How Big Data Orientation and Affordances Drive Environmental Collaboration in Internationalizing SMEs

Abstract

Building on the affordance and the resource-based view (RBV) theories, we empirically test a conceptual model, which considers how big data orientation and affordances impact the development of environmental collaboration in internationalizing SMEs. The study considers the moderating effects of competitive intensity on the relationship between big data affordances and environmental collaboration. We use primary data collected from (n = 209) Nigerian SMEs, which internationalize their efforts. The findings reveal the crucial role of big data orientation and big data affordances (e.g., dynamic market responsiveness and data-driven market ambidexterity) in the creation of sustainable and environmentally collaborative ecosystems. We reveal that the positive impact of dynamic market responsiveness on environmental collaboration is stronger at higher levels of competitive intensity in foreign markets. Additionally, we found that the positive effect of data-driven foreign market ambidexterity on environmental collaboration is stronger at lower levels of competitive intensity in foreign markets. Implications for research and practice are presented together with directions for future research.