Title: The interrelationships between resources, capabilities, export competitive advantages and export performance

Authors: Manuel Portugal Ferreira; Luís Ganhão Simões

Addresses: School of Management and Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Portugal; Graduate School of Management, Universidade Nove de Julho, Av. Francisco Matarazzo, 612, Prédio C-2, 05001-100 São Paulo, Brazil ' School of Management and Technology, globADVANTAGE – Center of Research in International Business & Strategy, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Morro do Lena – Alto Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal

Abstract: Export activities are the main internationalisation mode for firms in the initial stages of foreign expansion. However, the drivers of superior export performance are not yet well understood. In this study, we examine how firms' distinctive resources and capabilities construct export market competitive advantages and how these advantages are associated to superior export performance. That is, we propose to examine the interrelationships between resources, capabilities, export competitive advantages and export performance. We identified different combinations of export-related resources and capabilities as sources of cost, product and service-type advantages and then these are examined as to their influence on three types of export performance: economic, strategic and relational dimensions of export performance. The findings of this study reveal the differentiated influence of resources and capabilities worth pursuing for constructing a competitive advantage to exploit in the foreign markets.

Keywords: export performance; competitive advantage; resources; capabilities; Portugal; internationalisation; export resources; cost advantages; product advantages; service advantages; export competitive advantage; economic performance; strategic performance; relational performance; foreign markets.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEXPORTM.2016.081555

International Journal of Export Marketing, 2016 Vol.1 No.2, pp.142 - 165

Received: 02 Mar 2016
Accepted: 06 Jun 2016
Published online: 13 Jan 2017 *

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