The intellectual core and structure of international business strategies (IBS)

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 180-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Som Sekhar Bhattacharyya ◽  
Surabhi Verma
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Foreign Market ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Growth Strategy ◽  
Foreign Market Entry ◽  
Intellectual Structure ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Cluster Analysis

Purpose International Business Strategies (IBS) literature deliberated on the strategic planning and strategy implementation of home country firms in foreign markets. IBS had become a very potent growth strategy for firms. IBS as a body of knowledge had become substantial in the last few decades of research. To this end, and as a complex field of study, this paper aims to conceptually map this IBS literature. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to present a visual mapping of intellectual structure in two dimensions and to identify the subfields of IBS through co-citation analysis. Design/methodology/approach All the citation documents were included in the Web of Knowledge (WoK) database between the years 1993 and 2018. For the multivariate analysis, this study applied a sequence of statistical analyses including factor analysis, multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. Through these techniques, this research study tried to summarize the condition and status of IBS research by classifying the IBS literature into four categories. Findings IBS literature has been classified into four categories, namely, evolutionary aspects of IBS; firm strategic objectives and IBS; institutional theory and IBS in emerging economies; and foreign market entry strategies for internationalization. Research limitations/implications Based upon the basis of the analysis of extant research in IBS, the current and future extension research topics have been presented. This would help future researchers to understand the white spots for undertaking research in future. Originality/value This was one of the very first studies that mapped the International Business Strategy literature and categorized IBS literature.

With your headphones on: go global or stay local?

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Piotr Wójcik ◽  
Aleksandra Wasowska ◽  
Krzysztof Oblój ◽  
Mariola Ciszewska-Mlinaric
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
International Business ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Foreign Market ◽  
Learning Outcome ◽  
Foreign Market Entry ◽  
Class Discussion ◽  
Entry Modes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages

Subject area International Business, Entrepreneurship. Study level/applicability This case has been used previously in an international business strategy module on MA courses at Kozminski University, Poland. Case overview The case details Audioteka’s (a Polish audiobook company) history between 2007 and 2013, from the perspective of Marcin, one of the co-founders. The company was founded in 2008 by Marcin Beme and Blazej Kukla and internationalized soon after. Marcin was an experienced entrepreneur, while Blazej was a sound engineer. Both sought to combine their complementary skills and experience to start a business aimed at selling audio recordings. The case is divided into Parts (A) and (B) and is designed to teach international entrepreneurship, lying at the intersection of international business and entrepreneurship. Part (A) is set in 2011 and tracks the company’s evolution from the conception of an idea to establishing a start-up and developing a product. Part (B) is set in 2013 and covers early foreign expansion between 2011 and 2013. The case is focused on the challenges that Marcin faces when developing Audioteka and expanding abroad. It allows students to understand the decision-making logic of an international new venture (INV), choices made and execution while internationalizing. Students will be able to explore how a company adapts its product; how it enters foreign markets; how it overcomes the liabilities of foreignness, smallness, newness and outsidership through establishing partnerships with big companies (telecoms, automakers); and how it appreciates the risks involved in this process. Expected learning outcomes This case is the basis for a class discussion rather than for illustrating either effective or ineffective handling of a managerial situation. From this case, MA students will learn how an entrepreneurial firm makes strategic decisions and becomes international. The first learning outcome is to evaluate the concepts of liability of origin, foreignness, outsidership, smallness and newness, and to explore ways of overcoming them. Second, the expected learning outcome is to assess differences between the Uppsala model of internationalization and born-global/INV phenomenon. Third, students, by examining particular foreign market-entry modes, are expected to evaluate their advantages and disadvantages. Finally, students are expected to understand the concept of “effectuation” and apply it to the decision-making process in early internationalization. Subject code CSS 5: International Business.

