Firm-level Case Studies Research Articles

Playful finance: Gamification and intermediation in FinTech economies

This paper examines how digital gamification techniques, which incorporate video gaming elements (rather than full-fledged games) into apps, are reshaping the logics and practices of intermediation that are core to FinTech economies. First, we argue gamification brings into view socio-technical knowledges, such as behavioral science, digital marketing, and user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, which are increasingly important to constituting FinTech intermediation. Second, gamification features specialist firms that are presently overlooked by research into the roles of changing advanced producer services (APS) complexes in FinTech and financial intermediation. Third, gamified apps are deployed to advance competitive intermediary positions which playfully capture user attention and configure user behavior, contrasting with FinTech strategies that typically promise users’ ease of access, reduced transaction costs and personalized products and services. We illustrate these arguments through three firm-level case studies from across Asia, where the development of gamified FinTech apps has been especially prominent.

Using Firm-Level Case Studies to Address Trade Facilitation Challenges in Southern Africa

This paper will analyse a survey on a range of firm-level case studies detailing the main de jure and de facto trade barriers that companies face in doing business in Southern Africa. Reference is made to previous studies on trade barriers within the region. The relevance of the Trade Facilitation Agreement to SADC going forward will also be assessed, following which recommendations will be made regarding the policy implications for SADC’s trade agenda as well as the development impact of measures to eliminate non-tariff barriers for SADC citizens.

Between Late-Industrialisation and Globalisation: The Hybridisation of Labour Relations among Leading South Korean Firms

South Korea's (hereinafter Korea) labour relations illuminate the possibilities for the ‘hybridisation’ of non-liberal capitalism under globalisation. Unlike the well-known German and Japanese advanced non-liberal capitalisms, Korea appeared to be far less conducive to ‘hybridisation’. First, inclusive labour practices were not well developed. Second, it had introduced comprehensive economic liberalisation following the financial crash of 1998. Despite these unfavourable conditions, leading Korean firms have tended to maintain or even introduce non-liberal practices than to discard them. The resulting melding of non-liberal and liberal practices (‘hybridisation’) can be traced to three legacies of late-industrialisation: state inclination to intervene during crises; countervailing power of labour at leading enterprises; and the intensity of big business rivalry as a force for the assimilation of inclusive practices. The effects of these legacies in generating mixed practices will be illustrated using firm-level case studies from Korea's two leading export sectors. It will also be argued that Korea's pattern of labour relations hybridity is not conducive to convergence with extant forms of advanced capitalism. Hence Korea is more suitably denoted as a form of late-industrialisation hybrid capitalism whose experience is relevant to other late-developers as they achieve ‘advanced’ status.

Drivers of internationalisation in network industries: the case of electronic purse developers

This paper analyses how and why the first generation of e-purse developers have tried to penetrate international markets. The analysis covers the period between 1992 and 2006, and builds on 16 firm-level case studies that span developments in more than 30 countries around the globe. The paper examines the nature of the drivers behind the observed internationalisation strategies, as well as their pace and organisational form, by building on the approach that Sarkar et al. (1999) propose for the telecom sector. This paper finds that the quest for enhanced power in standard-setting debates appears to have been particularly important as a driver. Also, just like telecommunication carriers, e-purse developers follow strategies of market and partner preemption, albeit for different reasons.

Technological Change from Foreign Firms: Firm-Level Case Studies in the Kenyan Context

Foreign direct investment and technological spillovers are among the most widely studied to understand their role in learning, capability building and innovation management. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of FDI in industrial development in the sub Saharan region but using an alternative framework taking Kenya as a case study country. Specifically, the paper investigates whether presence of FDI in manufacturing industry stimulates spillover occurrence. This is done following a unique analytical framework developed taking into consideration human resource development, linkages, competition and demonstration effects. On the basis of this framework, foreign presence stimulated spillover occurrence in Kenya’s industry. There was tremendous evidence of learning, capability building and innovation due to spillover occurrence. The main limitation of this paper is that results obtained cannot be generalized since the five foreign firms studied cannot be considered comprehensive representatives of the entire manufacturing industry. The results need to change our thinking with regard to policy pertaining to the role FDI plays in a host country’s industrial development. This paper presents the only known work based in Africa focusing on FDI, spillovers, learning, capability building and innovation. The case studies, though ambitious, present findings which need to change our thinking about the past results and methodologies of the past studies on FDI and spillovers.

Drivers of Internationalisation in Network Industries: The Case of Electronic Purse Developers

This paper analyses how e-purse developers have tried to penetrate international markets. The analysis covers the period between 1992 and 2006, and builds on 16 firm-level case studies that span developments in more than 30 countries around the globe. The paper uses a novel multi-dimensional framework to position the firms at different points in time, and in this way detect patterns of strategic change. The paper then examines drivers behind these internationalisation patterns, as well as the pace and organisational form, by building on the approach proposed by Sarkar et al. (1999) for the telecom sector. The paper finds that the quest for enhanced power in standard-setting debates appears to have been particularly important as a driver, and it is shown that once promising national platforms were relegated to also-rans because they lacked a successful internationalisation strategy. It also shown that, just like telecommunication carriers, e-purse developers have followed strategies of market and partner preemption, albeit for different reasons. An interesting theoretical finding is that, with some adjustments, the Sarkar et al. framework can be transposed to another network industry.

