International Orientation Research Articles

Investment deregulation and innovation performance of Chinese private firms

This study explores the effect of an investment system reform (deregulation) on the innovation performance of private firms in China. Using a difference-in-differences approach on the data on patent applications of private firms from 1998 to 2009, this study confirms the positive relationship between investment deregulation and innovation performance. We also find that the positive relationship is moderated by types of innovation, firm size and international orientation, and regional patent promotion policy. The study further finds evidence that investment deregulation stimulates innovation performance through two mechanisms, the escaping competition effect, and the preemptive patenting effect. Moreover, investment deregulation may improve the innovation performance of private firms by encouraging investment in fixed capital.

A 150-Year Debate over Surnames vs. Patronymics in Iceland

Iceland stands out in today’s Europe due to the fact that most Icelanders use patronymics rather than surnames. However, a small percentage of Icelanders do have surnames inherited in a fixed form. The first surnames were adopted in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, increasing numbers of Icelanders were taking up surnames, often Danicized or Latinized versions of Icelandic patronymics or place names. The practice became controversial with the rise of the independence movement, which was closely connected to linguistic purism. The use of surnames in Iceland has been debated since the 19th century. Whereas the other Nordic countries introduced legislation requiring citizens to have surnames, Iceland went in the opposite direction, forbidding new surnames starting in 1925. However, the surnames that were already in use were allowed to remain in circulation. This created an inequality which has haunted Icelandic name law discourse since. Having a surname in Iceland has often been linked with social prestige, and surnames have been perceived as a limited good. Since the 1990s, the fraction of Icelanders with surnames has increased through immigration and some liberalizations in the rules regarding the inheritance of existing Icelandic surnames. In the name of gender equity, surnames can be inherited along any line, not only patrilineal. Since 1996, immigrants seeking Icelandic citizenship are no longer required to change their names, and their children can inherit their surnames. The category of millinöfn (middle name), surname-like names that are not inflected for gender, was introduced in the 1996 law; some Icelanders with millinöfn use them as surnames in daily life even if they officially have patronymics. Despite the expansion in eligibility to take surnames, the basic principle that no new Icelandic surnames are allowed remains in the law and remains a point of contention. Many of the same themes—individual freedom vs. the preservation of cultural heritage, national vs. international orientation, gender equity—have recurred in the discourse over more than a century, reframed in the context of contemporary cultural values at any given time.

Decolonizing Botany: Indonesia, UNESCO, and the Making of a Global Science.

Decolonization created new opportunities for international scientific research collaboration. In Indonesia this began in the late 1940s, as Indonesian scientists and officials sought to remake the formerly colonial botanical gardens in the city of Bogor into an international research center. Indonesia sponsored the Flora Malesiana project, a flora of all of island Southeast Asia. This project was formally centered in Bogor, Indonesia, with participation from tropical botanists from around the world. The international orientation of Indonesian science led to the establishment of one of UNESCO's Field Science Co-operation Offices in Jakarta, and to a period of close collaboration between Indonesian botanists and UNESCO. This paper examines the importance of UNESCO's Humid Tropics research program, which initiallyprovided further opportunities for Indonesian botanists to participate in international scientific networks. The paper concludes by showing that the Humid Tropics program led to the slow erosion of Indonesian agency and authority over tropical botany, and the assertion of Western control and management over tropical botany research.

Analysis of the Effect of Market and Proactive Orientation with Market Capabilities on Export Performance in East Java Export-Oriented MSMEs

Research aims: This study examines the causal relationships affecting export performance, including market orientation, proactive orientation, and market capability. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study used a quantitative approach, which was carried out by distributing questionnaires to 140 MSMEs in East Java that had already exported. This study was tested utilizing SmartPLS 4 with partial least squares-structural equation model (PLS-SEM) analysis.Research findings: The results exhibited that market orientation significantly affected export performance and market capability. Proactive orientation substantially affected export performance and market capabilities. Besides, market capability directly and significantly influenced the relationship between market orientation, proactive orientation, and export performance.Theoretical Contribution/Originality: Adding market capability as a mediating variable to test the influence of market orientation and proactive orientation on export performance in export MSMEs in Surabaya.Practitioners/Policy Implications: In improving the export performance of MSMEs, oversight institutions or policymakers are expected to provide regular education, training, and guidance on how to observe and take advantage of changes in the export market, obtain information about customers and the export market situation and study and identify opportunities that exist in the export market.Research Limitations/Implications: In this study, the research locations were limited to the Surabaya area, so further researchers can expand the research locations. Data collection can also be done by interviewing, so that respondents are more open to answering questions. In addition, there were only three variables affecting export performance in this study: market orientation, proactive orientation, and market capability. Because the R-Square value of market capability was still at 0.392, or 40%, other independent variables can influence as much as 60%, such as customer orientation, international orientation, demographic orientation, strategic orientation, and others. Besides, the R-Square value of export performance was 0.538, or 54%, so other mediating variables may affect as much as 467%, such as innovation, production, and productive and dynamic capabilities.

