Andres Velez-Calle, Fernando Sanchez-Henriquez and Farok Contractor
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between multinationality and firm performance (M-P) in Latin American companies, commonly referred to as multilatinas. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between multinationality and firm performance (M-P) in Latin American companies, commonly referred to as multilatinas. The study conceptualizes the depth (intensity) and breadth (geographical scope) of internationalization and examines their effect on financial performance. Although scholars have studied how internationalization in various contexts and industries affects performance, little is known about firms in Latin America.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted an analysis of the effect of the depth and breadth of multilatina internationalization on financial performance by creating a database using information from America Economia, a specialized Chilean magazine that publishes an annual ranking of multilatinas. Additional data came from the Osiris database of Bureau Van Dijk and Compustat. The hypotheses were tested using an autoregressive heteroskedastic model.
Findings
The results show that the extent of the depth and breadth of internationalization affects financial performance. Multilatinas’ depth of internationalization has a curvilinear (U-shaped) impact on performance while breadth has an inverted curvilinear impact on performance.
Research limitations/implications
The theory portion and results expand the literature on firm internationalization and performance by distinguishing between two types of international firm expansion, depth and breadth, and discussing how each contributes to different stages of the three-stage theory of multinationality and performance.
Originality/value
The findings indicate that multilatinas benefit from their regional expansion, but outside Latin America, expansion has a negative effect on financial performance. They also show that firms can implement different types of internationalization strategies in terms of intensity and scope to achieve better performance.
Objetivo
Este artículo analiza la relación entre la multinacionalidad y el desempeño de la empresa (M-P) en compañías latinoamericanas, conocidas como multilatinas. El estudio conceptualiza la profundidad (intensidad) y extensión (alcance geográfico) de la internacionalización, y examina su efecto en el desempeño financiero. Aunque varios investigadores han estudiado cómo la internacionalización en diversos contextos e industrias afecta el rendimiento, poco se sabe con respecto a las empresas en América Latina.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Los autores realizaron un análisis del efecto producido por la profundidad y extensión de la internacionalización de la multilatina en el desempeño financiero, mediante la creación de una base de datos con información de América Economía, una revista chilena especializada que publica anualmente un ranking de multilatinas. Datos adicionales provienen de la base de datos Osiris de Bureau Van Dijk y de Compustat. Las hipótesis fueron probadas usando un modelo heterocedástico autoregresivo.
Resultados
Los resultados muestran que el grado de profundidad y extensión de la internacionalización afectan el rendimiento financiero. La profundidad de internacionalización de las multilatinas tiene un efecto curvilíneo (en forma de U) sobre el desempeño financiero, mientras que la extension geográfica tiene un efecto curvilíneo invertido en dicho desempeño.
Limitaciones/implicaciones de la investigación
La sección teórica y los resultados extiende la literatura sobre la internacionalización y el desempeño de las empresas al distinguir entre dos tipos de expansión internacional: profundidad y extensión. También se discute cómo cada uno contribuye a las diferentes etapas de la teoría de la multinacionalidad y desempeño.
Originalidad/Valor
Los resultados indican que las multilatinas se benefician de su expansión regional. Sin embargo, fuera de América Latina, dicha expansión tiene un efecto negativo sobre el desempeño financiero. También se señala que las empresas pueden implementar diferentes tipos de estrategias de internacionalización en términos de intensidad y alcance para lograr un mejor desempeño.
Details
Keywords
- Internationalization strategies
- Internationalization depth
- Internationalization breadth
- Internationalization scope
- Firm performance
- Latin America
- Multilatinas
- Estrategias de internacionalización
- Profundidad de la internacionalización
- Extensión de la internacionalización
- Alcance de la internacionalización
- Desempeño financiero
- América Latina
- Multilatinas
Rakesh B. Sambharya, Farok J. Contractor and Abdul A. Rasheed
The purpose of this paper is to identify some of the major issues relating to the conceptualization and operationalization of industry globalization.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify some of the major issues relating to the conceptualization and operationalization of industry globalization.
