Learning from institutional diversity to innovate: a study of Chinese exporters in digital industries

Jiayi Wang, Zhenzhen Xie, Jiatao Li, Delin Yang

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

While Chinese digital exporters such as Huawei and Lenovo are well known for their broad overseas markets, it is less explored how the markets’ institutional diversity influences their innovation performance. We propose that the institutional diversity of an exporter’s overseas markets tends to facilitate the exporter’s deliberate learning and adaptation, building a diverse knowledge pool that gives rise to innovation. The exporter’s capabilities and incentives for learning strengthen that positive relationship. We examined the argument with data of 14,701 Chinese digital exporters covering 2000–2007. We found that Chinese firms exporting to more institutionally–diverse markets sold more new products than those whose markets were less institutionally diverse. The benefits accrue more to the exporters with more carry-along trade business but less state-ownership. Managerial implications and future research directions are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)384-411
Number of pages28
JournalInternational Journal of Technology Management
Volume87
Issue number2-4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Absorptive capacity
  • China
  • Emerging economies
  • Innovation
  • Institutional diversity
  • Learning by exporting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Industrial relations
  • General Engineering
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Strategy and Management
  • Law

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