중소기업의 국제화 성과에 미치는 디지털 역량과 회복탄력성의 영향: 디지털 플랫폼 의존성의 조절효과를 중심으로

The Impact of Digital Capability and Resilience on SME Internationalization Performance: Focusing on the Moderating Effect of Digital Platform Dependence

Purpose - This study investigates the “Platform Paradox” facing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) during internationalization. While digital platforms reduce transaction costs, they introduce risks regarding structural lock-in and capability neutralization. Drawing on Resource Dependence Theory and the Dynamic Capabilities view, the research empirically analyzes how digital capability and organizational resilience impact international performance, specifically examining the moderating role of digital platform dependence. Design/methodology/approach - Drawing on Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) and the Dynamic Capabilities view, this research constructs a moderated mediation framework. The study utilizes survey data collected from 350 exporting SMEs in South Korea, a leading digital economy heavily reliant on trade. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is employed to test hypothesized relationships between internal digital assets, external platform dependencies, organizational resilience, and international performance measures. Findings - The empirical results indicate that: (1) Both internal digital capability and organizational resilience significantly improve internationalization performance; (2) Digital platform dependence negatively moderates the link between digital capability and performance. Excessive reliance on external platforms neutralizes the competitive advantage gained from a firm's internal digital investments; and (3) Organizational resilience remains a robust driver of performance regardless of the level of platform dependence, acting as a non-substitutable survival mechanism. Research implications or Originality - The research challenges prevailing “digital evangelism” by highlighting the dark side of platform ecosystems. It advocates for “Strategic Decoupling”—maintaining internal digital competencies while utilizing platforms selectively—to ensure digital sovereignty. Policy support must therefore shift from simply facilitating platform entry to fostering SMEs' independent digital ecosystems and data ownership capabilities.