Post-entry internationalization speed, learning speed, and performance: A meta-analytic review and theory extension

Research Summary

The impact of post-entry internationalization speed (PIS) on firm performance has become a central issue in global strategy research. This paper conducts a meta-analysis concerning the relationships between two dimensions (i.e., international commitment speed and international scope speed) of PIS and performance, and the moderating effects of learning speed on these relationships among international firms. Empirical evidence from 60 independent samples reveals that international commitment speed positively influences performance, while international scope speed has an inverted U-shaped impact on performance. Our results also indicate that learning speed negatively moderates the link between international commitment speed and performance, whereas it positively moderates the association between international scope speed and performance. Based on the findings, we discuss the contributions to the global strategy literature, organizational learning theory and time-based competition view, and point at future research directions systematically.

Managerial Summary

We analyze the relationships between two types (i.e., international commitment speed and international scope speed) of post-entry internationalization speed (PIS) and performance among international firms. We find that accelerating international commitment speed facilitates performance, while expediting international scope speed first facilitates and then inhibits performance. We also find that learning speed weakens the positive influence of international commitment speed on performance, whereas it strengthens the association between international scope speed and performance. These findings have important implications for managers in international firms seeking to achieve superior firm performance.