Findings
Globalized industries have four important characteristics: cross-border product flows, cross-border capital flows, dispersal of global value chains and global competition. However, lack of availability of data limits our ability to develop an operationalization that encompasses all these four aspects of globalization.
Practical implications
The authors identify some of the most important factors driving industry globalization as well as the major impediments to globalization.
Originality/value
Although the term “globalization” has attained a nearly “taken for granted” status, its meaning is rather vaguely specified and is often context dependent. This paper delineates the domain of the construct and identifies many of the practical issues in operationalizing the construct.
Details
Keywords
Rakesh B. Sambharya, Abdul A. Rasheed and Farok J. Contractor
There is considerable variation in the extent of globalization across industries. The authors attempt to identify the structural conditions of the industry that lead to these…
Abstract
Purpose
There is considerable variation in the extent of globalization across industries. The authors attempt to identify the structural conditions of the industry that lead to these variations.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a sample of 33 manufacturing industries over the nine-year period from 2007 to 2016, the authors test for antecedents of industry globalization.
Findings
The authors find that industry globalization is positively affected by medium levels of barriers to entry, industry competition, industry assistance, low and mediums levels of capital intensity, industry concentration and industry regulation and negatively affected by low levels of technological change and industry assistance. In addition, the life cycle stage of the industry has an impact on the level of globalization with the growth stage having the highest level of globalization.
Research limitations/implications
First, the major limitation of the paper is that the authors rely entirely on trade data to measure the level of industry globalization. The authors did not have a choice because foreign direct investment (FDI) data are available only at the country level. Second, given that globalization can occur at the country, industry and firm levels, the focus on industry-level structural characteristics alone may be seen as a limitation.
Practical implications
The results of the study can provide guidance to practicing managers to apply industry analysis for predicting the potential for and direction of globalization of their industries. This will enable them to formulate appropriate strategies to cope with global competition.
Social implications
The study has important public policy implications. National governments have many levers at their command that can be used to influence the structural characteristics of industries, such as industry regulation, industry assistance and industry concentration. They can selectively use these levers to either facilitate or impede globalization.
Originality/value
Much of the empirical focus of prior research on globalization has been on countries, rather than industries, as the unit of analysis. There is clearly variation in the extent of globalization across industries with some industries highly integrated while others remain primarily local or regional. Based on a novel approach to measure the extent of globalization at the industry level, the authors identify its antecedents. The value of the paper lies in the fact that the analysis of 33 manufacturing industries over a ten-year period shows that the structural characteristics of the industries drive their extent of globalization.
Details
Keywords
This chapter complements the one that appeared as “History of the AIB Fellows: 1975–2008” in Volume 14 of this series (International Business Scholarship: AIB Fellows on the First…
Abstract
This chapter complements the one that appeared as “History of the AIB Fellows: 1975–2008” in Volume 14 of this series (International Business Scholarship: AIB Fellows on the First 50 Years and Beyond, Jean J. Boddewyn, Editor). It traces what happened under the deanship of Alan Rugman (2011–2014) who took many initiatives reported here while his death in July 2014 generated trenchant, funny, and loving comments from more than half of the AIB Fellows. The lives and contributions of many other major international business scholars who passed away from 2008 to 2014 are also evoked here: Endel Kolde, Lee Nehrt, Howard Perlmutter, Stefan Robock, John Ryans, Vern Terpstra, and Daniel Van Den Bulcke.
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Keywords
Most years, several AIB members are elected as AIB Fellows on account of their excellent international business scholarship, and/or past service as AIB President or Executive…
Abstract
Most years, several AIB members are elected as AIB Fellows on account of their excellent international business scholarship, and/or past service as AIB President or Executive Secretary. The Fellows are in charge of electing Eminent Scholars as well as the International Executive and International Educator (formerly, Dean) of the Year, who often provide the focus for Plenary Sessions at AIB Conferences. Their history since 1975 covers over half of the span of the AIB and reflects many issues that dominated that period in terms of research themes, progresses and problems, the internationalization of business education and the role of international business in society and around the globe. Like other organizations, the Fellows Group had their ups and downs, successes and failures – and some fun too!
