| 1. |
- Safari, Aswo, et al.
(författare)
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A search and deliberation framework for understanding consumers’ foreign online purchasing
- 2016
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Ingår i: Extending the Business Network Approach. - London : Palgrave Macmillan. - 9781137537652 - 9781137537638 ; , s. 211-226
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Information technology (IT) as an international marketing tool has been acknowledged in several studies (Beccera et al. 2013; Chang and Chen 2008; Jarvenpaa et al. 2000; Mukherjee and Nath 2007; Safari et al. 2013), and the Internet as an alternative path for firm internationalisation has been explored recently (Kim 2003; Lim et al. 2004; Pezderka and Sinkovics 2011; Sinkovics et al. 2013; Yamin and Sinkovics 2006). Similarly, consumers’ domestic online purchasing behaviour has been investigated extensively in the last two decades (e.g., Beldad et al. 2010; Jarvenpaa et al. 2000; Mukherjee and Nath; 2007; Sabiote et al. 2012). These studies have been aimed at understanding the relationship between consumers and retailers on the Internet, usually where both parties are physically located within the same country. International business and marketing scholars have also extensively studied the phenomenon of firm online internationalisation, that is, ‘the conduct of business transactions across national boundaries, where the “crossing” of national boundaries takes place in the virtual rather than the real or spatial domain’ (Yamin and Sinkovics 2006: 340). The literature on online or Internet internationalisation has usually assumed that the ‘active’ party is the firm as seller or vendor. The possibility of consumers actively using the Internet to find and transact with vendors located in foreign markets has not been extensively studied except in a few cases (e.g., Hadjikhani et al. 2011; Safari 2012). However this is an interesting and important phenomenon that merits careful study. It is interesting because it is a phenomenon that could not exist prior to the establishment and routine access to the Internet as a search and transaction medium, and it is important because this phenomenon has the potential to change the development of the global economy. Through its website, a retailer potentially has access to the whole world as prospective customers. This notion means that small firms have the potential to transform into large multinational firms. However, most customers still make their online purchases from domestic online retailers based on the notion that foreign online purchasing is risky and complicated. This raises important issues that need to be explored in order to understand consumer risk perception in this context. New theoretical tools are needed for this purpose.
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| 2. |
- Alshaibi, Alsedieg
(författare)
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Business Relationships Between Local Firms and MNCs in a less Developing Country : The Case of Libyan Firms
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- International business relationships have been widely researched over the last three decades. Themajor attention of these studies, no matter what their theoretical perspective, concerns the MNCs inthe less developing countries (LDCs). Studies that illustrate how firms in LDCs behave regardinginteraction with MNCs are slim. Therefore, this study focuses on firms in LDCs, namely Libyan firms,and their relationships with MNCs. The study reflects not only on the relationships between the localfirms with MNCs but also the impacts of other interrelated business and non-business units on theserelationships. The study employs business network theory for industrial marketing and develops amodel applicable for studying such a market.The empirical study employs a survey method which examines 60 Libyan firms’ relationships withforeign suppliers containing more than 300 questions. In the empirical part, the study shows that therelationships like technological adaptation, technological cooperation and information exchange wereawarded low values. The measures on the other hand show a high value of impact from the politicalactors and even activities in the contextual environment. The study shows in detail where and howthe political actions influence business relationships. These impacts from the local environment affectlocal firms more than the foreign suppliers, and thus have some bearing on the MNCs and local firms’relationship weaknesses and strengths.The thesis’ conceptual contribution stands on development of new notions in business network theoryby integration of the contextual environment, in other words, network environment, and examinationof their impact on the strength of the focal business relationship. The study further contributesknowledge, not only for firms and politicians in LDCs to understand the consequence of their actions,but also provides deep information for MNCs to understand issues like why firms in LDCs behave ina specific way. Such understandings facilitate the development of cooperation. The study providesinformation about a number of characteristics which are specific for the business networks of such amarket which is dependent on only one resource like oil. While most studies in the field ofinternational business regard the business activities of MNCs, more research is needed to also observethe behaviour of firms from LDCs to gain deeper knowledge on the relationship between the MNCsand local firms from LDCs. The role of political actors and the influence of dependency on one soletype of resources and aspects like change in the prices of this resource seem to be important, but arequite neglected in research in international business.