Are greener start-ups of superior quality? The impact of environmental orientation on innovativeness, growth orientation, and international orientation

This paper merges the literature on green and high-quality entrepreneurship by introducing environmental orientation as an unrecognised characteristic of start-up quality and the three quality dimensions innovativeness, growth orientation, and international orientation. Entrepreneurship literature argues that only high-quality start-ups contribute to sustainable development and that a better understanding of what determines the quality of start-ups is required. Empirical research has recently shown that the environmental orientation of start-ups is one such determinant, as it significantly predicts their innovativeness. This paper pursues this novel research avenue on the importance of environmental orientation for start-up quality in two ways. First, this paper evaluates and extends this initial evidence on environmental orientation and innovativeness by examining a three times larger sample, covering additional countries and entrepreneurial stages. Second, this paper also analyses the impact of environmental orientation on the quality dimensions of growth orientation and international orientation. Investigation using Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data on 9650 entrepreneurs from 51 countries revealed that start-ups with a higher environmental orientation are of superior quality regarding their innovativeness, growth expectations, and exports. These results remain robust for start-ups at different entrepreneurial stages, and tests employing different methodological approaches and variable definitions. However, the categorisation into factor-driven, efficiency-driven, and innovation-driven countries showed that greener start-ups are more innovative in countries at all three levels of development, while the relationships with growth orientation and international orientation remained significant for only two of the three categories. The findings of this paper provide a new approach for practitioners to identify the small number of high-quality start-ups and an economic reason warranting intensified efforts to support green start-ups.

SMEs’ intangible resources and their effects on export performance: a study on Malaysian halal F&B sector

Purpose The growing demand for halal products has attracted small and large companies looking to secure their market share in the lucrative global halal market. However, it is difficult for resource-constrained firms, such as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to compete internationally. Therefore, drawing from a resource-based view, this paper aims to examine how intangible resources affect the export performance of Malaysian SMEs exporting halal food and beverages (F&B) products. Design/methodology/approach This study used a purposive sampling technique, and respondents were reached out by mail. Out of 517 local SMEs exporting halal-certified F&Bs contacted, 193 firms responded, and only 188 responses were eligible to be used for data analysis. The partial least squares structural equation modelling technique was used to conduct the analysis. The data underwent measurement and structural model evaluation to confirm the hypotheses postulated. Findings Based on the data analysis conducted, it was discovered that intangible resources, namely, international orientation and marketing capability, significantly influence the export performance of Malaysian SMEs exporting halal F&B. However, the influence of cultural intelligence on export performance could not be demonstrated. Originality/value This paper fills the gap of the need for more attention to SMEs in developing countries, especially in the halal industry. This research paper also contributes to international business and halal studies by promoting an understanding of intangible resources as strategic resources for SMEs to create competitive advantages and elevate their export performance in the emerging global halal market.

Evaluation of structured doctoral training programs in German life sciences: how much do such programs address hurdles faced by doctoral candidates?

IntroductionWays to improve the quality of doctoral education are debated internationally. In Europe, the United States, and other countries, there have been policy initiatives to address these. One approach has been the implementation of so-called structured doctoral training programs (doctoral programs) including formal structures such as courses, supervision agreements, external examiners for grading the thesis. However, there is little known about how doctoral programs implement the debated structures. As a result, the question arises whether existing programs already address the challenges of doctoral education and implement policy demands.MethodsIn this study, we evaluated the structure of 82 life science doctoral programs in Germany in a document analysis and a survey of program experts. We focused on (1) interdisciplinary aspects and (2) the international orientation of these programs. We evaluated the (3) courses offered, (4) formal characteristics of supervision, and (5) examination regulations of the doctoral programs.ResultsThe results showed that the doctoral programs already address these five aspects to some extent. However, there is variability as a function of institution and details of policy demand realizations are very heterogeneous. Some doctoral programs provide opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation, but only few promote international orientation. Offered courses cover some relevant academic skills, but courses on, e.g., teaching, open access and public outreach are still rare. Structured regulations on supervision, e.g., through regular meetings and supervision agreements, are also rarely implemented. Lastly, most supervisors remain strongly involved in examining doctoral theses.DiscussionWe conclude that there is still a crucial need for improvement of doctoral programs through more extensive implementation of policy demands. We detail cross-national and -disciplinary practical implications for coordinators of doctoral programs.

