{"title":"How innovation performance feedback influences R&D internationalization: Evidence from emerging economic firms","authors":"Mengya Li , Chen Hao","doi":"10.1016/j.intman.2026.101368","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Innovation performance feedback is a fundamental mechanism that shapes firms' strategic adaptation under uncertainty. Drawing on the behavioral theory of the firm (BTF), this study explores how firms interpret and act upon innovation performance feedback when they are configuring their R&D internationalization portfolios. On the basis of data from Chinese listed manufacturing firms between 2015 and 2021, we find that firms experiencing innovation performance surplus expand both the breadth and depth of their global R&D activities, whereas those facing innovation performance shortfalls selectively retreat, particularly from depth-oriented engagement. Furthermore, firms' international experience and industry technological uncertainty can moderate these relationships, amplifying or constraining the impact of innovation performance signals on internationalization behavior. This research provides both a theoretical extension of the BTF from a configurational perspective and practical implications for firms navigating global innovation strategies in complex environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47937,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Management","volume":"32 3","pages":"Article 101368"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of International Management","FirstCategoryId":"91","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1075425326000426","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/4/8 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MANAGEMENT","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Innovation performance feedback is a fundamental mechanism that shapes firms' strategic adaptation under uncertainty. Drawing on the behavioral theory of the firm (BTF), this study explores how firms interpret and act upon innovation performance feedback when they are configuring their R&D internationalization portfolios. On the basis of data from Chinese listed manufacturing firms between 2015 and 2021, we find that firms experiencing innovation performance surplus expand both the breadth and depth of their global R&D activities, whereas those facing innovation performance shortfalls selectively retreat, particularly from depth-oriented engagement. Furthermore, firms' international experience and industry technological uncertainty can moderate these relationships, amplifying or constraining the impact of innovation performance signals on internationalization behavior. This research provides both a theoretical extension of the BTF from a configurational perspective and practical implications for firms navigating global innovation strategies in complex environments.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of International Management is devoted to advancing an understanding of issues in the management of global enterprises, global management theory, and practice; and providing theoretical and managerial implications useful for the further development of research. It is designed to serve an audience of academic researchers and educators, as well as business professionals, by publishing both theoretical and empirical research relating to international management and strategy issues. JIM publishes theoretical and empirical research addressing international business strategy, comparative and cross-cultural management, risk management, organizational behavior, and human resource management, among others.