Emerging-Market Born Globals: The Influence of Product-Related Factors on Internationalization Mode in the Indian Apparel Industry
01 Jan 2017-pp 193-213
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the influence of product-related factors on the internationalization modes of emerging market born global firms, in terms of their initial and continued international expansion.
Abstract: Motivated by the fact that emerging-market firms are increasingly internationalizing their operations, this study explores the influence of product-related factors on the internationalization modes of emerging market born global firms, in terms of their initial and continued international expansion. Based on data from seven born globals in the Indian apparel industry, we find that these firms continue to be global players using low-commitment internationalization modes in their initial and continued internationalization, and that their product offerings influence their selection of entry modes and their acquisition of foreign customer knowledge. We have identified and bridged a gap in the knowledgebased internationalization process perspective relating to the influence of product-related factors on companies’ acquisition of foreign market knowledge and internationalization processes.
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01 Jun 2017
TL;DR: The importance of foresight at the organizational level, as well as the ways to measure it have begun to be studied in the recent literature on strategic management as mentioned in this paper, and some key research questions that emerge are: how does an individual develop foresight and how does it contribute to the organization?
Abstract: The importance of foresight at the organizational level, as well as the ways to measure it have begun to be studied in the recent literature on strategic management. One overarching conclusion that stems from these studies is that organizational foresight is not developed in isolation, but evolves as an aggregation of capabilities (in the sense of the microfoundational literature) throughout the organization. In this context, some key research questions that emerge are: how does an individual develop foresight and how does it contribute to the organization? Studies concerning individual foresight are, however, quite sparse. In this paper, we take up the aforementioned first question of individual foresight development. An exploratory study involving case interviews has been used to find theoretical support for developing an individual foresight measure.
1 citations
Cites background from "Emerging-Market Born Globals: The I..."
...Cross-case methodology allows for studying multiple cases leading to more intensive examination of issues, exploration of a wider range of issues, and comparison of contrasts and commonalities [38],[39],[40]....
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TL;DR: In this article, a structural model that represents key factors in the international success of this important breed of firms is developed and tested via a structural modeling model that suggests that born-global international performance is enhanced in the wake of managerial emphasis on foreign customer focus and marketing competence.
Abstract: Companies that internationalise at or near their founding, “born globals,” are emerging in great numbers world‐wide Characterised by a specific Gestalt of marketing‐related competencies, they are playing an increasing role in international trade Born globals are investigated using data from case and survey‐based studies in Denmark and the USA First introduces and describes the born‐global phenomenon Then, hypotheses are developed and tested via a structural model that represents key factors in the international success of this important breed of firm Results suggest that born‐global international performance is enhanced in the wake of managerial emphasis on foreign customer focus and marketing competence Product quality and differentiation strategy also play important roles, particularly in the US firms These and additional findings are discussed in light of their theoretical and practical implications
400 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present evidence on developments in flexible working from organisations across Europe and explore the reasons for the massive growth of flexible working in Europe and consider whether this is evidence of convergence of European labour markets.
Abstract: Introduction(1) The concept of flexible working practices(2), the extent of such practices and the implications for practitioners and policy makers in the area, have been much discussed. These are critical issues for employers, trade unions and governments. Recent opinions from the European Court of Justice have raised the political profile of the subject and the European Commission is committed to further action on this issue in 1997. This paper addresses these issues in a comparative European context. The paper presents evidence on developments in flexible working from organisations across Europe. Flexible working here covers only working time and contractual variations (temporary contracts, outsourcing etc.).(3) The paper summarise the debates on the topic; briefly outlines the research that was done; shows the extent and growth of flexibility; explores the reasons for the massive growth in flexible working in Europe and considers whether this is evidence of convergence of European labour markets. This is followed by a wide-ranging examination of the implications of the findings. Theories of Labour Flexibility The concept of "labour flexibility" remains, both in theoretical and practical terms, highly problematic. Despite the huge volume of literature devoted to the so-called "flexibility debate" (see bibliography in Brewster et al. 1996a), relatively little progress has been made in resolving many of the problems associated with the concept. In the literature, the term "flexibility" is applied to a series of quite distinct (if related) theories. There are those which have been labelled "post-Fordist": a category which covers a range of variants, but is characterised by the work of Piore and Sabel (1984), Mathews (1989a, 1989b, 1990, 1992), Lash and Urry (1987), Katz (1985), Kern and Schumann (1987), Tolliday and Zeitlin (1986), and Streeck (1987). For these writers, who generally concentrate on manufacturing industry, new technology is the key to a more flexible form of production, more responsive to increasingly rapid changes in the market. Whilst such developments may depend for their success upon a more skilled, motivated, and flexible workforce, the focus of this stream of writing is on production systems rather than employment. A more critical, "neo-Marxian" (Clegg 1990) or "neo-Fordist" (Wood 1989b, p. 21) group of writers is also concerned with flexible production, though taking a more negative view of its likely effect on individuals and including discussion of the impact on labour markets (Bramble 1988; Bramble/Fieldes 1989, 1992; Harvey 1989, 1991). An alternative conception of flexibility is provided by researchers in the operational management area. There is also an important set of literature labelled by some as "managerialist" (Bagguley 1991, p. 164) or "neomanagerialist" (Clegg 1990, p. 210) and typified by the work of Atkinson (1984, 1985a, 1985b, 1986, 1987; Atkinson/Gregory 1986; Atkinson/Meager 1986). His work has been subjected to critiques which have attempted to demonstrate the limited utility and lack of theoretical robustness of his work or even, in the early debates, to deny that the labour market had changed substantially, rather than attempting to build upon the insights which it provides or to develop a more comprehensive theoretical framework based on it (see for example: Pollert 1988a, 1988b). Nonetheless, Atkinson's work has been extremely influential. His vision of flexibility has influenced policy debates internationally (OECD 1986a, 1989). These changes and the development of a more flexible labour market have been controversial. They are seen by some to have taken our societies back towards the early years of the industrial revolution, with the creation of a significant underclass of underprivileged and "vulnerable" workers. They are seen by others as evidence of an uncaring and irresponsible approach to employees by employers -- sometimes associated with a desire to "de-unionise" the workforce. …
308 citations
TL;DR: The 4C database as discussed by the authors is a fallvergleichende Analyseverfahren-based Online-Angebot vor: the Foresee (4C) database.
