Driving global success: entrepreneurialness and strategic competency of ICT-born global firms in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study investigates the role of entrepreneurialness—measured through international entrepreneurial culture (IEC)—in enhancing the international performance of ICT-born global firms in Sri Lanka, with strategic competency (SC) as a mediating variable. Based on the dynamic capability view, IEC exhibits five strategic orientations: international entrepreneurial orientation, international market orientation, international learning orientation, international network orientation, and international growth orientation. A cross-sectional online survey of 225 ICT firms was analysed using PLS-SEM. The results confirm that all IEC dimensions significantly influence international performance, and through the mediating effect of SC. The findings offer empirical evidence from a developing country context, highlighting how internally driven dynamic capabilities can enable small firms to overcome resource constraints and succeed globally. The study contributes to the literature by offering a new perspective on the multidimensional IEC model and reinforcing the strategic role of SC in the international expansion of born global firms.