The Role of Strategic Orientations and Ambidextrous Innovation in the Accelerated Internationalization of INVs: Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda
Abstract
Over the past two decades, the growth of international new ventures (INVs) has stimulated a great deal of interest among international entrepreneurship (IE) scholars to understand how these entrepreneurial start-ups internationalize rapidly and navigate turbulent environments given their resource deficiencies. While the IE domain and INV phenomenon have developed an extensive body of knowledge with rich insights, the literature has been characterized as fragmented and lacking in theoretical development. Employing a collection of key strategic orientations which provide a holistic operationalization of IE, we develop a conceptual framework to better understand how INV’s innovation capabilities impact their pace of internationalization. Building on the dynamic capabilities view (DCV), we attempt to explain how INVs develop capabilities necessary for successful internationalization. Our conceptual framework compliments IE literature, as fostering a culture within the firm that advances ambidextrous innovation capabilities necessary for resource-constrained INVs to succeed in turbulent global markets. The study develops propositions and concludes with the directions for future research and implications for mangers who seek to expand their operations internationally.
Keywords: international new ventures, strategic orientations, ambidextrous innovation, environmental dynamism, accelerated internationalization
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