Abstract: Obwohl die Bedeutung von Fallstudien fur die Sozialwissenschaften vielfach unterstrichen wird, sind sie – so unsere Erfahrung – vergleichsweise selten genutzte Wissenszugange. Durch fallvergleichende Analyseverfahren kann das Wissen aus Einzelfallstudien produktiv genutzt werden, indem Forschende uber Einzelfalluntersuchungen zu relevanten Befunden kommen und hiervon ausgehend Falle so vergleichen und kontrastieren, dass sie zu zusatzlichen Erkenntnissen gelangen. In diesem Beitrag stellen wir zunachst Theorien daruber vor, wie Wissen aus Einzelfallstudien generiert werden kann. Zusatzlich diskutieren wir existierende Techniken des Fallvergleichs. Daran anschliesend folgen Vorschlage dazu, wie Forschende fallvergleichende Analyseverfahren einsetzen konnen. Am Ende stellen wir dann eine neues Online-Angebot vor: die Foresee (4C) database. Ziel der 4C database ist es, das Generieren von Wissen aus Einzelfallen zu befordern, indem Forschende bei fallvergleichenden Analysen unterstutzt werden, und zugleich eine Online-Community fur den wissenschaftlichen Austausch uber Fallstudien zu bilden. In das Design der 4C database sind Erfahrungen daruber eingegangen, wie ausgehend von Einzelfallen und mittels fallvergleichender Techniken Wissen generiert werden kann. Anhand von Beispielen zeigen wir, in welcher Weise die Nutzung der 4C database dazu beitragen kann, bis dahin schlummerndes Wissen aus Einzelfallstudien produktiv weiterzuverwenden.
URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0801348
283 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the value of the strategic flexibility provided by firms' international investments during an economic crisis, defined here as an unanticipated significant downturn in the economy, and found that firms with real options investments in place have a greater ability to flexibly adapt their overall operations in line with unforeseen negative environmental change.
Abstract: This study investigates the value of the strategic flexibility provided by firms’ international investments during an economic crisis, defined here as an unanticipated significant downturn in the economy. To avoid below-par performance, firms need to adapt quickly to this significant change in their environment, making real options very valuable to them. Although firms’ international investments can potentially provide such flexibility, this issue has not been empirically examined in a context of such dramatic negative change. We consider two types of international investments by firms in this regard, foreign direct investments and export-related international investments, developing two measures that directly assess the flexibility derived from each that are new to the literature. Based on these measures, we find evidence that both types of international investments provided valuable flexibility for Korean firms during the economic crisis conditions. This study contributes to the literature by showing that firms with real options investments in place have a greater ability to flexibly adapt their overall operations in line with unforeseen negative environmental change, in contrast to firms without such investments. Copyright 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
247 citations
TL;DR: Using a sample of 215 young high technology firms, support is found for positive moderating effects of absorptive capacity and ambidexterity on the inverted U‐shaped relationship between PPC and firm performance.
Abstract: Building a complex portfolio of products can be beneficial for young firms due to increased sales growth and competitiveness. Yet, the benefits from product portfolio complexity (PPC) are often outweighed by rising costs, leading to an inverted U-shaped relationship between PPC and performance. Recent research has called for an increased understanding of how firms are able to better manage higher levels of PPC. We suggest that absorptive capacity and ambidexterity are vital to enhancing the benefits and mitigating the costs of increasing PPC. Using a sample of 215 young high technology firms, we find support for positive moderating effects of absorptive capacity and ambidexterity on the inverted U-shaped relationship between PPC and firm performance. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
224 citations