International Strategy and Institutional Environments

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Hitt
Keyword(s):  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Foreign Market ◽  
Institutional Distance ◽  
International Strategy ◽  
Institutional Environments ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Formal Institutions ◽  
Institutional Complexity ◽  
International Strategies

Purpose Country institutions have become of heightened importance for firms’ international strategies in recent years. Herein, I review the reasons for the growing importance of institutional environments and examine how they influence the international strategies of multinational enterprises (MNEs). There have been significant changes in the global, economic and competitive landscapes in recent years. These changes are examined. Design/methodology/approach Three critical and interrelated changes in the global competitive landscape are identified. They include (1) more interconnected (interdependent) national economies, (2) a significantly larger number of multinational firms and (3) growing importance of emerging economies (and their MNEs). These changes have increased the importance of countries institutional environments. Country institutions, both formal institutions (codified and explicit rules and standards that shape behavior) and informal institutions (Shared norms that guide cohesive behaviors) are examined. I explain the influences of institutional complexity, institutional distance and geographic regions on firms’ international strategies. Findings Research has shown that both culture (informal institution) and formal institutions are interrelated and affect firms’ strategies. And, while specific institutions such as intellectual property protection (law and enforcement) are important, the collective influence of institutions has a critical influence on firms’ international strategies. And, institutions are multilevel (national, regional and local-municipal). The institutional complexity (combined effects of multiple institutions and their diversity) is carefully considered in executives’ strategic decisions. When firms consider entering a new foreign market, they also consider the institutional distance between the home and host countries. The differences in culture and in formal institutions compose the institutional distance and affect whether and how firms enter these markets. Greater institutional distance contributes to the liabilities of foreignness the challenges of which must be managed effectively to succeed in the new market. And the effects of institutional distance are asymmetric depending on whether the firm’s home country institutions are stronger/more developed or weaker/less developed than the host country institutions. Finally, many firms follow regional international strategies in which they invest in selected regions of the world. Recent research suggests firms enter regions that have attractive institutional profiles and engage in institutional arbitrage across the countries in those regions. Research limitations/implications This essay provides the base for additional research by identifying a number of important research questions on institutions and international strategy. Originality/value This essay highlights the importance of institutions for firms’ strategies. Understanding institutions and their influence contributes to more effective executives’ strategic decisions and more effective national and international policies.

International Branding at Mirza International

2014 ◽  
pp. 107-120
Author(s):  
Gautam Dutta
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Foreign Market ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Developed Country ◽  
Brand Building ◽  
Country Market ◽  
The Uk

Today, due to globalization, enterprises are increasingly looking towards the global marketplace to market their products. The business opportunities in the foreign markets are no longer considered as only available to large multinational enterprises with long term foreign market presence. Enterprises today, regardless size, take part in a global competitive market which is supported by great advances in information technologies, communication, and transportation. This trend solves one of the main weaknesses found in comparatively smaller enterprises of traditional focus: home country market dependency. The case focuses on Mirza International Limited which originated from a small Indian Tannery business. The company is led by an ambitious, aggressive management team which has helped in achieving phenomenal growth. The company has emerged as a frontrunner in the manufacturing and marketing of footwear. Headquartered in New Delhi, the company markets its leather and leather footwear products, across the globe the UK, Europe, South Africa, the Middle East, and so forth. However, company management is now at a crossroads in regards to a more aggressive approach to international brand building for its product and strategic decisions. This case aims to address these issues regarding smaller company’s internationalization and marketing. The case focuses on the dilemma often faced by medium sized firms from Asia in entering developed country markets in terms of branding or generic product development strategy. The case illustrates the differences in brand building that exist in a big multinational company and in smaller companies during internationalization.

Toward a better understanding of MNEs’ local staffing decision: a multilevel analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 2321-2338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youjin Baik ◽  
Young-Ryeol Park
Keyword(s):  
Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Human Resources Management ◽  
Institutional Distance ◽  
Institutional Environments ◽  
Foreign Subsidiaries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regional Diversification

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the question of how regional diversification affects subsidiary staffing composition in multinational enterprises. Another important objective of this study is to examine the effects of institutional distance, specifically regulative and normative distances, on foreign subsidiary staffing composition. Design/methodology/approach – To estimate firm- and country-level parameters simultaneously, hierarchical linear modeling was conducted on a sample of 1,068 foreign subsidiaries of South Korean firms operating in 25 countries in 2014. Findings – The results reveal that intra-regional diversification has a positive effect, whereas inter-regional diversification has a negative effect on local staffing in foreign subsidiaries. In addition, there is a positive association between informal distance (such as normative distance) and local staffing of foreign subsidiaries, while formal distance (such as regulative distance) is negatively related to local staffing of foreign subsidiaries. Research limitations/implications – The cross-sectional nature of the data in this study may preclude examination of the relationships among institutional distance, institutional environment, and subsidiary staffing composition. The authors suggest that future researchers employ a longitudinal design to examine the effects on staffing composition of institutional distance and institutional environments over time. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the literature on international human resources management by highlighting the importance of combining multilevel parameters to improve assessment of the importance of firms’ competitive strategy and institutional environments in local staffing in foreign subsidiaries.