Export-Related Dynamic Capabilities and Export Success: Absorptive Capacity Moderated Mediating Effect of Ambidexterity

The success of exporting SMEs depends on their distinctive export-related dynamic capabilities that enable them to survive and grow in international environment. Since these capabilities are knowledge-based, they provide a great advantage for resource-constrained SMEs even with very small investments. This study investigates these specific export-related dynamic capabilities and their effect on export performance in SMEs of an emerging economy. A survey was conducted to 427 exporting SMEs in all over Turkey to test the hypothesis concerning the relations between international orientation, export market orientation, ambidexterity, absorptive capacity and export performance. The results showed that ambidexterity is a mediator between orientations (international orientation, export market orientation) and export performance. Besides, absorptive capacity has a moderating effect on the relationship between ambidexterity and export performance.

Collecting contemporary art in Rotterdam between 1870 and 1892: The international taste of Fop Smit Jr (1815-1892)

The extensive international art collection of the now virtually forgotten Rotterdam collector Fop Smit Jr (1815-1892) included as many as 240 contemporary European genre paintings and several works by renowned artists of the Barbizon School. After Smit’s death, his collection was divided among his family. The recent discovery of a two-part album containing photographs of the works of art he owned made it possible to reconstruct his collection for the first time. Based on extensive provenance and archival research, his collection is analysed and placed in the context of collecting contemporary art in Rotterdam and the Netherlands in the 1870s and 1890s. This reveals that Smit’s collection differed from the prevailing Dutch taste at that time. It was distinctly internationally oriented as well as larger than most other Dutch collections. Moreover, Smit did not combine paintings with works on paper or old master art, as was customary. Other Rotterdam collectors exhibit an international orientation similar to Smit’s. This is partly because, like him, they were advised by Rotterdam art dealers such as Jos de Kuyper, Jan van Mastenbroek and Willem Hendrik Köhler. In his collecting pursuits, Fop Smit was guided by his mercantile ethos. He was a shipowner and came from a successful family of shipbuilders. In addition, he owned stocks and bonds at home and abroad worth several million guilders. His collection and motives for collecting dovetailed with the development of the growing international art market, in which Smit can be considered as one of the new, upper-middle-class collectors in a position to compete with other industrialists and for whom money was no object.

Measuring the Impact and Influence of Scientific Activity in the Humanities and Social Sciences

Scientific activity in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) presents special characteristics that require the use of various sources and methodologies to adequately assess its impact and influence on both academic and non-academic audiences. This study aims to explore the validity of traditional and alternative information sources for the analysis of the characteristics of HSS research and its academic impact and influence (considering social, media, informative and political influence). It is also intended to highlight the differences between Humanities (H) and Social Sciences (SS) and analyse the variables that determine the different types of impact and influence of research in each of them. The following sources of information are used: Web of Science, conCIENCIA (institutional database), Google Scholar, Unpaywall, Altmetric.com and Overton, focused on the study of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). The results obtained show that institutional sources make local research visible, which has high percentages of open access. The usefulness of alternative sources to measure social, media, informative and political influence is verified, since HSS publications have an important number of mentions. Significant differences are observed between H and SS in terms of publication coverage (higher in H in the institutional database), language (more Spanish in H), open access (higher percentages in SS) and impact measured through conCIENCIA (the greatest number of documents with a high impact is found in H). In addition, the influence on non-academic audiences is increased by the international orientation of research, the greater academic impact, the participation of SS centres and the immediacy of publications. This study is a starting point for future research, as it explores several tools and data sources to analyse the influence of HSS research on different audiences. A comprehensive analysis will also facilitate the proposal of new metrics applied to the HSS assessment, highlighting its importance for society as a whole.

