Emerging markets are experiencing immense institutional transformations, which present substantial opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurial firms attempting to grow their businesses. The main challenges arise from the fact that emerging markets are less productive, and uncertainty and risk are high due to less transparency. Consequently, dissimilar to their counterparts in developed markets, entrepreneurial firms in developing economies are characterised by limited internationalisation knowledge and process, which are pivotal for developing export marketing strategy effectively.

Building on insights from institutional theory and dynamic capabilities, this study investigates the relationships of cross-functional capabilities with export marketing strategy implementation and, ultimately, its influence on export performance. This study utilizes multiple-informant and time-lagged primary data from 218 exporting firms in Nigeria to contribute to an understanding of how export marketing capabilities can be implemented to drive export performance. The results suggest contrasting moderating effects of psychic distance and competitive intensity on the cross-functional capabilities to export marketing strategy implementation relationship. This research contributes to the international business and marketing literature by advancing the knowledge on marketing capabilities and strategy implementation, and highlights managerial implications for international business.

The global diffusions of free trade agreements have encouraged an increasing number of companies to participate in foreign markets. However, export firms fall behind big data-based customers in international export markets. The gap between the needs of export markets and the capabilities of export companies is broadening. Marketing capabilities are export firms’ ability to understand what target customers want and develop tactical marketing actions and allocate available resources, and achieve export performance (Day 1994; Vorhies and Morgan, 2003). Export firms have to enhance marketing capabilities to narrow the gap (Day, 2011). This study investigates marketing capabilities, export marketing strategies, and their relationships with export performance of the export companies in an industrial complex in South Korea. This study tries to find how marketing variables impact the performance of export firms through the relationships among them. Marketing literature examined that the suitability between marketing capabilities and export marketing strategy is important because of its impact on export performance. Export marketing literature reviewed that export firms’ characteristics such as international experience, firm size, firm age, and export intensity, firm level of market orientation are considered positively related to export performance. Especially for inexperienced and small and medium-sized firms, which have limited marketing resources to achieve successful export performance, the right choice of export marketing, export marketing strategy, and export performance is indispensable. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating effects of export firms’ characteristics on the interactive linkages within marketing capability, export marketing strategy, and export performance. Our first focus in this study is the relationships between marketing capabilities and export strategies and both export marketing strategy and export performance. We discuss their relationships with each other and with export firms’ performance. We develop testable hypotheses as shown in Fig.1. The final samples we used are 104 manufactured export firms in S. Korea. Next, as a result of testing, based on the relationships of having positive effects, we identify the moderating effects of export firms’ characteristics. Our research model proposes that marketing capabilities affect export marketing strategies and ‘specialized marketing capabilities’. These affect the overall export performance. We therefore hypothesize that H1: Marketing organizational capability is positively related to (a) export marketing strategy and (b) specialized export marketing capability. H2: Marketing human resource capability is positively related to (a) export marketing strategy and (b) specialized export marketing capability. H3: Marketing financial capability is positively related to (a) export marketing strategy and (b) specialized export marketing capability. H4: Marketing infrastructure is positively related to (a) export marketing strategy and (b) specialized export marketing capability. H5: Export marketing strategy is positively related to (a) specialized export marketing capability and (b) export performance. H6: Specialized export marketing capability is positively related to export performance. The results of our PLS-SEM analyses are as follows. Our results support H1b, linking marketing organizational capability and specialized export marketing capability. Marketing infrastructure was found to be positively related to both export marketing strategy and specialized export marketing capability, supporting H4a and H4b, respectively. We also observed that export marketing strategy a positive link with specialized export marketing capability and export performance, supporting H5a and H5b, respectively. However, no support is found for H2, H3, and H6. Moderating Effects of Export firms’ Characteristic Factors We tested how export firms’ characteristics moderate the relationships described in our research model (Hypotheses1-6) We used the moderate factors such as export product (final product vs. parts), customer (domestic vs. overseas, company (manufacturer vs. vendor), employment size (less than 100 person, 100 to300, more than 300), sales(less than $46 million, $46 million to $182 million, more than $182 million), export intensity (less than 50% vs. more than 50%) The moderating effects of export firms’ characteristics on the relationships within our research model are discussed (see Figure 1). Four of 30 moderating hypotheses for export firms’ characteristics were supported. The more number of employees and Greater sales volume strengthened the relationships between marketing infrastructures and export marketing strategies. Higher foreign customer strengthened the relationships between marketing infrastructure and specialized export marketing capability. Greater final products strengthened the relationships between export marketing strategies and export performance. However, the relationships between marketing organizational capability and specialized export marketing capability and between export marketing strategy and specialized export marketing capability were not significantly changed with export firms’ characteristic factors. There are no moderating effects on the types of firm and the types of export intensity. The results of this research suggest that the export companies should consider the choice of export marketing strategies the most important factor to achieve high export performance. This study indicates that policy makers for export companies in S. Korea should develop export assistant programs based on export firms’ characteristic factors such as the number of employee, sales volume, the type of customer, and the type of export product. Following limitations of this research should be noted. First, in addition to the manufacturing industry, more researches should be done in other industries. The findings of this study will ensure more validation. Second, to assess the export performance of export firms, this study uses the subjective opinion of respondent about the degree of export performance because of the difficulties of obtaining financial data. The objective financial data should be used to ensure more objectiveness for this research. Third, this study relies on survey data related to the export companies within an industrial complex area in S. Korea. It should be extended to other regions.

한국의 쌀 수급상황을 볼 때 생산은 유지되고 소비는 줄어들며 외국쌀 수입은 늘게 되어 공급과잉이 전망되므로 관세화에 대한 대응책으로 수출시장 개척이 중요한 과제이다. 본 연구는 현재 우리 쌀을 가장 많이 수출하고 있는 호주와 인접한 뉴질랜드 시장의 유통실태를 조사하여, 쌀 수출 확대를 위한 대응방안을 모색코자 하였으며 결과는 다음과 같이 요약된다. 1. 호주의 쌀 생산 및 유통실태를 파악하고, 한국 수출 쌀의 주요 고객인 호주 교민을 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하였다. 주요 조사항목은 쌀 구입 및 소비행태, 한국 쌀 가격 및 품질 등에 대한 의견, 개선사항 등이었다. 응답자는 324명으로 연령별로는 60대(41.0%), 10년 이상 거주자(58.3%)가 가장 많았다. 2. 호주의 쌀 유통경로는 크게 국내 생산품과 해외 수입품의 2가지로 나뉜다. 호주에서 생산된 쌀은 도매단계에서 80% 이상이 해외로 수출되며, 나머지는 국내 일부 소비층 또는 다른 가공업체에 공급된다. 수입 쌀의 국가별 비중은 태국, 인도, 파키스탄, 미국(8.7%), 베트남, 이탈리아, 한국(0.8%)의 순이다. 3. 호주 교민의 쌀 구매 시 중요시하는 요인은 품질(50.0%)이 가장 많고, 가격(17.0%), 생산지(17.0%), 브랜드(8.3%) 등이었다. 가격은 비싸다(44.1%), 아주 비싸다(9.3%)가 적당하다(42.0%)보다 많았다. 따라서 호주 수출용 쌀은 품질을 우선시하면서 가격대를 낮추는 전략이 중요함을 보여주고 있다. 4. 호주의 인접시장인 뉴질랜드에서는 한국 쌀을 수입 판매한 경험이 있는 업체들과 한인마트의 유통실태를 조사하였다. 자포니카 쌀 시장에서 미국쌀과 경쟁하기 위해서는 가격경쟁력을 높이고 수요가 증가하고 있는 초밥용과 중국계를 겨냥한 마케팅 전략이 중요한 것으로 나타났다. 5. 앞으로 한국 쌀의 수출 확대를 위해서는 최고품질과 안전성으로 승부하는 고가미 시장과 개발도상국을 대상으로 하는 중저가미 시장 등 2 트랙 전략이 필요하다. 품질을 기본으로 하면서 생산비 절감을 통한 가격경쟁력 제고가 시급한 과제이며, 쌀 소비패턴 등 해외시장에 대한 정보축적과 한국 쌀의 인지도를 높이기 위한 홍보강화도 중요하다. 6. 잠재적 수출시장에 한국 쌀의 우수성을 알릴 수 있는 정보도 체계적으로 공급하여야 하며, 인지도를 제고하기 위해 마케팅에 정책적 지원이 요구된다. 수출용 쌀 통합브랜드 개발과 엄격한 품질관리, 장기유통을 위한 포장재 개발, 수출전문생산단지 조성과 전문 업체 육성도 필요하다. 또한 전문성을 갖춘 인력양성이 병행되어야 효율성을 높일 수 있을 것이다.

Although many studies were conducted to understand the relationship between Export Marketing Strategies (EMS) and Export Marketing Performance (EMP) (Cavusgil & Zou 1994; Zou & Stan 1998) the majority involved medium-large size companies and took place on developed countries (Cunha, Rocha & Moraes, 2012). The role of managers on influencing marketing strategies (considering marketing mix decision about adaption or standardization) was not comprehensively analyzed. In order to fulfill some gaps Cunha (2012) developed a research to understand the empirical link on Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) from emerging countries, but the role of entrepreneurs was not completely understood. In order to clarify this link, the reference model used was redesigned to explore Entrepreneurial Marketing (EM) and its influence on EMS and EMP. The relevance of MSE on emerging markets, especially in Brazil, is frequently explored considering number of existing companies and job generation in local market (according to SEBRAE & DIEESE (2013) MSE represent 99% of all Brazilian companies – 6.3 million firms, 52% of formal jobs and 40% of total wage paid in previous year). Together they represented 25% of GDP. Concerning internationalization and export activities, nineteen thousand companies generated US255 billion at foreign markets. More than 61% of them were MSE, but its sales participated with only 1% of this total (SEBRAE 2012). The EM construct has its foundations on studies developed by Hills and Hultman (2011) who tried to bring a consensus to definition, based on the mainstream concerns regarding this subject. They highlighted two complementary competences: planning (Filion 2000; Dornelas 2008; Nassif, Andreassi & Simões 2011); and intuition (Mitchell, Friga & Mitchell 2005; La Pira 2011; Nassif, Andreassi & Simões 2011). Both affect EMS and EMP differently. Our research was conduct with 173 MSE in order to examine the influence of entrepreneurial marketing on export marketing strategies and also the influence of EM and EMS on export performance. The results indicate that both entrepreneurs’ competences have a significant impact (Hair et al. 2009) on export marketing performance as anticipated in our hypothesis. Firstly, planning competence has a direct and positive effect on EMP because of a strategic variable related to perceived success of its international venture, and also because of an economic indicator related to exportation growing rate; it can be explained by the fact that a well and careful planning, allied to an high entrepreneurs’ commitment level may result on more success. The evidences are explained by strong training and support to intermediaries (distribution channel), that will help them better understanding and commercializing products - and through product strategy and packaging adaptation to the new market. Secondly, we also identified an unexpected effect caused by intuition – despite significance the influence was negative. Considering that we measured variables and perception in a three-year period, decisions based on intuition tend to be less result-oriented and carefully taken and results evaluation doesn’t have strong comparison bases. We observed an important effect of EM on export marketing strategy. (1) Product adaptation is strong and positively influenced by manager’s international competence (Douglas & Craig 1989; Cavusgil, Zou & Naidu1993). The entrepreneurs understand market rules, try to enhance competitiveness, respect local barriers and adapt offers diminishing risks. Investments reflect need or concern of matching market needs - i.e. label translation to local language. (2) Communication adaptation is positively influenced by entrepreneurs’ competence (high on planning and low on intuition), despite limited budget. (3) Price competitiveness is strong and positively influenced by entrepreneur planner. This expected effect corroborated the study of Cunha (2012), which identified the importance of adaptation of this marketing mix element to MSE, and also the relationship with pricing strategy as followers internationally (Solberg, Stöttinger & Yaprak 2006; Cunha & Moraes, 2011). (4) Considering distribution there is no influence of planner on support to intermediary. On the other hand, it is strong and negatively affected by intuitive entrepreneurs (our findings lead us to a conclusion that a lack of planning might jeopardize process of distribution adaptation). Our literature review showed that relationship and support to intermediaries is a key-success factor (Rosson & Ford 1982; Christensen, Rocha & Gertner 1987; Solberg, Stöttinger & Yaprak 2006). The negative result drove us to the importance of a well established relationship among exporters and intermediaries, as identified on the impact of export marketing performance by support to intermediaries –we expected to identify it on our research, but it seems that, if a company wants to succeed abroad it is mandatory to carefully manage this marketing element - one reason for our conclusions is supported by the Theory of Networks (Johanson & Vahlne 1990; Andersson, Forsgren & Holm 2002). All in all, our assumptions about the existent influence of entrepreneurial marketing on export marketing strategy and export marketing performance was supported in our study developed with MSE from emerging markets. We also observed the positive effect of EMS on EMP that fulfills our research objectives.

