We propose a conceptual model of the drivers, moderators, and outcomes of a firm’s effective import strategy, anchored on the Dynamic Capabilities and Industrial Organization theories. While the former theory explains the mechanism through which dynamic capabilities facilitate import strategy effectiveness that boosts competitive advantage and ultimately enhances financial performance, the latter theory sets the foundation for explaining the contingency role of both competitive intensity and environmental uncertainty on translating effective import strategy into competitive advantage. The model was tested using a sample of 151 British importers of small-to-medium size, with results indicating that possession of high levels of certain dynamic capabilities of a generic (i.e., adaptive and entrepreneurial) and import-specific (i.e., source identification and market development) nature are conducive to import strategy effectiveness. The latter was found to generate both product-differentiation advantage and low-cost advantage, although this was contingent on the degree of competitive intensity and environmental uncertainty prevailing in the importer’s home market. Finally, it was confirmed that both product-differentiation advantage and low-cost advantage have a favorable impact on the importer’s financial performance.

我们提出了一个基于动态能力和产业组织理论的公司有效进口战略的驱动因素、调节因素和结果的概念模型。前一种理论解释了动态能力促进进口战略有效性的机制，从而提高了竞争优势并最终提高了财务绩效，后一种理论为解释竞争强度和环境不确定性在将有效进口战略转化为竞争优势的过程中的权变作用奠定了基础。优势。该模型使用 151 个英国中小型进口商的样本进行了测试，结果表明具有通用（即适应性和创业性）和进口特定（即，来源识别和市场开发）性质有利于进口战略的有效性。后者被发现会产生产品差异化优势和低成本优势，尽管这取决于进口商本国市场的竞争强度和环境不确定性的程度。最后，证实了产品差异化优势和低成本优势都对进口商的财务业绩产生了有利影响。