Ying Guo, Pavlina Jasovska, Hussain Gulzar Rammal and Elizabeth L. Rose
The use of expatriates to transfer individual and organizational know-how and knowledge is a practice widely used by multinational enterprises (MNEs). However, for service firms…
Abstract
Purpose
The use of expatriates to transfer individual and organizational know-how and knowledge is a practice widely used by multinational enterprises (MNEs). However, for service firms, the mobility of employees across national borders depends on the commitments made by countries under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). In particular, the Mode 4 form of supply under GATS can limit the ability of professionals to enter a particular country and can restrict the intra-organizational transfer of knowledge in multinational service firms. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how MNEs attempt to overcome these barriers and transfer knowledge through their global network.
Design/methodology/approach
Using Nonaka and Takeuchi’s SECI model of knowledge transfer, the authors study the intra-organizational knowledge transfer practices of an Indian multinational service firm. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 key informants involved with the organization.
Findings
The company uses global teams to transfer tacit knowledge and facilitates inpatriation through an internship program that helps the firm overcome nationality requirement that restricts the movement of their managers to other countries, which in turn limits their ability to transfer knowledge in the intra-organizational setting. The company uses the services of a not-for-profit youth organization that helps recruit interns for the program and also facilitates the relationship with the Indian Government, which provides support for this initiative by reducing barriers to entry for the interns.
Originality/value
This study takes the unique approach of studying barriers to movement of professionals and a firm’s strategic response. It identifies the pressures and barriers that companies face in the global economy and highlights the role of government agencies and other stakeholders in facilitating or restricting the transfer of knowledge within a firm’s international network. The paper articulates the implications for policy and practice, and a future research agenda.
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Christopher Findlay, Hussain Gulzar Rammal, Elizabeth Rose and Vijay Pereira
This study aims to the influence and impact of regulations and highlights the barriers to market entry faced by Australian professional service firms in the European Union (EU…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to the influence and impact of regulations and highlights the barriers to market entry faced by Australian professional service firms in the European Union (EU) and their strategies to manage and transfer tacit knowledge.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected data by reviewing relevant regulatory documents and conducting semi-structured interviews with key informants from Australian architecture firms and senior representatives from the professional, trade and regulatory bodies in Australia and Europe.
Findings
Historically, Australian professional service firms use the United Kingdom (UK) as their EU base. The mutual recognition of qualifications and prior experiences are barriers to intra-organizational expatriation and knowledge transfer. The study identifies the dual nationality of the architects as a way of circumventing the residency/nationality restrictions.
Originality/value
The study discusses Brexit and how the uncertainty surrounding the UK and EU’s agreement adds to the complexity for non-European firms’ market entry and operations in the region.
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Marcellinus C. Dike and Elizabeth L. Rose
The purpose of this paper is to map the relevant studies pertaining to internationalization in the mobile telecommunications (telecom) sector, with the aims of reflecting and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to map the relevant studies pertaining to internationalization in the mobile telecommunications (telecom) sector, with the aims of reflecting and categorizing what has already been studied on this topic, as a means of guiding future research.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use the systematic literature review methodological approach, adopting the “Antecedents-Phenomenon-Consequences” theoretical framework as a guide. Consistent with this framework, they identify and categorize studies in the academic literature that have discussed the cross-border expansion of mobile telecom firms. Their review is based on 50 research publications, selected based on the relevance of their findings and their underlying arguments. The authors then categorized each piece’s findings and arguments into themes and sub-themes.
Findings
The authors find evidence that mobile network operators (MNOs) are driven into international markets by a collection of factors that can broadly be categorized as either firm-specific/country factors or the desire to capture first-mover advantages (FMAs). They also find evidence that the Uppsala stages model does not provide an appropriate explanation of MNOs’ internationalization patterns, with firms tending to skip posited stages. Market size, the regulatory environment and government policies appear to be key influences in MNOs’ choices of foreign investment locations, and despite being a driver of internationalization, FMAs often erode with the entry of competitors. MNOs tend to prefer collaborative entries over greenfield investments, especially in countries in which telecommunications infrastructure is already in place. Finally, there is no consensus with respect to whether internationality is positively associated with financial performance for MNOs.
Originality/value
This review of the literature offers value to both academia and practice, by providing both insights into what has already been studied with respect to the internationalization of mobile telecom firms and a guide for future research.
