IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/rvmgts/v17y2023i4d10.1007_s11846-022-00562-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Strategic agility, openness and performance: a mixed method comparative analysis of firms operating in developed and emerging markets

Author

Listed:
  • Demetris Vrontis

    (University of Nicosia)

  • Jaroslav Belas

    (Tomas Bata University in Zlín)

  • Alkis Thrassou

    (University of Nicosia)

  • Gabriele Santoro

    (Tomas Bata University in Zlín
    University of Turin)

  • Michael Christofi

    (Cyprus University of Technology)

Abstract

This research delineates the relationship between strategic agility and performance, and proposes openness as a requisite means to fostering agility and enhancing performance. Methodologically, the research follows the pragmatist paradigm through a mixed-method research design, incorporating three separate studies. These comprise a CEO-based survey on foreign firms operating in emerging markets, a CEO-based survey on firms operating in developed countries, and CEO interviews, all of which are complimented by auxiliary instruments of secondary data and an expert panel. The research finds that strategic agility is vital for firms’ performance in both developed and developing markets. Moreover, we found that while search depth amplifies the above relationship in both contexts, search breadth does it only in the context of foreign firms operating in emerging markets. The value of these findings stems from their elucidation of the role of strategic agility in emerging markets and its comparison to that of firms operating in developed countries; their insights into strategic agility’s relationship with openness; their schematic culmination into a systemically and contextually depicted framework; and their prescriptive managerial implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Demetris Vrontis & Jaroslav Belas & Alkis Thrassou & Gabriele Santoro & Michael Christofi, 2023. "Strategic agility, openness and performance: a mixed method comparative analysis of firms operating in developed and emerging markets," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1365-1398, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:rvmgts:v:17:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11846-022-00562-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11846-022-00562-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11846-022-00562-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11846-022-00562-4?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. Lee Fleming & David M. Waguespack, 2007. "Brokerage, Boundary Spanning, and Leadership in Open Innovation Communities," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(2), pages 165-180, April.
    2. Liu, Yipeng & Almor, Tamar, 2016. "How culture influences the way entrepreneurs deal with uncertainty in inter-organizational relationships: The case of returnee versus local entrepreneurs in China," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 4-14.
    3. Riikka M Sarala & Eero Vaara, 2010. "Cultural differences, convergence, and crossvergence as explanations of knowledge transfer in international acquisitions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(8), pages 1365-1390, October.
    4. Li, Shenxue & Scullion, Hugh, 2010. "Developing the local competence of expatriate managers for emerging markets: A knowledge-based approach," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 190-196, April.
    5. Ilhan-Nas, Tulay & Okan, Tarhan & Tatoglu, Ekrem & Demirbag, Mehmet & Wood, Geoffrey & Glaister, Keith W., 2018. "Board composition, family ownership, institutional distance and the foreign equity ownership strategies of Turkish MNEs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(6), pages 862-879.
    6. Trąpczyński, Piotr & Banalieva, Elitsa R., 2016. "Institutional difference, organizational experience, and foreign affiliate performance: Evidence from Polish firms," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(5), pages 826-842.
    7. Robson, Matthew J. & Katsikeas, Constantine S. & Schlegelmilch, Bodo B. & Pramböck, Barbara, 2019. "Alliance capabilities, interpartner attributes, and performance outcomes in international strategic alliances," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 137-153.
    8. Jafari-Sadeghi, Vahid & Amoozad Mahdiraji, Hannan & Busso, Donatella & Yahiaoui, Dorra, 2022. "Towards agility in international high-tech SMEs: Exploring key drivers and main outcomes of dynamic capabilities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    9. Robert D. Dewar & Jane E. Dutton, 1986. "The Adoption of Radical and Incremental Innovations: An Empirical Analysis," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(11), pages 1422-1433, November.
    10. Jafari-Sadeghi, Vahid & Amoozad Mahdiraji, Hannan & Bresciani, Stefano & Pellicelli, Anna Claudia, 2021. "Context-specific micro-foundations and successful SME internationalisation in emerging markets: A mixed-method analysis of managerial resources and dynamic capabilities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 352-364.
    11. Hock-Doepgen, Marianne & Clauss, Thomas & Kraus, Sascha & Cheng, Cheng-Feng, 2021. "Knowledge management capabilities and organizational risk-taking for business model innovation in SMEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 683-697.
    12. Ardito, Lorenzo & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio, 2017. "Breadth of external knowledge sourcing and product innovation: The moderating role of strategic human resource practices," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 261-272.
