International Orientation of Chinese Internet SMEs: Direct and Indirect Effects of Foreign and Indigenous Social Networking Site Use

Williams, C.; Du, J.; Zhang, H.

Abstract

We examine how international orientation (IO) of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in China is influenced by foreign and indigenous Social Networking Site (SNS) use. Existing international business theory does not explain how SNS use by emerging market SMEs underpins IO. Combining knowledge-based theory, International Entrepreneurship literature and insights from Information Management, we test a model of opposite effects for the use of foreign and indigenous SNS. Analysis of data from 117 Chinese SMEs provides strong support to the central argument that indigenous rather than foreign SNS helps this new breed of firm to become more internationally-oriented.

Citation

Williams, C., Du, J., & Zhang, H. (2020). International Orientation of Chinese Internet SMEs: Direct and Indirect Effects of Foreign and Indigenous Social Networking Site Use. Journal of World Business, 55(3), Article 101051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2019.101051

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 31, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Dec 10, 2019
• Publication Date: Apr 30, 2020
• Deposit Date: Nov 3, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 10, 2021
• Journal: Journal of World Business
• Print ISSN: 1090-9516
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-5573
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 55
• Issue: 3
• Article Number: 101051
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2019.101051
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1284943