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Lancy Mac and Felicitas Evangelista
This study aims to gauge the interactive effect of export intensity and diversity on export performance among exporters in an emerging economy and explore the moderating effect of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to gauge the interactive effect of export intensity and diversity on export performance among exporters in an emerging economy and explore the moderating effect of export intermediaries on the internationalization–export performance relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was undertaken among a convenience sample of small and medium exporters located in Guangdong and Fujian Provinces in South China.
Findings
The results show that intensity and diversity interact negatively with export performance, whereas the use of export agents registered a positive effect. Exporters pursuing a strategy of high export intensity will achieve better performance provided that these exports are concentrated in a few countries. Using export agents can help in enhancing the intensity–performance relationship but not that for diversity–performance.
Practical implications
Chinese exporters are advised not to blindly pursue international expansion without regard to their own resources and capabilities. They should try to strike a balance between intensity and diversity and employ external agents when needed.
Originality/value
This research seeks to address the void in the literature on how export intensity and diversity should be balanced to create a positive effect on the performance of exporting ventures in an emerging economy, which is under-addressed in the literature. It is also found that employment of export intermediaries is not always good for export performance.
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The COVID19 crisis has thrown wide open the debate on Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union’s (EMU) future. Next Generation EU (NGEU) has broken the stalemate over a central fiscal…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID19 crisis has thrown wide open the debate on Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union’s (EMU) future. Next Generation EU (NGEU) has broken the stalemate over a central fiscal capacity. The open question is whether NGEU is a one-off or a first step. The suspension of the Stability and Growth Pact has given new urgency to the debate on reforming EMU’s fiscal rules.
Design/methodology/approach
There is no debate as yet about how these two prospects relate to each other. This paper argues that a permanent fiscal capacity and revised rules should be seen as alternatives.
Findings
This study makes two claims: first, a fiscal capacity renders a reformed pact unnecessary and second, that is an optimal solution politically. A fiscal capacity would provide an efficient asymmetric shock absorber and therefore reduce the need for pre-emptive action against negative cross-border externalities. It would also provide an abundant supply of an EU-wide safe asset around which to structure the EU’s financial system, thus rendering unnecessary the backstopping of member states' debts.
Originality/value
This would restore democratic accountability while eliminating moral hazard and enforcement problems.
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Henry Langseth, Michele O'Dwyer and Claire Arpa
This study applies Oviatt and McDougall’s (2005) model of forces influencing the speed of internationalisation to small, export oriented enterprises. The purpose of this paper is…
Abstract
Purpose
This study applies Oviatt and McDougall’s (2005) model of forces influencing the speed of internationalisation to small, export oriented enterprises. The purpose of this paper is to explore the significance of the forces enabling, motivating, mediating and moderating internationalisation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the manner in which these forces manifest themselves in the market.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research approach utilising eight case studies within Norway and Ireland was adopted in order to facilitate theory building required for this study.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that four forces in particular are found to be strongly significant to the speed of internationalisation among the case SMEs: the enabling force of technology, the mediating force of entrepreneurial actor perceptions/owner-managers’ global vision and the moderating forces of foreign market knowledge and tie strength in networks.
Practical implications
The empirical evidence has several implications for managers and policy regarding influencing the speed of internationalisation process. The enabling force (technology) has implications for government in their support of the SME macro environment. The motivating force (competition) has implications for government, in understanding what motivates entrepreneurs to enter international markets. The two moderating forces (foreign market knowledge and network tie strength) have implications for managers and can be leveraged through product innovation, increased focus on intellectual property rights for better protection against copycats, and through active and deliberate international networking.
Originality/value
The paper suggests adjustments to Oviatt and McDougall’s (2005) model, permitting researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of the complex reality of SME internationalisation.
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Christer Strandberg, Olof Wahlberg and Peter Öhman
The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible usefulness of a combined multi‐attribute and Kano model in analysing how service quality is perceived by mass affluent bank…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible usefulness of a combined multi‐attribute and Kano model in analysing how service quality is perceived by mass affluent bank customers. More precisely, to identify quality dimensions, attributes, and items in terms of taken‐for‐granteds, proportionals, delighters, and neutrals.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a survey, the authors measured how mass affluent customers in one region in a major Swedish bank perceived service quality. Responses were analysed with reference to both multi‐attribute service quality and Kano models.
