| Keywords [eng] |
Digital technology adoption, international expansion, organizational digital capabilities, platform integration, institutional restrictiveness, digital internationalization,International outcomes, digital technologies |
| Abstract [eng] |
The research problem is formulated as the following question: how do digital technology adoption, organizational digital capabilities, institutional restrictiveness, and platform integration affect firms’ international expansion outcomes? The object of the thesis is the relationship between digital technology adoption and firms’ international expansion outcomes. The aim of the thesis is to theoretically and empirically investigate how digital technology adoption influences international expansion outcomes, assessing the roles of organizational digital capabilities, institutional restrictiveness, and platform integration. Based on the theoretical analysis and synthesis of prior research, the thesis develops a conceptual model in which Digital Technology Adoption is the independent variable, International Expansion Outcomes is the dependent variable, Organizational Digital Capabilities serves as a mediator, and Institutional Restrictiveness and Platform Integration serve as moderating factors. The empirical study applies a quantitative research strategy. Data were collected via an online survey in May 2026, yielding 263 usable responses. The results show that Digital Technology Adoption has a statistically significant positive effect on International Expansion Outcomes (H1 supported: β = +0.191, p = .002). The mediating role of Organizational Digital Capabilities was not statistically confirmed. The moderating effects of Institutional Restrictiveness and Platform Integration were also not supported. However, the most significant empirical finding is that Platform Integration emerged as a strong and robust direct predictor of International Expansion Outcomes (β = +0.335–0.362, p < .001, R² = 10.6%), constituting the dominant predictor across all model specifications. The full model explains 15.7% of variance in international expansion outcomes and is statistically significant (F(9,253) = 5.250, p < .001). The key empirical conclusion of the thesis is that successful international expansion is explained not only by overall digital technology adoption but above all by the strategic depth of platform ecosystem integration. Firms that integrate more deeply with platform logistics APIs, cross-border digital payment systems, platform analytics, automated order management, and algorithmic visibility tools achieve significantly better international expansion outcomes. Platform integration is therefore treated not merely as an additional technological element but as an independent strategic factor capable of substantially contributing to firms’ international growth. The thesis consists of an introduction, three main parts, conclusions, recommendations, a reference list, and appendices. The first part examines the theoretical links between digital technologies and international expansion. The second part synthesises prior empirical research and develops the research model. The third part presents the research methodology, data analysis, and hypothesis testing results. Conclusions and recommendations for business practitioners and policy-makers are provided at the end of the thesis. |
