Are KIBS beneficial to international business performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Kamp ◽  
Iñigo Ruiz de Apodaca
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
International Competitiveness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industrial Policies ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Manufacturing Sectors ◽  
Knowledge Intensive ◽  
Business Competitiveness

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test whether knowledge-intensive business services (KIBSs) contribute to international business activity. In line with studies from the servitization, the territorial competitiveness and the global value chain realm, it can be hypothesized that if KIBS consumption has a positive effect on business competitiveness, a correlation is discernible between “intensity of KIBS uptake” and “turnover and export performance at industrial sector level”. Design/methodology/approach To test this hypothesis, the authors make use of input-output tables from the Basque Country for the period 2000-2012 and regional accounts regarding turnover and export per sector and calculate how consumption of a series of KIBS correlates with turnover and export evolution for 14 industrial sectors. Findings The authors find a strong fit between consumption of KIBSs and international competitiveness parameters for the industrial sectors screened. Research limitations/implications The authors postulate that the use of KIBS is beneficial for consuming industries. Accordingly, the authors posit that having a sound KIBS basis in a territory contributes to (international) business competitiveness, and that industrial policies should foster the rapprochement of manufacturing sectors to KIBS. At the same time, the authors assume that reverse causalities may be at play (international competitiveness of manufacturing sectors boosts KIBS consumption through backward linkage effects). Practical implications The paper posits that having a sound KIBS basis in a territory contributes to international business competitiveness, and that industrial policies should foster a rapprochement of manufacturing sectors to KIBS. A further implication would be to look after a minimum critical mass and or to engage in KIBS capacity building in a territory. Absence of competitiveness-enhancing KIBS in a region may hamper business performance and staying power of user industries. The paper’s findings also imply that the posture of manufacturing firms towards uptake of knowledge-intensive services matters, and that fostering their proactiveness to interact with KIBS is indicated. Similarly, they form an argument in favour of considering KIBS as active subject matters for industrial policy design. Originality/value Amidst the several perspectives adopted upon KIBS’ role to foster business and territorial competitiveness, what is largely absent is the examination of how uptake of KIBS by respective sectors relates to the turnover or export evolutions that the sectors in question reveal. Consequently, the present paper sets out to examine this research question.

scholarly journals Strategic priorities and competitiveness of businesses operating in different entrepreneurial ecosystems: a benefit of the doubt (BOD) analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esteban Lafuente ◽  
Suyen Alonso-Ubieta ◽  
Juan Carlos Leiva ◽  
Ronald Mora-Esquivel
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Multilevel Model ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Strategic Choices ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems ◽  
Knowledge Intensive ◽  
Business Competitiveness

PurposeThis study evaluates the relationship between the entrepreneurial ecosystem and business competitiveness in four different contexts (i.e. France, Spain, Hungary and Costa Rica).Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a sample of 348 manufacturing and knowledge-intensive business service firms operating in four countries with different entrepreneurial ecosystems (France, Spain, Costa Rica and Hungary) for 2019. Firm competitiveness is computed via the “benefit-of-the-doubt” (BOD) method, and a multilevel model is employed to assess the connection between the entrepreneurial ecosystem and firm competitiveness.FindingsThe results of the multilevel model indicate that the entrepreneurial ecosystem is related to firm competitiveness, while the BOD results suggest that firms operating in settings with a more consolidated entrepreneurial ecosystem are better able to realize the outcomes of strategic choices linked to the exploitation of key resources and capabilities. Country-specific results suggest that “human capital” is the most relevant competitive pillar prioritized by all sampled businesses.Originality/valueThe proposed analysis of the connection between the entrepreneurial ecosystem and business competitiveness in different contexts contributes to the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem frame by offering insights into how the properties of the entrepreneurial ecosystem (i.e. interactions among individuals, organizations and institutions) can produce economically meaningful effects on business performance.

