Do innovators perform abroad? Findings from two producer's service sectors

This research explores the relationship between service innovation and international development in producers' service firms. A theoretical model explaining how firms achieve international performance is tested using the partial least-squares (PLS) method. Data are obtained from a specific survey answered by 51 French top managers of internationalised business service firms. The result shows that service innovation plays a significant role in international performance but far less than international experience and even less than the mastery of Information and Communication Technology. International competence of the firm's personnel also enhances innovative behaviour. In this sample, these two kinds of skill seem to be the best drivers towards international performance.