Developing a global B2B strategy for products and services management: practical guidance from the field

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to examine the challenges of developing a global business-to-business (B2B) offering from an emerging economy (Chile) during an internationalization endeavor. This study analyzes the development and management of an offering evolving from local to global. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected via an in-depth interview (105 min). Findings The interviewee presented a mixed of interesting marketing and/or marketing-related decisions (e.g. marketing–sales interface and marketing capabilities development) that support the internationalization of a firm and consequently its offering. Research limitations/implications The data represent a practical, ongoing rationalization of the events perceived by a manager. New theory can emerge from further exploring identified research opportunities. Practical implications The findings suggest that an emerging economy firm can gradually transition toward a multinational condition by coordinating a series of marketing and/or marketing related decisions, where the CMO (i.e. maximum marketing authority in the organization) plays an essential role. Originality/value This study brings the voice of practitioners to an academic environment and serves as an innovative effort to analyze B2B practitioners’ reality from a scholarly perspective. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first one of the new series “Practitioners Insights” in the Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing.