Exploring entrepreneur's human capital components and effects on learning orientation in early internationalizing firms | |
| Author | Chonnatcha Kungwansupaphan |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.SM-12-12 |
| Subject(s) | Human capital Entrepreneurship |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Dissertation ; no. SM-12-12 |
| Abstract | The present study examine s the relationship between entrepreneurs’ human capital components and learning orientation in the context of early internationalizing firms. This research therefore aims to broaden the understanding of the role played by entre preneurs’ human capital components in influencing a firm’s learning orientation, as well as extending the knowledge regarding how each human capital component is related to one another. A research model is proposed based on the integration of the human cap ital theory, resource - based view theory, learning concept, and on the literature of strategic management and international entrepreneurship. The model consists of a learning orientation construct and four constructs of entrepreneurs’ human capital componen ts, namely international business skill, international business knowledge, entrepreneurial competence, managerial competence. Data were collected based on the questionnaire survey. The empirical analysis was carried out on a sample of 158 firms that engag e in the early international activity in the food industry in Thailand. This study conducted the Partial least square technique to test the structural equation models and hypotheses. After that, the qualitative method was adopted in which individual inter views were conducted with entrepreneurs from three selected early internationalizing firms in the food industry. The results from these illustrative case studies provide a supplementary to the empirical findings, confirm our hypotheses and support the prop osed research model. The research findings reveal the existing relationship between entrepreneurs’ human capital components and EIFs’ learning orientation. The findings also indicate that the four specific components of human capital are interrelated in wh ich an entrepreneur’s skill and knowledge in international business enhance his/her entrepreneurial and managerial competencies. These competencies, in turn, play an important role in facilitating and influencing a firm’s learning orientation. Implications , limitations and suggestions for future research are addresse d at the end of this thesis. |
| Year | 2012 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Dissertation ; no. SM-12-12 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Management (SOM) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Master of Business Administration (MBA) (Publication code=SM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Sununta Siengthai |
| Examination Committee(s) | Winai Wongsurawat ;Manukid Parnichkun ;Supasith Chonglerttham |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Thai Government (RTG) |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2012 |