Capabilities, Innovation and Overall Performance in Brazilian Export Firms

Authors

  • José Ednilson de Oliveira Cabral Universidade de Fortaleza Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical
  • Arnaldo Fernandes Matos Coelho Universidade de Coimbra
  • Filipe Jorge Fernandes Coelho Universidade de Coimbra
  • Maria da penha Braga Costa Universidade de Fortaleza Banco do Nordeste

Keywords:

Innovation. Export. Capabilities. Performance. Brazil.

Abstract

This paper extends the current research on innovation by investigating the relationship between innovative capabilities and overall performance in export firms. From the perspectives of resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capability, we examine the differential and interactive effects of exploration and exploitation capabilities in product innovation for external markets and overall performance (direct and mediated by a new product). In addition, we test the moderating effect of market dynamism and the controlling effect of firm size on these relationships. Hence, the main contribution of this article is to develop and empirically test an original model, by combining these constructs that address new relationships, in an emerging country. Our model was tested with data from 498 Brazilian export firms distributed throughout all Brazilian manufacturing sectors, by firm size, and regional States. The analysis was made with the application of structural equation modeling (SEM). We measured all constructs in our study by at least four items which were selected from previous studies in the literature. We found support for the hypotheses that exploitation capabilities influence product innovation and overall performance, whereas exploration capabilities and their interaction with exploitation influence overall performance but not product innovation. Additionally, the relationship between exploitation capabilities and overall performance is mediated by product innovation. Surprisingly, market dynamism does not moderate the relationship between product innovation and overall performance. Furthermore, firm size acts as a controlling variable in the analyzed paths. Regarding the implications for theory, our study adds to the understanding that capabilities exploitation influences a firm’s overall performance both directly and indirectly (via product innovation) and highlights the distinct direct and mediatory effects of innovation on overall performance. These insights show the importance of considering the role of mediating and moderator variables in theory and research models that address the determinants of overall performance to avoid overestimation of the constructs roles. Finally, the work provides original empirical support for the hypothesis of the interdependency of product innovations for external markets and overall performance.

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Author Biographies

José Ednilson de Oliveira Cabral, Universidade de Fortaleza Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical

Graduado e Mestre em Administração, PhD em Economia da tecnologia pela University of Reading – UK e Pós-doutor em Estudos de Inovação pela University of Sussex – UK. Professor do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Administração da Universidade de Fortaleza - UNIFOR. Também atua como pesquisador científico nas áreas de Gestão da Inovação e Marketing Internacional.

Arnaldo Fernandes Matos Coelho, Universidade de Coimbra

Licenciado em Economia pela Universidade de Coimbra é detentor de um diploma de DEA da Universidade de Poitiers e do grau de Mestre pela universidade de Coimbra. É doutorado pela Universidade de Barcelona e professor da Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra e coordenador dos programas de MBA e de Doutoramento em Gestão desta Faculdade. É Colaborador regular da Universidade Estadual do Ceará em Fortaleza. Atua normalmente como consultor e Formador independente nas áreas do Marketing, estratégia e Organização de Empresas.

Filipe Jorge Fernandes Coelho, Universidade de Coimbra

Docente da faculdade de economia da universidade de Coimbra desde 1992, possuindo um doutoramento em marketing pela Manchester Business School (Universidade de Manchester), o qual envolveu uma investigação sobre os determinantes da estratégia de múltiplos canais de distribuição no sector financeiro inglês. As suas áreas de investigação no marketing incluem, entre outras, a orientação para o mercado das organizações, a orientação para o cliente entre empregados de contacto, canais de distribuição e psicologia económica. Nestas áreas tem publicado diversos trabalhos em revistas de natureza científica.

Maria da penha Braga Costa, Universidade de Fortaleza Banco do Nordeste

Graduada, Mestre e Doutora em Administração. O Doutorado foi pbtido na Universidade de Coimbra. Professora dos cursos de Graduação em Administração e em Comércio Exterior da Universidade de Fortaleza - UNIFOR. Também atua como técnica em planejamento no Bando do Nordeste.

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Published

2015-06-23

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 3 (2015): Thematic Special Forum on Innovation

Section

Thematic Special Forum on Innovation

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