynamic Capabilities and the Role of Managers in Business Strategy and Economic Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 20(2), pages 410-421, April.
    21. Julian Birkinshaw & Allen Morrison & John Hulland, 1995. "Structural and competitive determinants of a global integration strategy," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(8), pages 637-655.
    22. Alain Verbeke & Thomas P Kenworthy, 2008. "Multidivisional vs metanational governance of the multinational enterprise," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(6), pages 940-956, September.
    23. Parente, Ronaldo C. & Baack, Daniel W. & Hahn, Eugene D., 2011. "The effect of supply chain integration, modular production, and cultural distance on new product development: A dynamic capabilities approach," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 17(4), pages 278-290.
    24. Teece, David J, 2018. "Dynamic capabilities as (workable) management systems theory," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 24(3), pages 359-368, May.
    25. Zeng, Rong & Grøgaard, Birgitte & Steel, Piers, 2018. "Complements or substitutes? A meta-analysis of the role of integration mechanisms for knowledge transfer in the MNE network," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 415-432.
    26. 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.
    27. Shaker A Zahra, 2005. "A theory of international new ventures: a decade of research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 36(1), pages 20-28, January.
    28. John H. Dunning & Sarianna M. Lundan, 2010. "The institutional origins of dynamic capabilities in multinational enterprises -super-†," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 19(4), pages 1225-1246, August.
    29. John Cantwell & John H Dunning & Sarianna M Lundan, 2010. "An evolutionary approach to understanding international business activity: The co-evolution of MNEs and the institutional environment," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(4), pages 567-586, May.
    30. Christos N. Pitelis & David J. Teece, 2010. "Cross-border market co-creation, dynamic capabilities and the entrepreneurial theory of the multinational enterprise," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 19(4), pages 1247-1270, August.
    31. Olga Petricevic & David J Teece, 2019. "The structural reshaping of globalization: Implications for strategic sectors, profiting from innovation, and the multinational enterprise," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(9), pages 1487-1512, December.
    32. Alan M. Rugman & Alain Verbeke & Quyen T. K. Nguyen, 2011. "Fifty Years of International Business Theory and Beyond," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 51(6), pages 755-786, December.
    33. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    34. Sarianna M. Lundan & Jiatao Li, 2019. "Adjusting to and learning from institutional diversity: Toward a capability-building perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(1), pages 36-47, February.
    35. Anoop Madhok & Thomas Osegowitsch, 2000. "The International Biotechnology Industry: A Dynamic Capabilities Perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 31(2), pages 325-335, June.
    36. Klaus E. Meyer & Ram Mudambi & Rajneesh Narula, 2011. "Multinational Enterprises and Local Contexts: The Opportunities and Challenges of Multiple Embeddedness," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(2), pages 235-252, March.
    37. Andrew Inkpen & Dana Minbaeva & Eric W K Tsang, 2019. "Unintentional, unavoidable, and beneficial knowledge leakage from the multinational enterprise," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(2), pages 250-260, March.
    38. Volker Mahnke & Markus Venzin & Shaker A. Zahra, 2007. "Governing Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition in MNEs: Aligning Interests and Cognition Under Uncertainty," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(7), pages 1278-1298, November.
    39. Nicole Coviello & Liena Kano & Peter W Liesch, 2017. "Adapting the Uppsala model to a modern world: Macro-context and microfoundations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(9), pages 1151-1164, December.
    40. Weerawardena, Jay & Mort, Gillian Sullivan & Liesch, Peter W. & Knight, Gary, 2007. "Conceptualizing accelerated internationalization in the born global firm: A dynamic capabilities perspective," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 294-306, September.
    41. Lars Matysiak & Alan M. Rugman & Andreas Bausch, 2018. "Dynamic Capabilities of Multinational Enterprises: The Dominant Logics Behind Sensing, Seizing, and Transforming Matter!," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 225-250, April.
    42. Daniel A. Levinthal, 1997. "Adaptation on Rugged Landscapes," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 43(7), pages 934-950, July.