The relationship between MNCs’ strategies and executive staffing

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sangeetha Lakshman ◽  
C. Lakshman ◽  
Christophe Estay
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Global Integration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of business strategies with executive staffing of multinational companies (MNCs). Design/methodology/approach Based on in-depth interviews conducted with top executives of 22 MNCs’, the authors identify important connections between international business strategies and staffing orientation. The authors used the qualitative research approach of building theory from interviews; thus, creating theoretical propositions from empirical evidence. Findings The authors find that when the pressure for global integration is high, MNCs use more parent-country national (PCNs) (ethnocentric staffing) as against the use of host-country managers (HCNs) (polycentric staffing) when this pressure is low. Additionally, MNCs using a global strategy are more likely to use an ethnocentric staffing approach, those using a multi-domestic strategy use a polycentric approach and firms using transnational strategy adopt a mix of ethnocentric and polycentric approaches. Research limitations/implications Although the authors derive theoretical patterns based on rich qualitative data, their sample is relatively small and comprises mostly of French MNCs. Generalizability to a broader context is limited. However, the authors’ findings have critical implications for future research. Practical implications The authors’ findings provide critical managerial implications for MNCs in matching their HR strategies with business strategies. These are important for effective strategy implementation. Originality/value Although MNC staffing orientations have been studied for a long time, their relationship to international business strategies is still not clearly understood. The authors contribute to the literature by investigating the relationship between MNCs’ business strategy types with staffing orientations.

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”.

scholarly journals Does business strategy and management control system fit determine performance?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapio Jukka
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Top Management ◽  
Scoring Method ◽  
Management Control System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
And Cluster Analysis

PurposeThis study examines the relationship between business strategy, management control system (MCS) type and performance. Does the alignment of organisation business strategy and MCS fresult in better performance?Design/methodology/approachThis study draws on the business strategy and MCS type literature to identify business strategies and MCS types. A scoring method was used to identify business strategy types and cluster analysis to identify MCS types from a sample of 80 firms and 621 firm-years of data. Analysis of variance was used analyse the differences.FindingsFour types of MCS were identified and were labelled clan, adhocracy, market and hierarchy. The sample was split into defender, analyser, prospector and reactor strategies. The results showed defender strategies performed better with hierarchy or market type MCSs while prospector strategies performed better with clan or adhocracy MCS types. Analysers performed acceptably with all MCS types.Practical implicationsThe results of this study suggest that organisations should align their business strategy with a certain MCS type to achieve good performance. Also, alignment of top management and business strategy is supported as the top management properties differ between the MCS types.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the management control and strategy literature by demonstrating how the alignment between organisation business strategy and organisation-level MCS type determines organisational performance. The results suggest that differing business strategies yield better performance when aligned with the appropriate management controls represented by an MCS type.

Alliance portfolios and firms’ business strategy: a content analysis approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 1149-1171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Mota Veiga ◽  
Mário Franco
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Strategic Alliances ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Product Market ◽  
Growth Strategy ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Analysis Approach ◽  
Alliance Portfolio ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to understand in what way the business strategy of a firm operating on a global scale is linked to its alliance portfolio,from the product-market matrix of Ansoff (1957) and the resources-partners matrix of Yasuda and Iijima (2005). Design/methodology/approach – To meet this objective,the case study method was adopted,with data being obtained from interviews and documentary analysis of the selected firm/case: Borgstena Textile (BT). Findings – Based on a content analysis approach,it was possible to observe an alliance portfolio with advantages for BT and include those partnerships in the four quadrants referring to the nature of resources and partners defined by Yasuda and Iijima. In terms of growth strategy,BT simultaneously defined the typology of product-market strategies proposed by Ansoff,i.e. BT tries to use strategic alliances to execute specific business strategies. Practical implications – This research seeks to make a practical contribution,identifying the main association between the alliance portfolio and several specific firm strategies. This may allow better understanding of the composition of the alliance portfolio and,in this way,improve strategic management. This means that alliances should be managed as a whole and not in a dyadic way. Originality/value – This study is innovative because it seeks to make a contribution to the literature,from a theoretical perspective,by developing two matrixes by Ansoff (1957) and Yasuda and Iijima (2005). These frameworks allow us to analyze the relationship between alliance portfolio and business strategy.

The rise of emerging Indian multinationals: strategic learning for EMNC foreign market entry and internationalization

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitya P. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Market Entry ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Foreign Market ◽  
Foreign Market Entry ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Internationalization Process ◽  
Strategic Learning ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe academic literature on emerging market multinational corporations (EMNCs) has classified several strategic options that EMNCs can adopt as part of their internationalization process. Although this research stream does include examples of Indian companies, it has not adequately identified specific strategic practices followed by them as part of their internationalization process. Therefore, this article aims to identify specific firm competencies, home country advantages and strategic practices that Indian EMNCs adopt to achieve foreign market entry and internationalization.Design/methodology/approachThe article adopts a multiple case study methodology supported by unstructured interviews to answer the research question. Using a combination of in-depth interviews and secondary data related to the case study in question, strategic practices of three Indian companies operating in different industry segments are identified and evaluated.FindingsThe results highlight that as part of their internationalization process, EMNCs from India adopt a combination of strategic practices that include strategic alliances, acquisitions, entry into targeted geographic markets, localized and innovative product offerings and niche market focus. This mix of strategic practices, in combination with high levels of corporate parenting, plays an important role in the ability of Indian EMNCs to internationalize successfully.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the international business field by developing a better understanding of the internationalization process followed by emerging market multinational firms. In addition, as the article adopts a case study approach, specific business strategies adopted by Indian firms as part of their internationalization process are identified. The study, therefore, provides a strategic roadmap for firms from emerging countries on how to internationalize successfully.

Understanding incubation during foreign market entry: lessons learnt from an illustrative Danish case study

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Gretzinger ◽  
Anna Marie Dyhr Ulrich ◽  
Svend Hollensen ◽  
Birgit Leick
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Foreign Market ◽  
Foreign Market Entry ◽  
Business Incubation ◽  
Foreign Markets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bric Countries ◽  
Market Expansion ◽  
Business Networking

Purpose This paper aims to discuss business incubation to enter foreign markets in Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) countries through the lens of an “international business incubator” (IBI). International market expansion offers huge opportunities for companies to increase their revenue, but there are also challenging tasks such as the establishment of a business company and the occupation of a strategic position abroad. Practitioners consider this process as the act of incubation, but the theoretical discussion lags behind the practice-led debate. Design/methodology/approach An illustrative, and theory-led, case study is presented that describes market expansion to BRIC countries through a network-based IBI. The empirical case is an illustrative Danish company with international operations in BRIC countries both with and without an IBI. Findings International business incubation represents a process, which can be influenced through an IBI, and business networking during foreign market entry is shaped by IBI brokerage (bridging, bonding and protecting) in different phases. IBI activities that are embedded in business networking support a company’s endeavours in getting a foothold and acquiring a strategic position in BRIC markets and facilitates the market penetration. Research limitations/implications The IBI’s activities to enter foreign markets should be thoroughly managed. Further studies should be conducted with cross-case comparisons and larger samples to reflect on the propositions established. Originality/value By linking the business networking theory with the practice-led understanding of business incubation, the study explores an under-conceptualised topic for international business and entrepreneurship scholars. The paper offers an initial understanding of how brokerage interacts with incubation during the entry of new markets.

Etihad Airlines: growth through successful strategic partnerships

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamad A. Al Ali ◽  
Syed Zamberi Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Management ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
International Business ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Abu Dhabi ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Strategic Partnerships ◽  
Content Type

Subject area International business and/or strategic management. Study level/applicability This case is useful for undergraduate and postgraduate level students majoring in international business management and/or strategic management. Case overview Etihad Airways was established in 2003, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the UAE government as sole owner. It is the national carrier of UAE with Abu Dhabi as its centre of operations. Etihad is recognized as a fast-growing player in the aviation industry, and has become one of the dominant international players in the industry in a relatively short time. Etihad's fleet now contains more than 67 planes, with more than 1,300 flights per week to diverse destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. The company describes its business strategy as “sustainable growth”. Looking through a practitioner's lens, strategic partnerships have been the critical activities through which Etihad has delivered its strategy. The purpose of this case study is therefore to elaborate on its major and successful partnerships and the critical benefits of these. Secondary data were collected from credible sources including academic studies, relevant Etihad publications and industry reports published by official aviation associations. Expected learning outcomes Students will be able to understand the theory of strategic partnerships, their roles and benefits and critically evaluate the pre-staging “requirements” of such partnerships. In this case, the specific learning outcome of it is to help students to understand the importance of successful strategic partnerships for Etihad Airlines and how partnership strategies can improve the performance of Etihad Airlines. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes.

Overcoming economic liminality: internationalization of B2B SME’s from a small emerging economy

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barney G. Pacheco ◽  
Syed Akhter
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Market ◽  
Foreign Market ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Foreign Market Entry ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Internationalization Strategies ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Current research on small to medium enterprise (SME) internationalization has generated valuable insight but continues to overlook the activities of business-to-business (B2B) SMEs located in small emerging economies. This study aims to fill this gap by testing the applicability of the ownership, location and internalization (OLI) framework to understand the internationalization strategies of small B2B firms in Trinidad and Tobago, a small emerging Caribbean economy. Design/methodology/approach The study used a qualitative research design, which involved in-depth interviews with senior executives of three firms in the B2B sector who were knowledgeable about their firm’s internationalization process. Thematic analysis was then used to understand the motivations and strategies underpinning the internationalization approach adopted by each firm. Findings Contrary to the stereotype of SMEs in emerging markets as fragile enterprises, there is evidence that firms exploited the development of innovative products and processes to facilitate foreign market entry and expansion. Additionally, firms overcame resource limitations by relying on governmental ties and leveraging networking opportunities. The findings also call attention to the impact of organizational learning and the role of knowledge as a dynamic capability. Originality/value Both the context of the study and the application of the OLI framework contributes to the extant literature by yielding substantive insights into the internationalization strategies of B2B firms in a small emerging economy. The findings further highlight how the OLI framework can be supplemented by other theoretical perspectives to better understand internationalization by emerging market SMEs.

Indian study shows high-performance work systems (HPWS) mediate the relationship between business strategy and employees’ intention to leave

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Business Strategy ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Intention To Leave ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Work Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Performance Work Systems ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper examines the relationship between business strategies and employees’ intention to leave (ITL), through the mediating role of high-performance work system (HPWS). Design/methodology/approach To test their hypotheses, the authors used self-administered questionnaires. They drew up a list of 600 organizations of different nature and structure operating in India that were listed by the Federation of Indian Chambers and Industry. They approved 192 organizations and sent the surveys to 960 executives. They aimed to receive a minimum of one response from an HR executive and two from non-HR executives from each one. In the end, they received 572 useable responses. Findings The study found that high-performance work systems (HPWS) mediate the relationship between business strategy and employees’ intention to leave (ITL). The two effective approaches were “quality management” and “innovation strategy”, both of which reinforced the adoption of HPWS. But a third approach, a “cost-reduction strategy”, was not shown to be positively correlated with HPWS. Another important finding was that the influence on ITL did not vary across the types, or ownership structures, of the firms. Originality/value The data has lessons for HR departments. First, it shows it is advantageous for firms hoping to retain more employees to invest in HPWS that are consistent with the values of their organizations. A second practical finding is that firms need to take into account the Indian context. A third lesson is HR practitioners should make strong efforts to communicate the goals of the HPWS to employees The study also shows firms adopting cost-reduction strategies should focus more on treating employees as resources.

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