Title: Examining how firm and institutional factors affect lean capability development of emerging market firms

Authors: Crystal X. Jiang; Omar R. Malik; Grace Chun Guo

Addresses: Bryant University, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917, USA ' Heidelberg School of Business, Heidelberg University, 310 E. Market Street, Tiffin, OH 44883, USA ' Jack Welch College of Business, Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06825, USA

Abstract: Drawing on the dynamic capabilities view (DCV) and institutional theory, we examine the impact of firm-level and country-level factors on emerging market firms' (EMFs) lean capability development. Based on a sample of 1,702 firms from Brazil, China, and India, we found that EMFs' human resource management (HRM) and process management practices have a positive effect on their lean capability development. Further, EMFs' internationalisation enhances the positive relationship of the firms' HRM practices and lean capability development. At the institutional level, our results suggest that regulatory institutions reinforce the positive effect of process management on EMFs' lean capability development; however, normative institutions (power distance) negatively influence the effect of firms' HRM practices on lean capability development. Our cross-country analysis suggests that, unlike India and Brazil, China's regulatory and normative environments (which have a higher level of power distance) hamper the positive effect of firm-level factors on their firms' lean capability development.

Keywords: lean capability development; emerging market; regulatory institutions; normative institutions; internationalisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEM.2017.087819

International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets, 2017 Vol.9 No.4, pp.414 - 436

Received: 17 May 2016
Accepted: 27 May 2017

Published online: 05 Nov 2017 *

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