The past three years have seen an acceleration in the rate with which companies have formed strategic partnerships with foreign firms in both the US and overseas markets. This…
Abstract
The past three years have seen an acceleration in the rate with which companies have formed strategic partnerships with foreign firms in both the US and overseas markets. This article examines the theoretical rationale underlying joint ventures and asks what strategic considerations lie behind their formation. Fifteen case examples of joint ventures are presented and analysed to see how the theoretical concepts fit actual situations.
The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively review the sources of competitive strength of emerging market multinationals (EMMs). Since most lack firm-specific assets such as…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively review the sources of competitive strength of emerging market multinationals (EMMs). Since most lack firm-specific assets such as internalized knowledge or globally recognized brands, especially in their early international growth, and emanate from less-developed nations, the success of EMMs has to be explained by identifying factors in their home nations and international scope which make these firms internationally competitive.
Design/methodology/approach
A comprehensive review of the extant literature and company cases identified several sources of competitive advantage for emerging market firms. Since conclusive evidence is still unavailable, many of these factors are proposed as hypotheses for future empirical research. Where needed, contrary viewpoints are also discussed and cited.
Findings
This paper identifies several possible location-specific assets of emerging market companies including the mindset of top management of EMMs (such as long term orientation, global or cosmopolitan perspectives, a degree of humility that recognizes the need to catch-up by learning from foreign allies and customers, tolerance for ambiguity, and frugality) and home country cultural traits such as emphasis on relationships, family control, and private equity capital. Other sources of competitiveness may lie in the home country pool of technical talent and cheap labor, the extensive diasporas of persons of Chinese, Indian and Brazilian origin, and the role of common language as determinants for the geographical pattern of FDI from emerging nations.
Originality/value
This paper serves the dual purpose of providing a comprehensive literature review of this topic for doctoral or Masters students, and specifying hypotheses (as well as opposing views) for further investigation.
Details
Keywords
This chapter outlines a general theory of international expansion and its effect on the performance of firms. Using the lens of this theory, it addresses the question of why most…
Abstract
This chapter outlines a general theory of international expansion and its effect on the performance of firms. Using the lens of this theory, it addresses the question of why most companies are “regional,” in the sense that their geographical coverage seems to be far from complete. The chapter also treats the perplexing issue of the lack of congruence in empirical findings, over the 30-year history of the Multinationality vs. Performance sub-field in International Business studies. It argues that the apparently contradictory results of past studies are but subsets of the three stages of the general theory. Finally, the chapter indicates fruitful areas for further research.
The largest business unit is no longer the multinational corporation but rather, cooperating networks of globally connected organizations and firms. The principal focus of this…
Abstract
The largest business unit is no longer the multinational corporation but rather, cooperating networks of globally connected organizations and firms. The principal focus of this chapter is to identify trends which have come to a head in the last two decades in the world economy and have fostered interorganizational cooperation on an unprecedented scale. The technological, political, spatial and cultural complexities of global operations are becoming simply too great in many areas to be encompassed by a single company or agency. It is impossible to build a technologically complex global civilization without interorganizational cooperation, any more than a multicellular organism could survive without cooperation between its distinct but specialized constituents. The chapter reviews the evolutionary basis for cooperation, describes recent economic forces that have shaped interorganizational cooperation and describes why planetary economic cooperation is our “manifest destiny.”
Chinmay Pattnaik and B. Elango
The previous decade has been characterized by emerging market firms expanding into international markets. This trend has led to scholars in the IB arena to grapple with the new…
Abstract
The previous decade has been characterized by emerging market firms expanding into international markets. This trend has led to scholars in the IB arena to grapple with the new phenomenon of emerging multinational enterprises (EMNEs), specifically the relationship between internationalization and performance of the EMNEs. This paper seeks to add to the literature by capturing the impact of firm resources on the internationalization‐performance relationship. Empirical analysis on a sample of 787 Indian manufacturing firms indicates that there is a non‐linear relationship between internationalization and performance. Findings also indicate that a firm’s capabilities in cost efficiency and marketing have a moderating impact on this relationship.