    13. Kiessling, Timothy S. & Richey, R. Glenn & Meng, Juan & Dabic, Marina, 2009. "Exploring knowledge management to organizational performance outcomes in a transitional economy," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 421-433, October.
    14. Ilhan-Nas, Tulay & Okan, Tarhan & Tatoglu, Ekrem & Demirbag, Mehmet & Glaister, Keith W., 2018. "The effects of ownership concentration and institutional distance on the foreign entry ownership strategy of Turkish MNEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 173-183.
    15. Henkel, Joachim & Schöberl, Simone & Alexy, Oliver, 2014. "The emergence of openness: How and why firms adopt selective revealing in open innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(5), pages 879-890.
    16. Riikka M. Sarala & Eero Vaara, 2010. "Cultural differences, convergence, and crossvergence as explanations of knowledge transfer in international acquisitions," Post-Print hal-02312553, HAL.
    17. Omar Vila & Sundar Bharadwaj & S. Bahadir, 2015. "Exploration- and Exploitation-Oriented Marketing Strategies and Sales Growth in Emerging Markets," Customer Needs and Solutions, Springer;Institute for Sustainable Innovation and Growth (iSIG), vol. 2(4), pages 277-289, December.
    18. Ling-yee, Li & Ogunmokun, Gabriel O., 2001. "The influence of interfirm relational capabilities on export advantage and performance: an empirical analysis," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 10(4), pages 399-420, August.
    19. Mike Wright & Igor Filatotchev & Robert E. Hoskisson & Mike W. Peng, 2005. "Strategy Research in Emerging Economies: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(1), pages 1-33, January.
    20. Adrian Klammer & Stefan Gueldenberg & Sascha Kraus & Michele O’Dwyer, 2017. "To change or not to change–antecedents and outcomes of strategic renewal in SMEs," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 739-756, September.
    21. Ade Oyedijo, 2012. "Competitive Strategy Orientations of Small and Medium Business Owners and their Performance Impacts: The Case of Paint Manufacturing SMEs in South-Western Nigeria," Journal of Asian Business Strategy, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 2(1), pages 1-8, January.
    22. Howe-Walsh, Liza & Turnbull, Sarah & Budhwar, Pawan, 2019. "An investigation into on-sourcing of advertising creativity in an emerging economy: The case of the United Arab Emirates," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 356-364.
    23. James G. Combs & David J. Ketchen, Jr & R. Duane Ireland & Justin W. Webb, 2011. "The Role of Resource Flexibility in Leveraging Strategic Resources," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48, pages 1098-1125, July.
    24. Peter Rodgers & Peter Stokes & Shlomo Tarba & Zaheer Khan, 2019. "The Role of Non-market Strategies in Establishing Legitimacy: The Case of Service MNEs in Emerging Economies," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(4), pages 515-540, August.
    25. Ahammad, Mohammad Faisal & Tarba, Shlomo Yedidia & Liu, Yipeng & Glaister, Keith W., 2016. "Knowledge transfer and cross-border acquisition performance: The impact of cultural distance and employee retention," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 66-75.
    26. Pangarkar, Nitin, 2008. "Internationalization and performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 475-485, October.
    27. Bstieler, Ludwig & Hemmert, Martin & Barczak, Gloria, 2017. "The changing bases of mutual trust formation in inter-organizational relationships: A dyadic study of university-industry research collaborations," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 47-54.
    28. Yadong Luo, 2003. "Industrial dynamics and managerial networking in an emerging market: the case of China," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(13), pages 1315-1327, December.
    29. Zucchella, Antonella & Palamara, G. & Denicolai, S., 2007. "The drivers of the early internationalization of the firm," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 268-280, September.
    30. Ade Oyedijo, 2012. "Competitive Strategy Orientations of Small and Medium Business Owners and their Performance Impacts: The Case of Paint Manufacturing SMEs in South-Western Nigeria," Journal of Asian Business Strategy, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 2(1), pages 1-8.
    31. Santoro, Gabriele & Vrontis, Demetris & Thrassou, Alkis & Dezi, Luca, 2018. "The Internet of Things: Building a knowledge management system for open innovation and knowledge management capacity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 347-354.
    32. Elena Huergo & Jordi Jaumandreu, 2004. "How Does Probability of Innovation Change with Firm Age?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 22(3_4), pages 193-207, April.
    33. Klaus E Meyer & Mike W Peng, 2016. "Theoretical foundations of emerging economy business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(1), pages 3-22, January.
    34. Ciftci, Ilhan & Tatoglu, Ekrem & Wood, Geoffrey & Demirbag, Mehmet & Zaim, Selim, 2019. "Corporate governance and firm performance in emerging markets: Evidence from Turkey," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 90-103.
    35. Shin, Hojung & Lee, Jae-Nam & Kim, DaeSoo & Rhim, Hosun, 2015. "Strategic agility of Korean small and medium enterprises and its influence on operational and firm performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 181-196.
