Exploring the Reciprocal Relationship Between Innovation, Internationalization, and Organizational Learning: A Complex System Model for Small Firms

Joan Freixanet and Iya Yu. Churakova

No 8621, Conference Papers from Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg State University

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between innovation, internationalization, and organizational learning in small businesses. Emergent approaches go beyond the linear causality that has traditionally linked these concepts in previous research in favor of holistic, complex approaches that stress mutual or circular causality. Based on this approach, and after analyzing 285 interviews and 54 companies from various industries, the authors find that the three activities are reciprocally linked to each other, forming a complex system. The firms' evolution over a period of nine years also shows that, faced with various change elements, they evolved and adopted four kinds of configurations, characterized by low and high incremental and radical innovation, local and global internationalization, and adaptive and generative learning. The findings are relevant to scholars, managers, and government policymakers.

Keywords: internationalization; innovation; organizational learning; complex system; complexity theory; small business; SME; incremental innovation; radical innovation; multiplecase study; dynamic model; adaptive learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse, nep-ino and nep-sbm
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