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence that factors for a successful venture have on business performance. To fulfill this goal, factors for a successful venture are presupposed as the four elements of business creator, technological innovation, type of strategy, and organization, while business performance is set as subordinate variable, with a view to creating a model and establishing a hypothesis for a positive analysis. Data collection for the positive analysis was conducted using a questionnaire, and as for sampling, of the companies located in Seoul and greater metropolitan region and registered with Small and Medium Business Administration as of late December 2012, 98 companies have been selected for the final data. And I have come up with the two following results. First, factors for venture success have all proven to exercise statistically significant influence on business performance. Second, of all factors for venture success, business creator and technological innovation exercise huge influence on business performance, as compared to the other factors. From these two conclusions, it is understood that to upgrade business performance of a venture, business creator and technological innovation should be given priority over the other factors.

효과적인 수출마케팅 전략을 개발하는 것은 수출성과를 높이는데 매우 중요하다. 지금까지 수출 마케팅전략과 수출성과의 관계에 대한 연구는 주로 선진국 수출기업을 대상으로 선진국의 관점에서 진행되어 왔다. 따라서 본 연구는 이러한 수출 마케팅전략과 수출성과와의 관계를 수출주도형 경제발전전략으로 성공한 중진국인 한국의 경험에 비추어 살펴보았다. 구체적으로 수출 마케팅 전략의 다섯 가지 주요 마케팅 믹스, 예를 들어 제품, 브랜드, 가격, 유통, 촉진 믹스가 한국 기업의 수출성과에 어떠한 영향을 미치는가를 살펴보았다. 연구결과를 살펴보면, 고유 브랜드의 사용, 제품 적응 전략, 가격 적응 전략, 직접 수출 경로 및 해외 유통업체에 대한 판촉 등이 수출 성과에 긍정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 해외 광고비와 해외 전시회 참가 등은 수출성과에 영향을 미치지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 마지막으로 본 연구의 연구결과와 선진국의 수출기업을 대상으로 한 과거 연구 결과와의 비교가 이루어지고 한국 및 개도국 기업의 수출마케팅전략에 대한 시사점이 제시되었다.

외국어 능력이 수출마케팅에 미치는 영향을 살펴보기 위하여 증권거래소에 상장된 400개 기업을 조사하였다. 연구 결과는 외국어 능력이 수출마케팅에 긍정적인 효과를 미치고 있음을 보여주고 있다. 영어 구사능력이 우수한 기업일수록 해외시장 정보를 용이하게 수집하거나 현지의 상관습을 잘 이해하고 있으며, 협상시 상대방의 의도를 파악하여 심리적으로 경쟁사보다 유리한 위치에 설 수 있다. 또 수출마케팅 능력의 향상은 수출성과의 증대로 이어지고 있다. 수출마케팅 부서 내에 영어를 능숙하게 구사할 수 있는 임직원의 비율이 높을수록 해외시장 정보를 경쟁기업보다 용이하게 확보하고 있으며 이러한 능력이 수출비중의 증가로 이어지는 것으로 분석되었다. 수출 부서 내에 영어를 능숙하게 구사하는 임직원의 수가 많을수록 현지의 상관습을 보다 용이하게 파악하며, 상관습의 이해는 수출 성장률을 높이는데 도움을 주고 있다.

After the outbreak of the epidemic, China’s foreign trade industry has been greatly impacted, and the survival of Chinese export enterprises in the post-epidemic era has become more difficult, and the surge in Sino-US trade frictions has further aggravated the difficult status quo of China’s export industry. This paper studies the relationship between marketing ability and export performance through literature research and mathematical analysis, aiming to help Chinese export enterprises get rid of the current situation of downturn, improve market competitiveness, and put forward feasible guidance strategies for improving the export performance of Chinese enterprises.