Findings
The combined model seems to provide some guidance regarding how service quality is perceived by bank customers in the mass affluent segment. The significant number of neutral items reveals potentially wasted resources. The finding of only one delighter item reveals that mass affluent customers are difficult to please. However, substantial heterogeneity exists in customer perceptions of the service quality items investigated.
Research limitations/implications
This exploratory study examines only one bank in one region in one country, implying a need for additional research applying this combined model and other methods to investigate private banking in the mass affluent segment.
Practical implications
The significant number of neutrals implies that banks might be more efficient if they avoided spending resources on such items. The conspicuous spread in conceptions of service quality items suggests that bank managers and personal bankers may benefit from co‐creating services with mass affluent customers.
Social implications
Banks are intermediates on financial markets. Improved and customized service quality could make mass affluent customers inclined to invest their resources in ways that promote economic growth.
Originality/value
In addition to traditional measurement models, the Kano model may contribute to service quality assessment in private banking.
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Drawing on the dynamic capabilities perspective and the resource‐based view (RBV) of the firm, this paper seeks to further understanding of international new ventures (INVs…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the dynamic capabilities perspective and the resource‐based view (RBV) of the firm, this paper seeks to further understanding of international new ventures (INVs) operating in a traditional low technology sector – an understudied context in international entrepreneurship.
Design/methodology/approach
Exploratory research merited qualitative research as the chosen methodology. Multiple case study design and critical incident technique were the main qualitative techniques employed.
Findings
The case entrepreneurs' objective and subjective capabilities emerge as a critical key resource for strategically managing and developing the dynamic capabilities of the firm in areas of research and development (R&D), logistics and production. The firms' capability to adapt and renew themselves through product diversification strategies was also critical for sustainable competitive advantage in a highly turbulent and competitive sector of seafood.
Research limitations/implications
The study is sector‐specific and, while the sample size is small, findings are consistent. The paper presents a conceptual research framework for exploring further dynamic capabilities theory across diverse empirical high and low‐tech industry contexts.
Practical implications
Low technology sectors are considered a “forgotten sector” of innovation policies in small‐developed economies. Findings from this study identify a number of important implications of relevance to policy‐makers and managers.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the knowledge and understanding of how INVs in traditionally low‐tech sectors develop competitive advantage on international markets. The study presents an entrepreneurial perspective to the dynamic capabilities theory of the firm and presents a conceptual research framework to further understanding on INVs.
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This study is a response to the paucity of research into early internationalising firms based in India. We seek to explore the internationalisation of small and new Indian firms…
Abstract
Purpose
This study is a response to the paucity of research into early internationalising firms based in India. We seek to explore the internationalisation of small and new Indian firms and the decision-making process of their entrepreneurs/managers.
Methodology/approach
The study uses original, primary data gathered from in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with the managers of six such firms to explore the factors that might facilitate, motivate, or impede the efforts undertaken by young Indian firms to embark upon a process of early internationalisation.
Findings
Our findings suggest that, in line with their counterparts from other countries, the early internationalisation of small firms from India is driven primarily by the search for more favourable demand conditions overseas and is facilitated by new technologies. However, we find no evidence suggesting that the emergence of early internationalising firms from India is driven by the search for more favourable production conditions or by the direct international experience and exposure of their founders. In line with prior scholarly work, our research suggests that government support is an important facilitator of early internationalisation of small firms.
Originality/value
The study provides insights into the internationalisation process of INVs from India and contributes to broadening our understanding of the behaviour of firms under a set of specific institutional conditions. Based on our findings, we develop a conceptual framework which can be useful for further empirical testing. Our study is also one of the few to be conducted on a sample of INVs from India.
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Hsiu Ying Huang and Ming Huei Hsieh
This study aims to employ a knowledge‐based capability approach to explore how born global firms accelerate their internationalization.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to employ a knowledge‐based capability approach to explore how born global firms accelerate their internationalization.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper adopts a qualitative in‐depth case study approach. Various types and sources of data were collected to provide a rich and solid foundation for theory development and data triangulation. These comprised semi‐structured interviews, field observations and archival material.