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Omid Aliasghar and Elizabeth L. Rose
When terrorism threaten geopolitical stability, many policymakers turn to economic sanctions. In this way, governments and multilateral organizations continue to affect corporate…
Abstract
Purpose
When terrorism threaten geopolitical stability, many policymakers turn to economic sanctions. In this way, governments and multilateral organizations continue to affect corporate and managerial choices, through the shaping and constraining of international trade policies. Still, most of the international business remain relatively quiet about the impact of the non-market environment on firms’ strategic efforts. Questions remain about how firms adjust their strategies in the face of the often-sudden impact of changes in multilateral rules and enforcement mechanisms. This study aims to address this question by shedding light on three potential adjustment strategies for firms that have been impacted by sanctions.
Design/methodology/approach
As part of a larger, multimethod study, the authors undertook 16 semi-structured interviews with senior managers of firms whose operations have been affected by international sanctions.
Findings
International and political tensions can affect businesses in many ways, from exporting to strategies associated with global knowledge sourcing. Learnings from organizations that have had to respond to sudden and extreme changes in their fragile ecosystems will aid this study. In this commentary paper, the authors offer suggestions about how to adapt, respond and operate in a new reality.
Originality/value
While the imposition of long-term political sanctions, especially by powerful nations and multilateral institutions, has become more frequent, how businesses cope with these extreme external shifts still remains unknown. This paper focuses on firms operating in a sanctioned regime, investigating how they deal with these sudden changes in their environment.
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Freya Elizabeth Rose McCarthy and Stephanie Jane Simpson
The purpose of this paper was to investigate the utility of including emotional development (ED) assessment into a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approach in clinical practice…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to investigate the utility of including emotional development (ED) assessment into a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approach in clinical practice with a patient with an intellectual disability (ID) and challenging behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
Interviews were conducted with four staff involved in the care of the patient. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis and three reflective sessions were completed with the lead psychologist of the service.
Findings
Using thematic analysis, four themes were identified: getting everyone around the table: a collaborative approach, complementary approaches: a feedback loop, helping to make sense of the individual and ensuring a voice for service users.
Research limitations/implications
This was a case study selected from routine clinical practice and as such generalisability may be limited. This case study was designed as an exploration of the potential benefits of incorporating ED alongside PBS for ID and provides a basis for future research.
Practical implications
This study highlights the value of integration of ED assessment for people with ID and challenging behaviour within a healthcare team.
Originality/value
There is a lack of literature relating to ED and challenging behaviour within an ID population, particularly exploring ED within a PBS framework. This study provides a starting point for exploring how practice can be improved through incorporating ED assessment for individuals with ID and challenging behaviour.
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Yuliansyah Yuliansyah, Hussain G. Rammal and Elizabeth Rose
The relationship between strategic choices and performance in service firms in emerging markets has remained largely under-researched. This study aims to address this issue by…
Abstract
Purpose
The relationship between strategic choices and performance in service firms in emerging markets has remained largely under-researched. This study aims to address this issue by studying the performance of financial institutions in the context of Indonesia’s political, institutional and socio-cultural environment.
Design/methodology/approach
Using institutional theory, the authors analyzed data collected using surveys and interviews with senior managers in Indonesian financial institutions.
Findings
The authors find that the regulative and normative elements have forced organizations to incorporate the values set by the external institutional bodies. The organizations have undertaken structural isomorphism in response to culture-cognitive elements, and differentiate themselves by focusing on the provision of quality customer service and enhanced customer satisfaction.
Originality/value
The authors provide new insights by studying how the political and institutional environment and choice of strategy influences performance of the services sector in emerging economies.
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Stephan Gerschewski, Valerie J. Lindsay and Elizabeth Rose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is manifested in the context of born global firms. Specifically, the authors investigate the extent to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is manifested in the context of born global firms. Specifically, the authors investigate the extent to which the EO dimensions of the influential Miller/Covin & Slevin scale are demonstrated in born globals. In addition, following calls in the literature, some as-yet unrecognised dimensions of EO in born globals are examined.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use a qualitative research approach by conducting semi-structured, in-depth interviews with eight born global firms from New Zealand and Australia.
Findings
The authors find that the EO dimensions of proactiveness and innovativeness are strongly prevalent in these firms. In contrast to the extant literature, the results also indicate that these born global firms generally display a relatively low level of risk-taking. The authors find strong empirical support for two additional emerging dimensions of EO: passion and perseverance.
Originality/value
The study provides two key contributions to the area of international entrepreneurship by investigating how EO is prevalent in the context of born globals and by proposing the new dimensions of passion and perseverance.