International strategy for SMEs: criteria for foreign markets and entry modes selection

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Musso ◽  
Barbara Francioni
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Mode Selection ◽  
Entry Mode ◽  
Foreign Market ◽  
International Strategy ◽  
Entry Modes ◽  
Market Selection ◽  
Foreign Markets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strong Relation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the internationalization of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in regard to the international market selection (IMS) and entry mode selection (EMS) processes. Design/methodology/approach – To achieve this, an examination of the degree of systematic/active behaviour during IMS and EMS on a sample of 221 SMEs was conducted. Moreover, the paper sought to comprehend whether SMEs select foreign market and entry mode in a separate and sequential way, and whether there is a relationship between the sequentiality of IMS and EMS, on one side, and SME behaviour during these two processes, on the other side. Findings – Results revealed that SMEs have a non-systematic and passive behaviour during IMS and EMS, respectively. Moreover, a high predilection in performing the two processes contemporaneously or without any logic was found. Finally, a strong relation between sequentiality of IMS and EMS and degree of systematic and active behaviour during the processes existed. Originality/value – In this study, using a sample of SMEs located in a region of Italy, SME behaviour in the IMS and entry mode choice processes was tested.

International Branding at Mirza International

2017 ◽  
pp. 684-694
Author(s):  
Gautam Dutta
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Foreign Market ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Developed Country ◽  
Brand Building ◽  
Country Market ◽  
The Uk

Today, due to globalization, enterprises are increasingly looking towards the global marketplace to market their products. The business opportunities in the foreign markets are no longer considered as only available to large multinational enterprises with long term foreign market presence. Enterprises today, regardless size, take part in a global competitive market which is supported by great advances in information technologies, communication, and transportation. This trend solves one of the main weaknesses found in comparatively smaller enterprises of traditional focus: home country market dependency. The case focuses on Mirza International Limited which originated from a small Indian Tannery business. The company is led by an ambitious, aggressive management team which has helped in achieving phenomenal growth. The company has emerged as a frontrunner in the manufacturing and marketing of footwear. Headquartered in New Delhi, the company markets its leather and leather footwear products, across the globe the UK, Europe, South Africa, the Middle East, and so forth. However, company management is now at a crossroads in regards to a more aggressive approach to international brand building for its product and strategic decisions. This case aims to address these issues regarding smaller company's internationalization and marketing. The case focuses on the dilemma often faced by medium sized firms from Asia in entering developed country markets in terms of branding or generic product development strategy. The case illustrates the differences in brand building that exist in a big multinational company and in smaller companies during internationalization.

scholarly journals Governmental goals and the international strategies of state-owned multinational enterprises: a conceptual discussion

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asmund Rygh ◽  
Gabriel R. G. Benito
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Host Country ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
State Ownership ◽  
Institutional Pressures ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Entry Modes ◽  
International Strategies ◽  
Degree Of Internationalization

AbstractState owned multinational enterprises (SOMNEs) have received extensive attention in recent research in international business and corporate governance, which demonstrates effects of state ownership on a range of international strategic decisions such as the degree of internationalization, foreign entry modes, and host country location choices. Such effects are explained by factors such as SOMNEs’ non-financial goals, corporate governance, and institutional pressures. However, results are mixed and context-dependent, and overall we still have an incomplete understanding of what governments aim to achieve through SOMNEs, and how these goals in turn lead to different international strategies. This conceptual article aims to explore how specific government goals may affect international strategies. We provide a more fine-grained view on SOMNE financial and non-financial goals and link them to key international strategic decisions such as the degree of internationalization, entry and establishment modes, and host country location choice. We review and extend previous literature and identify novel theoretical arguments, leading to an extensive set of propositions. We also sketch ideas for empirical studies of SOMNE objectives.

Reducing the risks of going global

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Market ◽  
Institutional Distance ◽  
Formal Institutions ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Content Type

Findings When firms consider entering a new foreign market, they also consider the institutional distance between the home and host countries. The differences in culture and in formal institutions compose the institutional distance and affect whether and how firms enter these markets. Greater institutional distance contributes to the liabilities of foreignness the challenges of which must be managed effectively to succeed in the new market.

What determines the adoption of employee empowerment practices by MNE subsidiaries in China?

