Social capital, absorptive capacity and entrepreneurial behaviour in an international context

Abstract

This study contributes to an understanding of the international growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. Thus, it proposes a learning-based model, which shows the influence that the social capital of the firm over external access and exploitation of knowledge and how this affects entrepreneurial orientation. This model is tested via structural equation modelling (Partial Least Squares) applied to a 178 Spanish international-firms sample. The results of data analysis emphasize, on the one hand, the importance of managing inter-organizational relationships in the firm learning processes and, on the other hand, how knowledge exploitation exerts a significant influence on the firm's entrepreneurial behaviour and, therefore, determines its international expansion.

Validation of a measure of social entrepreneurship

“…Social entrepreneurs face many of the same challenges that conventional entrepreneurs face (Castro and Cepeda, 2015). They must develop a business plan and execute it successfully.…”

Offshoring de producción, innovación y capacidad de absorción

“…Por tanto, el historial de acumulación de conocimiento técnico y tecnológico -en este terreno las inversiones en I+D suelen considerarse fundamentales (Cohen & Levinthal, 1989)-constituye un elemento clave para desarrollar capacidad de absorción. Esta capacidad, a su vez, puede contribuir decisivamente a la aplicación con fines innovadores del conocimiento externo adquirido (Castro & Cepeda, 2016).…”

International high-tech SMEs innovative foreign knowledge inflows: effects of host country weak network ties and absorptive capacity

“…Absorptive capacity underpins innovation activities and provides opportunities for an organisation to transform knowledge and foster continuous change and strategic renewal (Lane and Lubatkin, 1998;Lane et al, 2006;Volberda et al, 2010;Zahra and George, 2002). In particular, research intensive firms with productive external networks tend to develop a broader knowledge-base and use absorptive capacity routines to understand newly acquired knowledge and generate new patents and products (Kim et (Castro and Cepeda, 2016;Raymond et al, 2015;Zhu et al, 2006). In particular, learning and knowledge absorption routines, including acquiring and understanding knowledge, are beneficial for SMEs internationalising rapidly and early (Domurath and Patzelt, 2016;Fletcher, 2009;Prashantham and Young, 2011), and with an export strategy (Ferreras-Mendez et al, 2019).…”

“…In international entrepreneurship, most research focuses on the relationship between absorptive capacity and entry mode choice, internationalisation performance, learning or early internationalisation (e.g. Castro and Cepeda, 2016;Domurath and Patzelt, 2016;Fletcher, 2009;Raymond et al, 2015;Villar et al, 2014). According to Laufs andSchwens (2014:1124), the role and importance of absorptive capacity in international entrepreneurship is an 'open question ' and under-researched.…”