Intermediated mode of internationalization: new software ventures in Ireland and India

Building on an emerging literature of international new ventures, we suggest that new ventures face two modes of internationalization: a direct mode and an intermediated means, using multinational enterprises as intermediaries. When considering direct internationalization, new ventures face high entry barriers including a lack of firm resources and access to key infrastructure. However, new ventures pursuing the intermediated mode of internationalization encounter transaction costs and the threat of rent extraction from multinational enterprises. Sector level case evidence suggests that the intermediated form of internationalization can be found in the software industry in Ireland and India. Our firm-level case studies identify the strategic issues and drawbacks associated with the intermediated mode of internationalization. Implications for policy-makers include encouraging firms to consider intermediated internationalization and targeting enterprise supports at entrepreneurs with experience of working in multinational enterprises.

The Internationalization of Electronic Purse Networks: National Responsiveness vs. Benefits of Integration

This is a companion paper to Van Hove (2007). The latter paper builds on 16 firm-level case studies to examine the drivers behind the internationalization efforts of e-purse developers. Specifically, the paper tries to find out whether the approach proposed by Sarkar et al. (1999) for the telecom sector can be transposed to another network industry. Van Hove (2007) obviously only uses fragments of the underlying case studies. This paper offers all 16 case studies in full. Van Hove (2007) also uses a novel multi-dimensional framework to position e-purse operators at two points in time, and in this way detect patterns of strategic change. This paper explains the positions of the players in these figures in more detail, and also applies the framework a third time (for the period after the sale of Proton World International).

Strategic integration of knowledge in Indian pharmaceutical firms: creating competencies for innovation

Trade liberalisation and changes in the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) have fashioned new dynamics in the pharmaceutical industry across the globe. Firms are forced to bring changes to their research, innovation, technology and marketing practices by a reconfiguration of their competencies and resources. The most common strategic concern that Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) has raised for Indian firms is the perceived need for R&D and technological strength. For firms that have given little attention to research and innovation in the past, this transition is very difficult. Indian firms have responded to these changes in novel and complex ways. Employing firm-level case studies, this paper examines the contemporary strategic approaches adopted by Indian leaders for integrating new knowledge and capabilities in order to develop innovation competencies for tomorrow. Using empirical evidence from firm-level investigations, this paper shows how Indian firms are evolving from reverse engineering outfits catering to domestic market to technologically advanced and sophisticated organisations capable of catering to diverse markets.

Technological innovations in Indian engineering industry: industry and firm level case studies

This paper probes the nature and dimensions of technological innovations carried out by small engineering enterprises in Karnataka, India – at the industry as well as firm level. Industry level study revealed that small enterprises undertook innovations due to both internal and external factors but importantly, the technical education background of the entrepreneurs seemed to motivate them towards technological innovations. To achieve greater competitiveness, most of these enterprises were engaged in "incremental innovations" with self-efforts and achieved quality improvement, improved product designs, increased output, etc. Innovation made a significant contribution to output. But the firm level case study threw light on "radical innovations" achieved by a small enterprise with self-efforts, which developed new products periodically, entered the export market and grew in size over time.

Postcommunist divergence: A comparative analysis of the transition to capitalism in Poland and Russia

This article critiques the dominant neoliberal transition paradigm. The implementation of neoliberal reforms in the postcommunist world has fostered the creation of two different types of capitalism. Rather than enabling a transition to Western European-style capitalism, these reforms have produced divergence within the postcommunist world. This article uses comparative firm-level case studies from Russia and Poland to construct a “neoclassical” sociological alternative to neoliberal theory that can explain this divergence. In this account, intra-dominant class structure (the pattern of alliances between the Party bureaucracy, the technocracy, and humanistic intellectuals) at the time of the transition produces different “paths to capitalism,” or policy regimes, which, in turn, have different effects on the ability of firms to restructure. In Russia, this creates a system of “patrimonial capitalism” that will produce long-term economic stagnation. In Poland, a variety of modern rational capitalism emerges. This latter system is distinguished by its very high levels of dependence on capital imports in comparison to the advanced capitalist countries. As a result, this type of economy will be quite vulnerable to economic shocks.

Skill Formation Of Engineers In Large Korean Firms: An Analysis From A Comparative Perspective

On the basis of firm‐level case studies, this paper examines the actual performance of university education and in‐firm training for engineers in large Korean manufacturing firms. University education fails to meet the actual demands for skills at the firm level, while in‐firm training fails to devote sufficient resources to the continuous, lifetime skill formation of engineers. The poor performance of this education is explained by the rigid university administration system in Korea, and worsened by exclusive government intervention. The limitations of in‐firm training are accounted for by several features of corporate management, including the prevail‐ing production strategies and top‐down governance structures inside firms as well as the distinct occupational culture popular among young engineers.

Technical change in Latin American manufacturing firms: Review and synthesis

This paper reviews the accumulated evidence from a number of firm-level case studies of technical change in Latin American manufacturing industries carried out during the late 1970s and 1980s. These studies, it is argued, have considerably advanced our understanding of the nature, determinants and impact of incremental technical change in industrial enterprises. But while the studies are of considerable importance to discussions of infant industry protection and dynamic comparative advantage, their restricted scope does not allow us to arrive at any hard-and-fast policy conclusions. The paper closes with a consideration of some possible research issues for the 1990s, emphasizing how firm-level technical change may be affected by changing macroeconomic conditions and the advent of new, microelectronics-based technologies.