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| 3. |
- Forsgren, Mats, 1940-, et al.
(författare)
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A Commentary on Adam Smith
- 2010
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Ingår i: Multinational Business Review. - St. Louis : Saint Louis University, John Cook School of Business. - 1525-383X. ; 18:1, s. 95-111
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A close reading of Adam Smith's "an Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of Wealth of Nations" and "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" indicates that he would not wholeheartedly support the advocacy of globalization and free markets.
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| 4. |
- Forsgren, Mats, 1940-, et al.
(författare)
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The MNE as the "crown of creation"? : a commentary on mainstream theories of multinational enterprises
- 2023
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Ingår i: Critical Perspectives on International Business. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 1742-2043 .- 1758-6062. ; 19:4, s. 489-510
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The purpose of this paper is twofold: to analyse what theories assume about multinational enterprises (MNEs) when they claim these are superior and to discuss possible explanations for why MNE superiority seems to be dominant in the international business (IB) research field.Design/methodology/approach: A common theme in mainstream IB theories is that multinational enterprises (MNEs) are superior in terms of cost efficiency and innovativeness compared with other types of organizations. A closer look at transaction cost economics (TCE)/internalization theory, evolutionary theory and dynamic capability theory reveal a bias toward MNE supremacy because of how MNEs are conceptualized as firms and therefore fail to explain the essence of "multinational advantage ". These revelations and the strong dependence on the benevolence to provide unbiased data means that MNE supremacy posited by mainstream IB theories is as much a rationalized myth as an empirical fact.Findings: Although mainstream theories differ when it comes to the building blocks that constitute MNE supremacy, they have one attribute in common: they are silent as to why MNEs are superior compared with, for example, domestic firms or other types of economic agents. Irrespective of whether the focus is the strength of the hierarchy, the skill of managers or a common identity, nothing in the theories tells us that these factors are more pronounced in MNEs than in other types of economic actors.Originality/value: The paper deals with the issue of multinational advantage. It claims that mainstream theories of MNEs tend to assume, explicitly or implicitly, that MNEs are superior in terms of cost efficiency and innovativeness compared with other types of economic agents. The analysis demonstrates that this tendency is a consequence of how MNEs are conceptualized as firms in the different theories as well as of the strong dependence in IB research on the benevolence of MNEs to provide unbiased data. It is concluded that MNE supremacy posited by mainstream IB theories is as much a rationalized myth as an empirical fact.
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| 5. |
- Forsgren, Mats, 1940-, et al.
(författare)
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The source of MNE superiority from within or from outside? : - A response to "the importance of being transnational"
- 2023
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Ingår i: Critical Perspectives on International Business. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 1742-2043 .- 1758-6062. ; 19:4, s. 523-525
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose The purpose of this paper is to respond to the comments by professor Ietto-Gillies on the paper on "The MNE as the Crown of Creation?"Design/methodology/approach The authors argue that the key points made in the commentary are broadly complementary to the arguments set out in the "Crown of Creation?"Findings The authors agree with the commentary that sources of advantages of multinationality lie "outside the MNE" - through its interactions with national governments and organised labour. However, the authors would caution that the achievement of such advantages may encounter constraints.Research limitations/implications The original paper ("The MNE as the Crown of Creation?") was a critique of mainstream theories of the MNE regarding the assumed superiority of the MNE. The response to the paper makes the argument that any superiority associated with MNE must be sought in its interactions with other actors.Practical implications The argument suggests that MNE managers seeking to exploit the advantage of multinationality through production shifting must be aware of the system-wide consequences of such actions.Social implications Given the conceptual nature of the argument and the level of abstraction, solid social implications can only be drawn tentatively.Originality/value - The key novelty in the response paper is the possible negative effect - for MNEs - of unconstrained exercise of production shifting.Originality/value The key novelty in the response paper is the possible negative effect – for MNEs – of unconstrained exercise of production shifting.
