Cognitive antecedents of EMNEs’ dynamic capabilities: A case study of global identity at Lenovo

From a cognitive perspective, we examine how global identity facilitates the development of dynamic capabilities during EMNEs’ internationalization. Triangulating multiple sources of data during 1984–2021, we conduct an intensive case study of Lenovo to address this question. First, we present an evolutionary shift from local to global identity at Lenovo through its claims and images. Second, we find three cognitive components of organizational global identity: diverse human capital, global vision, and agility thinking. The cognitive components of global identity are the building blocks for the construction of the micro-processes of dynamic capabilities in sensing, seizing, and transforming at Lenovo. This research extends our understanding of EMNEs’ internationalization and dynamic capabilities from a cognitive perspective. The findings offer insights about how global identity orchestrates EMNEs’ cognition to enhance their capabilities during internationalization.