    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. Nyamrunda, Frank Charles & Freeman, Susan, 2021. "Strategic agility, dynamic relational capability and trust among SMEs in transitional economies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(3).
    2. Muhammad Waseem Bari & Muhammad Abrar & Mohsin Bashir & Sajjad Ahmad Baig & Meng Fanchen, 2019. "Soft Issues During Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions and Industry Performance, China–Pakistan Economic Corridor Based View," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(2), pages 21582440198, April.
    3. Zhou, Abby Jingzi & Fey, Carl & Yildiz, H. Emre, 2020. "Fostering integration through HRM practices: An empirical examination of absorptive capacity and knowledge transfer in cross-border M&As," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(2).
    4. Dongao Li & Songdong Shen, 2022. "Social Environment and Healthy Investment Behavior: Joint Influence of Culture and Institution on China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Yang, Wei & Meyer, Klaus E., 2020. "How do local and foreign firms compete? Competitive actions in an emerging economy," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).
    6. Cheng, Cong & Yang, Monica, 2017. "Enhancing performance of cross-border mergers and acquisitions in developed markets: The role of business ties and technological innovation capability," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 107-117.
    7. Santoro, Gabriele & Quaglia, Roberto & Pellicelli, Anna Claudia & De Bernardi, Paola, 2020. "The interplay among entrepreneur, employees, and firm level factors in explaining SMEs openness: A qualitative micro-foundational approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    8. Qi Ai & Hui Tan, 2018. "The intra-firm knowledge transfer in the outward M&A of EMNCs: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 399-425, June.
    9. Dan Li & Li-Qun Wei & Qing Cao & Deqiu Chen, 2022. "Informal institutions, entrepreneurs’ political participation, and venture internationalization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(6), pages 1062-1090, August.
    10. Aslam, Muhammad Shakeel & O’Reilly, Dermot & Shah, Uzair, 2023. "Taking the rough with the smooth: A qualitative inquiry into social and cultural practices of knowledge-sharing work in international consultancy alliances," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    11. Xu, Kai & Hitt, Michael A. & Brock, David & Pisano, Vincenzo & Huang, Lulu S.R., 2021. "Country institutional environments and international strategy: A review and analysis of the research," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    12. Niccolò Pisani & Joan Enric Ricart, 2018. "Offshoring Innovation to Emerging Countries: The Effects of IP Protection and Cultural Differences on Firms’ Decision to Augment Versus Exploit Home-Base-Knowledge," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(6), pages 871-909, December.
    13. Degbey, William Y. & Pelto, Elina, 2021. "Customer knowledge sharing in cross-border mergers and acquisitions: The role of customer motivation and promise management," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(4).
    14. Nadia Zahoor & Francis Donbesuur & Arinze Christian Nwoba & Huda Khan, 2023. "Regional expansion of emerging market SMEs: the roles of domestic market environmental uncertainty and international alliance partner diversity," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(2), pages 613-643, June.
    15. Santoro, Gabriele & Mazzoleni, Alberto & Quaglia, Roberto & Solima, Ludovico, 2021. "Does age matter? The impact of SMEs age on the relationship between knowledge sourcing strategy and internationalization," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 779-787.
    16. Danchi Tan & Klaus E. Meyer, 2021. "Context-bridging and context-embedded experience: Growth drivers of emerging economy business groups," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 401-434, June.
    17. Ilhan-Nas, Tulay & Okan, Tarhan & Tatoglu, Ekrem & Demirbag, Mehmet & Wood, Geoffrey & Glaister, Keith W., 2018. "Board composition, family ownership, institutional distance and the foreign equity ownership strategies of Turkish MNEs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(6), pages 862-879.
    18. Yadong Luo & Huan Zhang & Juan Bu, 2019. "Developed country MNEs investing in developing economies: Progress and prospect," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 633-667, June.
    19. Ahammad, Mohammad Faisal & Tarba, Shlomo Yedidia & Liu, Yipeng & Glaister, Keith W., 2016. "Knowledge transfer and cross-border acquisition performance: The impact of cultural distance and employee retention," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 66-75.
    20. Jianghua Zhou & Rui Wu & Jizhen Li, 2019. "More ties the merrier? Different social ties and firm innovation performance," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 36(2), pages 445-471, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Emerging markets; External knowledge sourcing; Strategic agility; Open innovation; Openness; Performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O36 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Open Innovation
    • L10 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - General

    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:spr:rvmgts:v:17:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11846-022-00562-4. 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.springer.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.