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| 6. |
- Latifi, Mohammad, 1952-
(författare)
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Multinational Companies and Host Partnership in Rural Development : A Network Perspective on the Lamco Case
- 2004
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Multinational companies (MNCs) in less developed countries (LDCs) are regularly contracted to undertake rural development around their sites. Likewise, they regularly fail. How can a profit-making MNC encourage rural development in an undeveloped area? The purpose is to investigate how an MNC could fulfill its commitment in a way that benefits all involved parties. Urgent and interesting is to study how MNCs manage their relationships with non-business and business organizations in LDCs for local development. Starting points are community development and network theories. Non-business actors in business networks are focused, as this proved to furnish the most relevant description and analyze of the interaction of business and non-business organizations. The theoretical discussions explore the infusion of intermediary actors in order to bridge the gap between business and non-business actors. Beside some case studies for manifestation of this problematic issue, the study conducts two field studies at the site. This study follows ten years of Lamco Joint Venture Operating Company in Liberia which promised success in rural development, had it not been for drastically falling prices for iron ore and a civil war. Other MNCs have tried a one-directional way, whereas Lamco did co-operate in a network. The main result is that an intermediary PVO is an effective and efficient means for an MNC to fulfill its contractual commitments for rural development. The main theoretical contributions are the infusion of non-business intermediary actors to connect business and non-business actors, to enhance our understanding of relationships between MNCs and business and non-business actors in LDCs, and to understand the side-effects of business activities. The empirical contributions discuss the implications for MNCs, host governments, local communities and PVOs.
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| 7. |
- Reichstein-Scholz, Harriet, et al.
(författare)
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Sales to centre stage! Determinants of the division in strategic sales decisions within the MNE
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Business Review. - : Elsevier BV. - 0969-5931 .- 1873-6149. ; 30:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Extant international business (IB) literature on Headquarter (HQ)-subsidiary relationships has established that where decision-making occurs, it influences a firm's performance. Existing studies propose that the degree of autonomy in decision-making at subsidiary level is not the same for all value chain activities, paying more attention to upstream activities. This paper contributes by exploring decision-making autonomy in downstream strategic sales activities. Sales has rarely been centre stage in IB investigations and we therefore lack thorough understanding of its role and importance within the MNE decision-making processes. Conducting a mixed methods exploratory study in the fast-moving consumer goods sector in Germany, we test for antecedents and outcomes of subsidiaries' strategic sales decision-making autonomy. Results confirm external and internal embeddedness as antecedents, and the dominant role played by the local context, but provide insights into potential risks of internal embeddedness. Results challenge existing theory inasmuch as subsidiary importance is not a significant driver. A critical implication of this finding is that, compared to upstream activities, the HQ may not have the option of mandating a subsidiary to transfer sales strategy skills and knowledge across the network. Our results show that, in an era of globalisation of sales, and internationalisation of retailers, HQ managers must pay heed to directly interacting with subsidiaries and to sharing strategic sales decision-making across the network to consolidate the MNE's global sales strategy.
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| 8. |
- Yamin, Mo, et al.
(författare)
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A comparative examination of consumer decision styles in Austria
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Marketing Management. - 0267-257X .- 1472-1376. ; 26:11-12, s. 1021-1036
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mental orientations characterising a consumer's approach to making choices - in short, consumer decision styles - have attracted considerable interest from researchers and practitioners for their value in predicting purchasing behaviour. As a result, they play a key role for marketing activities such as market segmentation, positioning, and tailoring marketing strategies. To contribute to an internationally valid and reliable research instrument, this paper tests a well-documented and accepted research instrument, the Consumer Styles Inventory in another country context and, for the first time, with a sample (n = 225) representative of the general population. Results indicate that some dimensions seem to be universal, while national idiosyncrasies emerged as well.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Yamin, Mo, et al.
(författare)
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Cultural distance and the pattern of equity ownership structure in international joint ventures
- 2010
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Ingår i: International Business Review. - : Elsevier BV. - 0969-5931 .- 1873-6149. ; 19:5, s. 457-467
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper develops and tests hypotheses linking cultural distant to the ownership distribution of equity capital across the partners in international joint ventures (IJVs). The paper's underpinnings are linked to the role of equity shares in providing performance guarantees in joint ventures (JVs). It argues that for IJVs based in the home country of one of the partners, the vulnerability of the foreign partner to expropriation of partnership rents increases with its cultural distance from the home partner. We argue this implies the foreign partner is likely to own a smaller equity share of the IJV. Similar hypotheses are formulated with respect to whether the IJV partners are from the same or different triad regions, and cultural clusters. The hypotheses are tested with data on 442 UK-based joint ventures. Our empirical results demonstrate a significant impact of cultural distance on the pattern of equity ownership in IJVs.
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