Examining the Moderating Effects of MNCs’ Country of Origin in the Relationship between Degree of Inter-Firm Technology Transfer and Local Firms’ Performance

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to empirically examine the moderating effect of MNCs’ country of origin (Western vs. Asian MNCs) in the relationships between degree of inter-firm technology transfer and two dimensions of local firms’ performance: corporate and human resource performances. Using the moderated multiple regression (MMR) analysis, the theoretical models and hypotheses in this study were tested based on empirical data gathered from 128 joint venture companies registered with the Registrar of Companies of Malaysia (ROC). The results revealed that MNCs’ country of origin has significantly affected the relationships between degrees of technology transfer and local firms’ corporate performance; where the relationship was found stronger for Asian MNCs as compared to Western MNCs. However, MNCs’ country of origin did not significantly moderate the relationship between degree of technology transfer and local firms’ human resource performance. The study has bridged the literature gaps in such that it offers empirical evidence and new insights on the significant moderating effects of MNCs’ country of origin in the relationships between degree of inter-firm technology transfer and local firms’ performance technology using the Malaysian sample.