Uberization in Paris – the issue of trust between a digital platform and digital workers

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Wentrup ◽  
H. Richard Nakamura ◽  
Patrik Ström
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Market Entry ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Foreign Market ◽  
General Assumption ◽  
Foreign Market Entry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Digital Platform

Purpose Using the lens of Uber’s digital workers in Paris, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how the trust-building mechanism is constructed between a digital platform and its digital workers in a foreign market entry. Design/methodology/approach This is a case study based on empirical data from in-depth interviews with 35 Uber drivers. A cross-disciplinary literature framework from mainly international business and internet geography theory and a reflexive qualitative methodology are applied. Findings Results show that the relationship between the digital platform and the digital workers is characterized by mistrust and suffers from decreasing commitment levels soon after market entry. Uber mitigates its mistrust via control and scarce mechanisms. The digital drivers’ “illusionary freedom”, a state in which they feel they can log on and log off at any time, enables the digital platform to gradually lower its commitment. The authors find that the mistrust does not seem to hamper the digital platform’s business performance. Research limitations/implications The paper mainly covers the digital workers’ perspective and the case of Uber’s market entry in Paris. Social implications This paper implies that digitally conveyed control seems to come at the cost of lowered human trust. Given the pace at which digital control systems are permeating society, this could eventually lower the whole societal trust level. Originality/value The authors criticize incumbent international business theory for not being sufficiently able to explain a contemporary digital business logic and the authors challenge the general assumption that successful internationalization is built through trust. The authors contribute with the conceptualization of a new technical market entry mode for digital platforms – “digitally controlled proxies”.

Intellectual capital and firm performance in the global agribusiness industry

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 530-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Scafarto ◽  
Federica Ricci ◽  
Francesco Scafarto
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Counter ◽  
Knowledge Intensive ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Performance Results ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between intellectual capital (IC), categorized in terms of four sub-constructs – namely, human capital (HC), relational capital (RC), innovation capital (InnC) and process capital (PrC) – and business performance in the agribusiness industry. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a sample of international agribusiness companies observed over a five-year period, this paper uses correlation and multiple regression analysis to test for the existence of a positive relationship between each IC component and conventional business performance metrics. Findings – The empirical results support the hypotheses that RC and PrC have a positive impact on corporate performance. Counter to the expectations, InnC by itself is negatively associated with performance. Results also failed to confirm the hypothesis that HC directly and positively affects performance. However HC positively moderates the relation between InnC and performance, which suggests that firms that heavily invest in HC are better placed to gain returns from their research and development (R & D) investments. Originality/value – This study expands the existing research on the link between IC and performance by adding fresh evidence from a highly knowledge-intensive sector which has been under-researched thus far. It may also contribute to the specific literature on R & D and performance as it uncovers that the value-generating effect associated with R & D investments is contingent on the levels of HC.

Bank relationships’ contributions to SME export performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 1143-1164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heléne Lundberg
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
International Marketing ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Marketing Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Bank Marketing

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine to what extent, and in what ways, various types of bank support improve small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) export performance. It contributes to bank marketing and international marketing theory and practice by clarifying bank contributions to SME export performance at the firm level. Design/methodology/approach The study method is an on-site survey, encompassing 135 manufacturing Swedish SMEs. Five hypotheses are tested using ordinary least squares regression. Findings The higher the export performance, the greater the importance attributed to bank funding of international business. The importance of transaction and/or currency services provided by banks for SMEs’ ability to do business abroad was confirmed, but with the important limitation that the effect diminishes as the number of markets increases. Furthermore, the results indicate that SMEs with low export performance attach a high importance to the advisory services that banks can offer regarding international business. No significant results for knowledge sharing or support from bank contacts were found. Practical implications SME managers are encouraged to view banks as potential providers of a diverse set of value-added resources while taking into consideration that some banks will have more developed resources and support policies than others. The study results also assist banks in building effective strategies for enhancing their relationships with SME clients, as it provides detailed information on how SMEs relate different kinds of bank services to their export performance. Originality/value As the first paper to describe SME-perceived relationships between different bank services and export performance, this study informs bank marketing and international marketing theory about bank contributions to SME internationalisation.

Building dynamic capabilities for international marketing knowledge management

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Scuotto ◽  
Chiara Nespoli ◽  
Rosa Palladino ◽  
Imen Safraou
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Empirical Test ◽  
International Marketing ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Knowledge Intensive