Findings
The findings show that the transformation process of international knowledge may more adequately account for the difference in internationalization at conventional globals and born globals than the “indigenous” knowledge resource, i.e. founder experience. Born global firms accelerate their internationalization process through a three‐stage transformation process: knowledge acquisition and dissemination, knowledge integration, and knowledge institutionalization. Two underlying knowledge mechanisms are identified: vertical and horizontal knowledge thrust.
Originality/value
The knowledge transformation process constitutes the basis of “acceleration” of born globals' internationalization. The speed of a born global's internationalization is rooted in its ability to transform internationalization knowledge resident in individual employees into organizational strategies and operational procedures. The finding bridges the gap by identifying effective organizational mechanisms in management of the knowledge process. The “speed‐up” mechanism identified in this research can equip born globals as well as conventional globals with the ability to respond quickly in a dynamic international environment.
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Félix Rodríguez-Ruiz, Paloma Almodóvar and Quyen T.K. Nguyen
This paper aims to identify the most influential papers/authors, publication outlets and theoretical and empirical research topics of the international new venture (INV…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify the most influential papers/authors, publication outlets and theoretical and empirical research topics of the international new venture (INV) literature.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors examine the intellectual structure of the INV literature using bibliometric citation and co-citation analysis. The authors focus on the 100 most cited papers in this research stream published between 1994 and 2015. In the post-hoc reading, they supplement their main bibliometric techniques with the content analysis method to shed light on some issues.
Findings
The authors find that the literature has grown significantly over the past two decades, increasing its relevancy in the academic discourse. The findings show the interdisciplinary nature of the INV literature, where we can find different research topics: Definition of INVs, measurements of “newness” and “degree of internationalization” and the characteristics of international entrepreneurs; time dimension in terms of speed of internationalization; international versus domestic new ventures; and the relationships between firm-specific advantages, international strategy and INV performance.
Originality/value
The authors identify the most influential studies and authors in the INV discipline and show its evolution from the very start to the present. They present the key topics in the literature and highlight the theoretical debates and the inconsistencies between theoretical conceptualization and measurements in the empirical work. The authors offer suggestions for promising future research directions and identify the major conceptual framework on which future research can be constructed. Overall, this study contributes to enhance the understanding of the INV phenomenon and provides useful new insights.
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Natalie McDougall, Beverly Wagner and Jill MacBryde
This paper aims to develop frameworks to support implementation and competitive leveraging of distinct sustainable supply chain operations. This derives from conceptual definition…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop frameworks to support implementation and competitive leveraging of distinct sustainable supply chain operations. This derives from conceptual definition of the dynamic capabilities required to support Hart’s (1995) natural-resource-based view resources in the supply chain.
Design/methodology/approach
This conceptual study uses qualitative content analysis to extract capabilities from review and analysis of literature related to natural-resource-based view (NRBV) and sustainable supply chain management. Intercoder reliability assessments support conceptual development of such capabilities into dynamic capability frameworks.
Findings
Specific interrelations between each NRBV resource and corresponding supply chain strategies are conceptualised. From this, capabilities are categorised to corresponding resources, dynamic capabilities activities and internal–external focus. This results in definition of 107 dynamic NRBV capabilities.
Research limitations/implications
Contributions are threefold: distinct frameworks for competitive sustainable supply chain management is offered; the NRBV benefits from enhanced practical guidance via the definition of its dynamic capabilities, addressing the theory-practice gap; and understandings of dynamic capabilities and their role in both the NRBV sustainable supply chain management is advanced.
Practical implications
This paper offers four frameworks to allow firms to tailor sustainability strategies to suit their needs and guide competitive leveraging. Definition of capabilities offers practical guidance to operationalise NRBV resources.
Originality/value
This is the first holistic interpretation of NRBV capabilities and explicit application of dynamic capabilities. This forms the basis of a broader research agenda for the NRBV in sustainable supply chain management.
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