    43. Liena Kano, 2018. "Global value chain governance: A relational perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(6), pages 684-705, August.
    44. Thomas Hutzschenreuter & Torben Pedersen & Henk W Volberda, 2007. "The role of path dependency and managerial intentionality: a perspective on international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(7), pages 1055-1068, December.
    45. Wu, Hang & Chen, Jin & Jiao, Hao, 2016. "Dynamic capabilities as a mediator linking international diversification and innovation performance of firms in an emerging economy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 2678-2686.
    46. Elitsa R Banalieva & Charles Dhanaraj, 2019. "Internalization theory for the digital economy," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(8), pages 1372-1387, October.
    47. Daniel Levinthal & Claus Rerup, 2006. "Crossing an Apparent Chasm: Bridging Mindful and Less-Mindful Perspectives on Organizational Learning," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 17(4), pages 502-513, August.
    48. Luo, Yadong, 2000. "Dynamic capabilities in international expansion," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 355-378, January.
    49. Narula, Rajneesh & Verbeke, Alain, 2015. "Making internalization theory good for practice: The essence of Alan Rugman's contributions to international business," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(4), pages 612-622.
    50. David J. Teece, 2012. "Dynamic Capabilities: Routines versus Entrepreneurial Action," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(8), pages 1395-1401, December.
    51. Shameen Prashantham & Steven W Floyd, 2012. "Routine microprocesses and capability learning in international new ventures," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(6), pages 544-562, August.
    52. Robert A. Burgelman, 1983. "Corporate Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management: Insights from a Process Study," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(12), pages 1349-1364, December.
    53. Sidney G. Winter, 2003. "Understanding dynamic capabilities," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(10), pages 991-995, October.
    54. Wu, Lei-Yu, 2007. "Entrepreneurial resources, dynamic capabilities and start-up performance of Taiwan's high-tech firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 60(5), pages 549-555, May.
    55. Shaker A. Zahra & Harry J. Sapienza & Per Davidsson, 2006. "Entrepreneurship and Dynamic Capabilities: A Review, Model and Research Agenda," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(4), pages 917-955, June.
    56. Patrick Regnér & Jesper Edman, 2014. "MNE institutional advantage: How subunits shape, transpose and evade host country institutions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(3), pages 275-302, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Shen, Rui & Guo, Hai & Ma, Hongjia, 2023. "How do entrepreneurs' cross-cultural experiences contribute to entrepreneurial ecosystem performance?," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(2).
    2. Alain Verbeke, 2022. "Three simple guidelines to make the dynamic capabilities paradigm actionable in international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(4), pages 573-582, June.
    3. Birgitte Grøgaard & Michael A. Sartor & Linda Rademaker, 2022. "What merits greater scholarly attention in international business?," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(7), pages 1508-1518, September.
    4. Christofi, Michael & Zahoor, Nadia & Hadjielias, Elias & Adomako, Samuel, 2024. "Business model innovation and international performance of emerging market international businesses," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    5. Albitar, Khaldoon & Al-Shaer, Habiba & Liu, Yang Stephanie, 2023. "Corporate commitment to climate change: The effect of eco-innovation and climate governance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(2).
    6. D’Agostino, Lorena M. & Schiavo, Stefano, 2024. "Using trademarks to fend off import competition: Evidence from the top R&D-spending companies," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1).
    7. Betty Feng, Jing & Liu, Steven Y.H. & Anne Liu, Leigh, 2023. "Cognitive antecedents of EMNEs’ dynamic capabilities: A case study of global identity at Lenovo," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    8. Yadong Luo & Ari Assche, 2023. "The rise of techno-geopolitical uncertainty: Implications of the United States CHIPS and Science Act," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(8), pages 1423-1440, October.
    9. Lu, Qicheng & Meng, Xiangju & Su, Jiaoyue & Au Kai Ming, Alan & Wu, Yongjie & Wang, Chengqi, 2023. "TMT functional background heterogeneity and SMEs’ performance: The role of dynamic capabilities and business environment," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).