PurposeBy using the lens of knowledge-based view (KBV) and focusing on individual loci of knowledge, the present study addresses whether marketing knowledge management (MKM) is rooted in individual dynamic capabilities (DCs) and consequently whether it has a close relationship with the three main DCs, namely, the ability to solve a problem (substantive capability); the adaptation to rapid changes (adaptative capability); and the ability to change the way individuals solve problems (change capability).Design/methodology/approachThe present study aimed to examine the effects of MKM (the quantitative variable) on DCs (the quantitative variables). Drawing on the relevant literatures, the researchers have developed a model that defines the subjects of the empirical test. To do this, the authors opted for a hypothetico-deductive approach, which is commonly used in quantitative studies. The empirical analysis involved a linear regression and a sample of 105 managers of Italian companies operating in the knowledge intensive sector.FindingsSubstantive, adaptive and change capabilities were all positively correlated with MKM. The results indicate the significant need for individual DCs to improve business performance in terms of creativity, innovation, and flexibility in response to market changes.Originality/valueThe authors show that individual MKM has a strong relationship with individual DCs when the employees have the capacity to solve problems, adapt, and change. In turn, managers are strategically creative and imagine future possibilities in the international marketing sphere. This includes procedures and routines to learn in local markets. The study also stresses the fact that individuals represent the primary loci of knowledge.

Achieving business success through land banking and market analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 562-574
Author(s):  
Syed Putra Syed Abu Bakar ◽  
Mastura Jaafar
Keyword(s):  
Business Performance ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Market Analysis ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Business Success ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Land Banking ◽  
Banking Strategy ◽  
Corroborative Evidence ◽  
Business Competitiveness

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of land banking strategy and market analysis towards the performance of Malaysian housing developers. Design/methodology/approach Through in-depth interviews, participants shared their opinions on success factors of housing development firms with a focus on land banking and market study. Content analysis was performed on the data, identifying the connection between both strategies and their superior performance. Findings The study presents interesting findings in that it lends support to the existing literature as such land banking and market analysis do affect the business competitiveness of housing developers. Albeit subjective in nature, the comments received from respondents are revelatory and have implications for the level of performance perceived by the organisations, as well as the experience of housing entrepreneurs in assembling the land bank and gauging the housing market. Practical implications Though not a substitute for quantitative problem solving, this piece of work serves as a corroborative evidence to improve the satisfaction of homebuyers, industry players and policymakers. The paper ends by recommending that the study be repeated in Malaysia, this time with the involvement of other stakeholders, to enrich the findings. Originality/value To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first research performed in the Malaysian context in which the strategies of private housing developers comprising land banking and market analysis were explored in relation to business success. Hence, the present study not only contributes to the existing property literature, but also makes an important contribution to the business performance and firm competitiveness in the lens of Malaysian entrepreneurs.

ASEAN-China economic relationship will strengthen

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Free Trade Area ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Global Trade ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
Trade Area ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Manufacturing Sectors ◽  
Asean Countries ◽  
The Eu

Subject ASEAN-China economic cooperation. Significance Trade between China and the ASEAN states has grown fast over the last few years, even amid sluggish growth of global trade overall. Investment in ASEAN countries is already a key part of the globalisation strategies of many Chinese companies. The ASEAN-China Free Trade Area will probably increase its share of global trade as trade within it outpaces that within other major economic blocs, such as the EU and North America. Impacts Investment in ASEAN countries will help Chinese firms reduce production costs, tap local markets and avoid US tariffs. Chinese investment will help upgrade the infrastructure and domestic industrial sectors of ASEAN’s poorer economies. Competition between China and ASEAN countries will increase as the latter’s own manufacturing sectors develop.

