Abstract
The informal institutions construct has not been well understood in prior research. We contribute to the informal institutions literature by developing a generalized two-by-two conceptualization of institutions that juxtapose the dimension of behavioral uncertainty versus environmental uncertainty and the dimension of informal institutions versus formal institutions. In particular, we theorize informal institutions based on the extent to which they reduce behavioral uncertainty or environmental uncertainty, as well as their alignment with the formal institutional environment with respect to the two types of uncertainty. Leveraging this fourfold typology, we shed new light on the importance of informal institutional conditions in theories of firms’ absorptive capacity and performance. Using a cross-country meta-analytical approach, we find that a firm’s absorptive capacity is more positively related to performance outcomes in countries with informal institutions that reduce behavioral uncertainty and environmental uncertainty. Furthermore, the misalignment between informal and formal institutions with respect to behavioral uncertainty and environmental uncertainty weakens the relationship between absorptive capacity and performance outcomes. Overall, by re-emphasizing the fundamental role of informal institutions in reducing behavioral and environmental uncertainties, our typology offers a fine-grained perspective to conceptualize informal institutions and constitutes an opportunity to advance theory in informal institutions and international business.
Résumé
La construction des institutions informelles n’a pas été bien comprise dans les recherches antérieures. Nous contribuons à la littérature sur les institutions informelles en développant une conceptualisation généralisée deux par deux des institutions qui juxtapose la dimension de l’incertitude comportementale par rapport à l’incertitude environnementale et la dimension des institutions informelles par rapport aux institutions formelles. En particulier, nous théorisons les institutions informelles en fonction de la mesure dans laquelle elles réduisent l’incertitude comportementale ou l’incertitude environnementale, et en fonction de leur alignement sur l’environnement institutionnel formel en ce qui concerne les deux types d’incertitude. En nous appuyant sur cette quadruple typologie, nous proposons un nouvel éclairage sur l’importance des conditions institutionnelles informelles dans les théories sur la capacité d’absorption et les performances des entreprises. En utilisant une approche méta-analytique transnationale, nous constatons que la capacité d’absorption d’une entreprise est plus positivement liée aux résultats des performances dans les pays où les institutions informelles réduisent l’incertitude comportementale et l’incertitude environnementale. En outre, le déséquilibre entre les institutions informelles et formelles en ce qui concerne l’incertitude comportementale et environnementale affaiblit la relation entre la capacité d’absorption et les résultats en matière de performance. Dans l’ensemble, en soulignant à nouveau le rôle fondamental des institutions informelles dans la réduction des incertitudes comportementales et environnementales, notre typologie offre un cadre d’analyse précis pour conceptualiser les institutions informelles et constitue une opportunité pour faire avancer la théorie sur les institutions informelles et pour l’international business.
Resumen
El constructo de instituciones informales no ha sido bien entendido en las investigaciones anteriores. Contribuimos a la literatura sobre instituciones informales al desarrollar a conceptualización generalizada dos por dos de las instituciones que yuxtaponen la dimensión de incertidumbre conductual versus incertidumbre ambiental y la dimensión de instituciones informales versus instituciones formales. En particular, teorizamos las instituciones informales basadas en la medida que estas reducen la incertidumbre comportamental o la incertidumbre ambiental, así mismo su alineación con el ambiente institucional formal con respecto a los dos tipos de incertidumbre. Apalancándonos en esta tipología cuádruple, arrojamos nueva luz sobre la importancia de las condiciones institucionales informales en las teorías de capacidad de absorción y desempeño de las empresas. Usando un enfoque meta-analítico de distintos países, encontramos que la capacidad de absorción de una empresa se relaciona más positivamente con los resultados de desempeño en los países con instituciones informales que reducen la incertidumbre comportamental y la incertidumbre ambiental. Además, la desalineación entre las instituciones formales e informales con respecto a la incertidumbre comportamental y la incertidumbre ambiental debilita la relación entre la capacidad de absorción y los resultados de desempeño. En términos generales, al re-enfatizar en el papel fundamental de las instituciones informales en la reducción de las incertidumbres comportamentales y ambientales, nuestra tipología ofrece una perspectiva detallada para conceptualizar las instituciones informales y constituye una oportunidad para avanzar la teoría de instituciones informales y negocios internacionales.
Resumo
O construto instituições informais não foi bem compreendido em pesquisas anteriores. Contribuímos para a literatura sobre instituições informais, desenvolvendo uma conceituação generalizada dois por dois de instituições que justapõe a dimensão da incerteza comportamental versus incerteza ambiental e a dimensão de instituições informais versus instituições formais. Em particular, teorizamos instituições informais com base na medida em que reduzem a incerteza comportamental ou ambiental, bem como seu alinhamento com o ambiente institucional formal no que diz respeito a dois tipos de incerteza. Aproveitando essa tipologia quádrupla, lançamos nova luz sobre a importância de condições institucionais informais em teorias de capacidade de absorção e desempenho das empresas. Usando uma abordagem meta-analítica entre países, descobrimos que a capacidade de absorção de uma empresa está mais positivamente relacionada aos resultados de desempenho em países com instituições informais que reduzem incerteza comportamental e ambiental. Além disso, o desalinhamento entre instituições formais e informais em relação à incerteza comportamental e incerteza ambiental enfraquece a relação entre capacidade de absorção e resultados de desempenho. No geral, ao reenfatizar o papel fundamental de instituições informais na redução de incertezas comportamentais e incertezas ambientais, nossa tipologia oferece uma perspectiva refinada para conceituar instituições informais e constitui uma oportunidade para o avanço da teoria em instituições informais e negócios internacionais.
摘要
非正式制度的概念在先前的研究中尚未得到很好的认识。我们通过开发广义二乘二的制度概念化, 将行为不确定性与环境不确定性的对比以及非正式制度与正式制度的对比的维度相并列, 对非正式制度文献做出了贡献。尤其是, 我们基于非正式制度减少行为不确定性或环境不确定性的程度, 以及它们在两种不确定性方面与正式制度环境的一致性, 对非正式制度进行了理论化。利用这种四重分类, 我们对在公司吸收能力和绩效理论中的非正式制度条件的重要性提供了新见解。使用跨国元分析方法, 我们发现在具有减少行为不确定性和环境不确定性的非正式制度的国家中, 公司的吸收能力与绩效结果更加正相关。此外, 非正式和正式制度之间在行为不确定性和环境不确定性方面的错位削弱了吸收能力与绩效结果之间的关系。总体而言, 通过重新强调非正式制度在减少行为以及环境不确定性方面的基本作用, 我们的分类法对非正式制度的概念化提供了一种细微的视角, 并对非正式制度和国际商务在理论上的推进提供了机会。
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We sincerely thank Editor Marjorie A. Lyles, Joseph T. Mahoney, Aya S. Chacar, other participants at the JIBS special issue workshop, and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on earlier versions of the paper.
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Yao, F.K., Jiang, K., Combs, D.R. et al. Informal institutions and absorptive capacity: A cross-country meta-analytic study. J Int Bus Stud 53, 1091–1109 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-020-00361-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-020-00361-7