    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. Ilgaz Arikan & Ipek Koparan & Asli M Arikan & Oded Shenkar, 2022. "Dynamic capabilities and internationalization of authentic firms: Role of heritage assets, administrative heritage, and signature processes," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(4), pages 601-635, June.
    2. Olga Petricevic & David J Teece, 2019. "The structural reshaping of globalization: Implications for strategic sectors, profiting from innovation, and the multinational enterprise," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(9), pages 1487-1512, December.
    3. Lars Matysiak & Alan M. Rugman & Andreas Bausch, 2018. "Dynamic Capabilities of Multinational Enterprises: The Dominant Logics Behind Sensing, Seizing, and Transforming Matter!," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 225-250, April.
    4. Danchi Tan & Weichieh Su & Joseph T. Mahoney & Yasemin Kor, 2020. "A review of research on the growth of multinational enterprises: A Penrosean lens," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 498-537, June.
    5. Yi-Ju Lo & Tung Hung, 2015. "Structure offshoring and returns on offshoring," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 443-479, June.
    6. Michailova, Snejina & Zhan, Wu, 2015. "Dynamic capabilities and innovation in MNC subsidiaries," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 576-583.
    7. Altintas, Gulsun & Ambrosini, Véronique & Gudergan, Siegfried, 2022. "MNE dynamic capabilities in (un)related diversification," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(1).
    8. Birgitte Grøgaard & Helene Loe Colman & Inger G Stensaker, 2022. "Legitimizing, leveraging, and launching: Developing dynamic capabilities in the MNE," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(4), pages 636-656, June.
    9. Zeng, Jing, 2022. "Orchestrating ecosystem resources in a different country: Understanding the integrative capabilities of sharing economy platform multinational corporations," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(6).
    10. Birgitte Grøgaard & Helene Loe Colman & Inger G Stensaker, 0. "Legitimizing, leveraging, and launching: Developing dynamic capabilities in the MNE," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-21.
    11. 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).
    12. Abdulrahman Al–Aali & David J. Teece, 2014. "International Entrepreneurship and the Theory of the (Long–Lived) International Firm: A Capabilities Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 38(1), pages 95-116, January.
    13. Rong (Ratchel) Zeng & Birgitte Grøgaard & Ingmar Björkman, 2023. "Navigating MNE control and coordination: A critical review and directions for future research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(9), pages 1599-1622, December.
    14. Wittenstein, Daniel, 2020. "Champions of digital transformation? The dynamic capabilities of hidden champions," ZEW Discussion Papers 20-065, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    15. Rajneesh Narula & Christian Geisler Asmussen & Tailan Chi & Sumit Kumar Kundu, 2019. "Applying and advancing internalization theory: The multinational enterprise in the twenty-first century," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(8), pages 1231-1252, October.
    16. Quan Anh Nguyen & Gillian Sullivan Mort, 0. "Conceptualising organisational-level and microfoundational capabilities: an integrated view of born-globals’ internationalisation," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-23.
    17. Sarianna M. Lundan & Jiatao Li, 2019. "Adjusting to and learning from institutional diversity: Toward a capability-building perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(1), pages 36-47, February.
    18. Pinho, José Carlos & Prange, Christiane, 2016. "The effect of social networks and dynamic internationalization capabilities on international performance," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 391-403.
    19. Ahsan, Mujtaba & Fernhaber, Stephanie A., 2019. "Multinational Enterprises: Leveraging a Corporate International Entrepreneurship Lens for New Insights Into Subsidiary Initiatives," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 51-65.
    20. Byungjoo Paek & Heesang Lee, 2018. "Strategic entrepreneurship and competitive advantage of established firms: evidence from the digital TV industry," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 883-925, December.

    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:jintbs:v:53:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1057_s41267-021-00487-2. 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: http://www.palgrave-journals.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.