scholarly journals Are Latin American business groups different? An exploratory international political economy perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Carney ◽  
Saul Estrin ◽  
Zhixiang Liang ◽  
Daniel Shapiro
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
International Political Economy ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Business Groups ◽  
International Competitiveness ◽  
American Business ◽  
Monroe Doctrine ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This study aims to advance an international political economy (IPE) perspective that geo-political events can have long-lasting imprint effects on countries and their firms. The study also aims to explore the idea that shared political history and geography combine to create specific structural conditions that shape the international competitiveness of all firms in a region. In particular, the authors consider whether the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, which asserted American influence in the Western Hemisphere, contributed to the creation of institutional structures across Latin America (LA) affecting the strategies of all firms to this day. The authors also illustrate the IPE perspective using the example of the contemporary international competitiveness of LA business groups. Design/methodology/approach The authors illustrate the IPE perspective using the example of the contemporary international competitiveness of LA business groups. The exploratory framework of this study leads to a proposition about the export performance of Latin American business group affiliates. The authors use firm-level performance data for 32,000 firms across emerging economies to explore the proposition empirically while controlling for alternative explanations. To do this, the authors draw on the World Bank Economic Surveys. Findings The authors derive a proposition that argues the Monroe Doctrine has had a long-run imprint effect on economic policymaking in LA, resulting in a common, persistent and negative impact on the international competitiveness of firms. The authors find strong and consistent evidence that in terms of export performance, all Latin American firms export less and group affiliates do not outperform independent firms, This finding contrasts with the results for all the other emerging market regions around the world. Research limitations/implications The main contribution of this study has been to suggest the potential importance of shared regional geopolitical history and geography in explaining firm-level outcomes. However, this study is preliminary and introductory, although the authors seek to control for alternative country-specific explanations of the results. The analysis considers the effects of one particular IPE phenomenon, the Monroe Doctrine, in one particular location: LA. Future work should seek to contrast LA with other geopolitical security and alternative IPE structures. They might also address the time dimension from a historical perspective: is imprinting in LA driven by the length of the Monroe Doctrine arrangements? Practical implications The most important managerial learning point concerns the relevance of geography and political economy factors for multinational enterprises strategy formation. There is widespread understanding that context is an important determinant of subsidiaries’ performance, and that strategies need to be constructed to take account of country-specific characteristics, most importantly, in emerging economies and institutional arrangements. This paper proposes that managers also need to take account of IPE structures, including security arrangements, and to consider the resulting regional as well as national context. Social implications The analysis suggests that not only the performance of firms, including emblematic firms, but also the socially beneficial spillovers that might be generated from them, are contingent on the regional as well as national characteristics. Thus, business groups in most emerging economies are found to yield better performance and to provide higher levels of social impact, including concerning ESG goals. However, the findings of this study suggest that the former is not true for LA, which, the authors argue, is a consequence of imprinting as a result of the Monroe Doctrine. Further work is needed to establish whether the latter effect is also not true, but if that is the case, then regionally specific policies may be required to address the resulting corporate social shortfalls. Originality/value The core idea is that geo-political events can have long-lasting imprint effects on countries and their firms: that shared political history and geography create specific structural conditions that shape the international competitiveness of all firms in a region. The authors explore this concept with reference to the Monroe Doctrine, asking whether its assertion of US influence across the Americas contributed to the creation of institutional structures across LA affecting the strategies of all firms to this day.

Microfoundations of firm capabilities in the context of international business

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayça Kubra Hizarci Payne ◽  
Alev Katrinli
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
International Business ◽  
Organizational Citizenship ◽  
Organizational Citizenship Behavior ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Citizenship Behavior ◽  
Firm Capabilities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Exporting Firms

Purpose This study aims to investigate how employees in export departments help firms develop dynamic capabilities that drive firm performance in global markets. It draws from the previous scholarship in organizational behavior and international business. Design/methodology/approach Since microfoundations of firm capabilities have not received adequate attention in the context of international business, a qualitative research was carried out by conducting semistructured interviews with export managers to provide new theoretical and practical insights about the role of export department employees in developing firm capabilities. Findings The results show that organizational citizenship behavior and communication skills are the most highlighted characteristics of export department employees that underpin the improvement of firm capabilities, which in turn, boosts export performance. In addition, teamwork emerged as another contributing factor to firm capabilities. Originality/value This study addresses the microlevel foundations of firm capabilities within the context of international business by uncovering the characteristics of export department employees and their team-level contributions to the capabilities of exporting firms.

scholarly journals Analysis of organizational culture with denison’s model approach for international business competitiveness

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sri Handari Wahyuningsih ◽  
Achmad Sudiro ◽  
Eka Afnan Troena ◽  
Dodi W Irawanto
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
International Business ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
International Scale ◽  
International Environment ◽  
Working People ◽  
Study Implementation ◽  
Hotel Chains ◽  
Business Competitiveness

This paper is mainly to study implementation of organizational culture in enhancing business competitiveness. Culture is seen as a soft system tool that reflects beliefs that are able to drive business performance in an international environment. Today, culture is a part of instrument to measure organizational readiness in managing business in an international environment. The research is focused on evaluatiny organizational culture in international-scale hotel in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. International-scale hotels are faced with differences in the nature of employees and customers, so management needs to develop a culture type as a strategy to encourage business competitiveness. The research applies Denison’s organizational culture model with four dimensions: involvement, consistency, adaptability, and mission. Sample includes 248 working people at four star hotels with various positions, that is managers, supervisors and employees. The results of the study found that international hotel chains have the power to carry out internal alignment as a strategy to increase competitiveness through employee empowerment programs, team orientation, skills development, and alignment of work values. The results of the study illustrate the importance of internal and external dimension consistency for international business competitiveness.

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