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 871-894
Author(s):  
Yishuai Yin
Keyword(s):  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Employee Empowerment ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hrm Practices ◽  
Institutional Forces ◽  
Mne Subsidiaries

Purpose This paper aims to explore how institutional factors determine the adoption of employee empowerment practices by multinational enterprises (MNEs) subsidiaries in China. Design/methodology/approach This paper examines the effects of MNE subsidiaries’ external and internal institutional factors on the degree of employee empowerment practices adopted by these subsidiaries. Using hierarchical regression analysis, hypotheses were tested with a sample of 99 MNE subsidiaries operating in China. Findings The results show that both the informal institutions of the host country and the subsidiary’s characteristics play an important role in shaping the degree of empowerment practices adopted by MNE subsidiaries in China. Originality/value Employee empowerment practices have been increasingly used by MNEs to leverage human resources for organizational competitive advantage. Although a large body of work has studied a bundle of HRM practices as a whole adopted in MNE subsidiaries, there is a paucity of research on the specific empowerment practices in MNE subsidiaries. This research fills this important gap in the literature by investigating the institutional forces that influence the empowerment practices in MNE subsidiaries in China.

Heterogeneous investors and trading platforms competition

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Oriol ◽  
Alexandra Rufini ◽  
Dominique Torre
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Network Externalities ◽  
International Competitiveness ◽  
Foreign Market ◽  
International Competition ◽  
European Market ◽  
Financial Instruments ◽  
International Context ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider competition’s issues between European market firms, such as Euronext, and multilateral trading facilities, following Markets in Financial Instruments Directive’s enforcement. This new domestic competition is adding to the existing international competition among financial centers. While diversification of local trading services can improve the international competitiveness of a financial center, the fragmentation of order flows can harm its attractiveness. Design/methodology/approach – The theoretical setting analyzes the interaction between heterogeneous who experiment network externalities, and heterogeneous local trading services providers (alternative platforms and incumbent) in an international context. The authors compare two forms of organizations of the market: a consolidated market, and a fragmented market with alternative platforms – in both cases, in competition with a foreign universe. Findings – The results of this study point out the importance of the trade-off between diversification and externalities. With alternative platforms entry, enhanced competition decreases fees and redistributes informed investors between the foreign market and the domestic one. The increase of domestic platforms’ number then has more complex effects on externalities (of information and liquidity). When the liquidity externalities are low, the diversification of financial platforms increases the number of investors on domestic centers. When liquidity externalities are not negligible, despite the decrease of fees, this same diversification orientates more informed investors to the foreign center. Originality/value – This model is the first to analyze jointly the internal and international competition of trading platforms with heterogeneous investors.

The risk associated with strategic decisions: is it a marketing issue?

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-8
Author(s):  
Davide Settembre-Blundo ◽  
Alfonso Pedro Fernández del Hoyo ◽  
Fernando Enrique García-Muiña
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Marketing Function ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
Management Perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the strategic management of risks in companies from a marketing management perspective and to provide some guidance for management practice. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents the authors’ viewpoint, and it conceptualizes a new approach to risk management. Findings The conceptual discussion has opened up a possible new way for enterprises, especially SMEs, to start taking a strategic approach to risk. Originality/value This paper would like to contribute to the current debate on the role of marketing function in managerial practice beyond the classic four Ps.

scholarly journals Early global Trotters and their entrepreneurial employment practices

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 378-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianqian Chai ◽  
Cherry Wun Mei Cheung ◽  
Caleb Kwong
Keyword(s):  
Host Country ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Wage Differential ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Employment Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Blue Book ◽  
Host Country Nationals ◽  
Internal Context

Purpose Questions have often been asked of the ethicality of multinational enterprises (MNEs) with the conducts of many being classified as exploitative. This is particularly so the internal context, where MNEs are often reluctant to employ host country nationals at important positions and treat their host and parent countries employees differently. This study aims to examine whether the locals are really getting the raw end of the deal. Design/methodology/approach Utilising a unique record book that is available about the employment details of civil servants in Hong Kong known as the blue book, this study intends to examine whether first-moving multinational organisations treated their local employees in an ethical and reasonable manner, for the employees entering the service between 1845-1850. Findings The data suggests that, overall, host country nationals earn much less than not only the British but also those from third countries. Moreover, parent country nationals were placed at important officer and supervisory roles, as oppose to host country nationals at the bottom, forming a typically ethnocentric governance structure (Perlmutter, 1969). Furthermore, even divided by grade, the starting salary difference between host and parent country nationals remain considerable. However, the reason for this is complex, and the authors do not have a quick and precise answer as to whether there has been discrimination. Research limitations/implications The findings perhaps explain the dilemma faced by the early-movers because they tend to feel the strong need of adopting an ethnocentric approach, which can be extremely costly as a result of the large wage differential. A balance needs to be struck between this and utilising host country nationals, which might not necessarily possess all the essential qualities but might be cheaper. Originality/value This is the first study examining the employment practices of fast-moving MNEs.

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