Combatting global disruption through tertius iungens orientation of CEOs: A moderated-mediated mechanism

Abstract

Utilizing microfoundations theory of internationalization, we explore how micro-multinationals' CEOs tertius iungens orientation, i.e., ability to enhance co-ordination among different parties, influence mMNEs performance during disruptive forces set by the COVID-19 pandemic. We assert that CEOs' tertius iungens orientation leads to better organizational resiliency, i.e., swiftly responding to disruptive changes, and resiliency enhances the mMNEs performance. We thus explore the mediating effect of organizational resiliency in the CEO tertius iungens orientation and mMNE performance relationship. We further assert that the global mindset of the CEO moderates this mediated relationship between the CEO tertius iungens orientation and mMNE performance. We test our hypotheses based on mMNEs in the UK and thus extend mMNE literature, where the role of the upper echelon and their influence on organizational resiliency remains scantly explored, which becomes critical when global forces such as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupt the ordinary course of business.