Title: The role of employees' market-knowledge absorptive capacity in developing the export-market orientation

Authors: Zeeshan Ullah

Addresses: University of Oulu, Erkki Koiso-Kanttilan Katu, 90570 Oulu, Finland; Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Yliopistokatu 6, 90570 Oulu, Finland

Abstract: This paper aims to draw on a micro-foundation view and a knowledge-based view to emphasise the role of employees' absorptive capacity (AC) in developing the export-market orientation (EMO). This conceptual paper is developed based on prior academic contributions, hence, uses the theory adaptation and model approaches. Based on the micro-foundations and knowledge-based views, this paper develops a conceptual framework to understand the role of employees' market-knowledge AC in developing the EMO. To further deepen the understanding, this paper disaggregates the employees' market-knowledge AC into employees' market-knowledge absorptive capability and employees' market-knowledge absorption efforts. It proposes conceptualisations of employees' market-knowledge absorptive capability and employees' market-knowledge absorption efforts in developing the EMO to bring coherence to the relationship between employees' market-knowledge AC and EMO. This paper clarifies how employees' market-knowledge AC develops the EMO activities in an organisation.

Keywords: export-market orientation; EMO; employees' market-knowledge absorptive capacity; AC; employees' market-knowledge absorptive capabilities; employees' market-knowledge absorption efforts; knowledge-based view; micro-foundation's view.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEXPORTM.2022.130506

International Journal of Export Marketing, 2022 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.377 - 401

Received: 19 Oct 2022
Accepted: 20 Feb 2023
Published online: 24 Apr 2023 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article