Entry mode research: Past and future

Abstract

What has been done in the entry mode literature to date and where should future research in this field proceed? To answer this question, we review empirical studies in international entry mode research between the years 1980 and 2006. We identify key publication outlets and articles, leading researchers, major theoretical and methodological approaches, sample characteristics, and primary variables of interest that exist in the entry mode literature. We also highlight gaps in the literature and provide guidance for future research efforts. While entry mode research has advanced significantly over the past few decades, numerous questions remain unexplained. For example, our review suggests that researchers should begin to concentrate on the other side of the equation, that is, what happens once entry mode choice has been made. This provides fertile ground for continued development in entry mode research.