The effect of foreign knowledge acquisition on international performance: The mediating roles of international orientation and business model innovation

AbstractResearch on how business model innovation (BMI) in international markets affects international performance continues to proliferate. However, existing research is sparse on primary predictors of this relationship. Drawing upon knowledge creation theory, this article investigates a serial mediation model that supports the role of the indirect effects of foreign knowledge acquisition (FKA) via international orientation (IO) and BMI on international performance. Utilizing time‐lagged survey data from multiple respondents in Ghana (N = 352), the results revealed that high levels of FKA enhance BMI via increased IO, and BMI ultimately improves international performance. Implications relating to theory and practice are discussed.

Significance of L2 and L3 Motivation in the Context of an English-Taught Program: A Preliminary Study at a Japanese University

This study explores the motivation of international students who simultaneously studied L2 English and L3 Japanese while learning in an English-taught program specializing in policy studies at a Japanese university. Data were collected from five participants using semi-structured interviews, motivation graphs, a biographical questionnaire, and the program’s application form to examine how international students chose the program and the trajectories of their motivations to learn English, Japanese, and policy studies. The results show that all participants had rich experience in learning English and/or intercultural contacts before coming to Japan. Although two participants wanted to live in Japan to learn the language, three had no specific aim of studying abroad. The students’ motivation to learn English was enhanced when their study became more advanced, but their motivation to learn Japanese was more varied and complex. Although sustaining the motivation to learn Japanese over time seemed demanding, one of the participants invested more time in learning Japanese than English. This study highlights that exploring students’ disposition of motivation and international orientation can be beneficial, especially in uncovering why and how students can sustain their motivation to learn Japanese for academic purposes. Furthermore, it could indicate future directions for such programs.

Empirical Research on Early Internationalization of Firms in Sufficiently-Sized Domestic Market Country

Early internationalization and success in foreign markets play an important role in both a firm’s growth and its impact on the global economy. We conducted a study on Japanese high-tech startups to investigate the factors that derive early internationalization in firms founded in countries with a large domestic market, despite the absence of strong incentives to operate overseas. Quantitative data were collected from 71 startups and analyzed with PLS-SEM (Partial least squares path modeling). Our result showed that the factors we extracted from the previous studies on the internationalization process in small-size markets would also apply in countries with large domestic markets. In addition, considerations and the types of technology, which we extracted from qualitative research, verified the effect. According to our mediator analysis, an entrepreneur’s international orientation explains certain conditions related to a domestic market that affect a firms’ decision to pursue early internationalization. Our study makes contributions at multiple levels, benefiting entrepreneurs who are considering overseas expansion as well as policymakers who aim to promote early internationalization efforts.

The Impact of Corporate Governance and International Orientation on Firm Performance in SMEs: Evidence from a Developing Country

Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) have been adopting corporate governance and international strategies to improve performance. However, little is known about the success of corporate governance practices and the international orientation of SMEs, especially in developing countries. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to examine the influence of corporate governance practices and international orientation on the performance of SMEs in a developing country. We used a survey to hand-collect data from 270 SMEs in Ghana in 2022. Consistent with prior studies, we perform robust reliability tests, including confirmatory factor analysis and the Cronbach alpha test. Further, we use the structural equation modelling to test the hypothesis of whether corporate governance and international orientation affect firm performance in SMEs. Our results are as follows. First, we found that international orientation drives good corporate governance practices, and this exerts a positive influence on firm performance. Second, we established that international orientation positively and significantly moderates the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance. The results imply that engaging in the international market offers new knowledge to SMEs in developing countries. Therefore, investors and the government should develop strategies and policies that support the internationalization of SMEs in developing countries.

Public Opinion in a Rising Power: National and International Orientations among the Chinese Public

AbstractChina's involvement in the world and its economic modernization are expected to lead to its democratization and adherence to the liberal international order. However, after several decades of development, the authoritarian system remains resilient, and China's foreign policy appears to be more assertive. The limited nature of scholarship on the public opinion in a rising power has prevented a better understanding of China's domestic changes and foreign policy. This study seeks to unveil the micro-foundations of the unexpected trajectory of China's rise by investigating the public's national and international orientations using nationwide representative survey data. The results show that international orientations had a very limited effect on Chinese popular attitudes toward domestic politics and foreign relations, while national orientations strengthened public support for the authoritarian system and China's assertive foreign policy. Intergenerational variations existed in public opinion in China, with the Xi generation showing a different pattern of political values than the preceding generations.

Turkey as a restrained middle power

ABSTRACT Recent years have witnessed increasing questions regarding Turkey’s international orientation. Many have defined Turkey as an over-ambitious middle power, a categorization similar to traditional middle power identity, yet also evincing a strong determination on the part of Turkish decision makers to transform Turkey into a regional power that has the potential to become a great power sometime in future. This essay examines why Turkey’s over-ambitious middle power strategy has failed in producing the expected outcomes and why adopting the strategy of restrained middle power will serve Turkey’s national interests much better at a time of great upheavals, polarization, and uncertainties in international politics. The restrained middle power strategy can be justified on both realist and liberal grounds.

Re-evaluating Turkey’s global relationships and its shift toward the South-East Asian region

Turkey is strategically positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and is considered an important geopolitical actor in the global arena. Since Turkey embraced neoliberal economic policies in the 1980s, it has emerged as one of the leading emerging economies with major trade links with the US, Russia, EU, and Asia. Turkey has been a longstanding member of the NATO alliance and signed the European Customs Union Agreement in 1995. With the advent of Asia as the global economic powerhouse, Turkey’s foreign and economic policy horizons today extend to the Asia-Pacific Region. Turkey plays a key role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative and with the launching of the Asia Anew Initiative in late 2019, Ankara has redoubled efforts to forge closer ties with the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and with ASEAN itself. This paper will explore and evaluate Turkey’s foreign policy over the last two decades and the shift from the principle of Strategic Depth to that of Strategic Autonomy. The article will also review Turkey’s current change in international orientation and its international re-orientation toward Asia.

International orienteering experts’ consensus on the definition, development, cause, impact and methods to reduce mental fatigue in orienteering: A Delphi study

ABSTRACT Orienteering is an outdoor activity wherein participants use a map and compass to locate control points and choose the quickest path to the next control point in a natural environment. Attentional focus, rapid decision-making, and high aerobic fitness may influence orienteering performance. Therefore, this research aimed to seek international orienteering expert consensus regarding the definition, development, causes, influences and methods to reduce mental fatigue (MF) in orienteering based on practical experience. Following ethical approval, a three-round Delphi survey was conducted online with twenty-four orienteering coaches and athletes (or former athletes) from 10 different countries with international orienteering competition experience. The threshold of consensus was ≥ 70% agreement among respondents. The experts agreed that MF exists in daily life and orienteering with a substantial negative effect on their conscious decision-making performance and psychological responses. The experts disagreed that the form of MF that athletes experienced in orienteering training are similar to the competition. However, there was no agreement that MF would impact endurance and high-speed running performance during orienteering. This research refines the definition of MF and summarises the distinctions in what causes MF in orienteering training and competition, implying that MF should be addressed separately.

The Impact of Social Media and Digital Platforms Experience on SME International Orientation: The Moderating Role of COVID-19 Pandemic

Drawing on network learning theory, it investigates the effect of small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) experience of using foreign and domestic social network services (SNS) and foreign and domestic platforms (such as B2B digital platforms) on their international orientation. We further examine the moderating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the relationship between digital experience and international orientation. Empirical results from a sample of 373 observations from 250 Chinese SMEs show that their use of foreign SNS and B2B digital platforms has a stronger positive impact on their international orientation than their use of domestic SNS and B2B digital platforms. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, SMEs' use of foreign SNS still has a stronger positive impact on their international orientation than their use of domestic SNS. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic mitigates the positive impact of their use of both foreign and domestic platforms on their international orientation. This study presents some interesting theoretical and practical implications for SMEs' digitalization and internationalization.

Determinants of corporate social responsibility performance in emerging markets: An international orientation perspective

AbstractFor emerging market multinational enterprises (EMNEs), corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a foreign business practice. Because EMNEs are late movers in the international market, their attempts to engage in sustainable development and to improve CSR performance (CSP) are hindered by their limited relevant knowledge and resources. Few studies have investigated how EMNEs achieve high CSP. In this study, a sample of 177 Taiwanese companies in Taiwan listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2015 was examined. Data were collected from the Taiwan Economic Journal database. The effects of international orientation on the level of internationalization, market entry in advanced economies, and adherence to international CSR principles on the CSP of these EMNEs were investigated. The results revealed that higher levels of internationalization, greater market entry in advanced economies, and adherence to international CSR principles are positively related to CSP. In addition, a higher level of internationalization enhances the relationship between adherence to international CSR principles and CSP.