Microfoundations of early internationalization capabilities: the role of managerial cognitive capability
Keywords:
Cognitive capacity, Early internationalization, Born global, Microfoundations of capacitiesAbstract
This paper examines the relationship between managerial cognitive ability and
the international performance of early internationalizing firms, grounded in the
microfoundations theory of capabilities and focusing the analysis at the individual
level. Empirical validation is conducted through a canonical correlation analysis,
utilizing data from the 2015 and 2019 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). Proxy
variables were selected to represent both the degree of business internationalization
and the cognitive abilities of entrepreneurs surveyed across various contexts. The
findings reveal a positive relationship between the development of entrepreneurs’
cognitive capabilities and the international performance of born-global firms.
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