Dynamic capabilities as a mediator linking international diversification and innovation performance of firms in an emerging economy

International diversification has become a vital innovation strategy for firms in emerging economies. This study investigates an under-researched topic: the relationships between international diversification, capabilities and innovation performance among firms in an emerging economy. We offer a dynamic capabilities explanation for the relationship between international diversification and firms' innovation performance. By employing a large sample of Chinese manufacturing firms, our investigation demonstrates that while international diversification is important in the innovation effort, its effect on innovation performance is mediated through each firm's opportunity-recognizing capability and opportunity-capitalizing capability. The implications of these findings for theoretical development and future research are discussed.