Anca C Yallop and Omid Aliasghar
The purpose of this commentary is to reflect on the transformative changes organisations experience, in the form of increased use of emergent information and communication…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this commentary is to reflect on the transformative changes organisations experience, in the form of increased use of emergent information and communication technologies (ICTs), as a significant factor in enabling the continuation of normal business practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent key ethical considerations in the use of new technology by organisations.
Design/methodology/approach
This commentary adopts a reflective approach and is based on a review of theories on diffusion of innovation, dynamic capabilities and data ethics and governance, as well as up-to-date business reports to reflect on the ethical implications of new technologies for organisations.
Findings
Organisations from different industries and sectors around the world have experienced major disruptive changes because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adoption and integration of new ICTs occurred at an accelerated pace in a collective effort to maintain “business as usual”. The use of emergent technologies is not without risks. The commentary argues that, in times of crisis, it is vital that organisations address the growing concerns around privacy and security of personal data by designing effective data governance frameworks that go beyond a mere compliance with existing policies and prevailing data privacy and protection laws to ensure data security and protection for all stakeholders.
Originality/value
This commentary is making the case for more considered approaches to data governance and data ethics in business following the unprecedented challenges posed by the recent COVID-19 pandemic and suggests possible ways of moving forward from an ethical perspective.
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Omid Aliasghar and Venus Kanani Moghadam
Searching for knowledge from outside firms' boundaries has been proved to be a critical strategy to develop innovation. However, the existing body of research has mainly focused…
Abstract
Purpose
Searching for knowledge from outside firms' boundaries has been proved to be a critical strategy to develop innovation. However, the existing body of research has mainly focused on the high-tech sector in developed countries, largely neglecting the considerable role of low- and medium-technology sectors (LMT) in emerging contexts. The authors discuss the fact that knowledge search patterns and the role of internal R&D intensity differ for firms operating in LMT sectors.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 1,365 firms operating in LMT sectors in Iran was used to test the proposed conceptual model, using logistic regression analysis.
Findings
The findings show that a firm will learn from its collaboration with value chain partners only if it has a strong in-house R&D capacity. In addition, while a high level of internal research development capacity increases the impact of knowledge acquired from value chain partners, the authors did not find evidence for complementarity between the investment in internal technology development and knowledge acquired from university and science-based partners.
Originality/value
Unlike previous studies in open innovation that have mainly investigated the role of knowledge search on product innovation in developed countries, this study contributes to the literature by connecting the concepts of R&D intensity and selective search, discussing that businesses operating in challenging contexts follow different knowledge search strategies to develop process-related innovation activities.
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Kazuhiro Asakawa, Omid Aliasghar and C. Annique Un
This paper explores how the organizational resilience of multinational corporations (MNCs) can be attained through mitigating the liability of foreignness (LOF) faced by their…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper explores how the organizational resilience of multinational corporations (MNCs) can be attained through mitigating the liability of foreignness (LOF) faced by their subsidiaries so that they can navigate challenges more effectively. By bridging the gap between MNC resilience and the liability and advantage of foreignness of their subsidiaries, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how MNCs can thrive in volatile and uncertain international markets.
Design/methodology/approach
By drawing on the extant literature on resilience and liability/advantage of foreignness, this paper presents a novel perspective on the way resilience of subsidiaries contributes to the resilience of the MNCs as a whole.
Findings
Subsidiaries contribute substantially to the resilience of MNCs by creating a network of adaptive responses in their host locations and beyond and by playing crucial roles in challenging uncertain and turbulent environments. Accordingly, the resilience of foreign subsidiaries depends on their organizational capability and certain structural arrangements that enable them to turn LOF into advantage. This intricate interplay emphasizes the importance of subsidiary-level resilience in shaping the resilience of the entire MNC.
Originality/value
This paper emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the resilience of the whole MNC while stressing the important role played by the subsidiaries to turn the LOF into the advantage.
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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.