How learning orientation drives the international performance of INVs: the roles of entrepreneurial bricolage and degree of internationalization

Abstract

Purpose Despite extensive research into the effect of organizational learning processes on firm performance, it remains unclear how and when learning orientation influences the international performance of international new ventures (INVs). Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how learning orientation drives the international performance of INVs. Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modeling is used to test the research model with questionnaire data from mainland Chinese INVs. Findings Results show that: learning orientation positively influences entrepreneurial bricolage; entrepreneurial bricolage positively influences the international performance of INVs; entrepreneurial bricolage plays a mediating role between learning orientation and international performance; degree of internationalization (DOI) weakens the effect of entrepreneurial bricolage on international performance. Originality/value This study makes a useful supplement to the INV literature by revealing that entrepreneurial bricolage plays a mediating role in the relationship between learning orientation and the international performance of INVs. It also contributes to the entrepreneurial bricolage literature by introducing entrepreneurial bricolage into the empirical research of INVs and identifying the learning orientation antecedents and performance consequences of entrepreneurial bricolage. In addition, this paper enriches the understanding of the boundary conditions for how entrepreneurial bricolage affects international performance showing that DOI has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between entrepreneurial bricolage and international performance.