International Business Management Research Articles

Research on Cross-International Business Operation and Management Strategies of Enterprises

As globalization accelerates, the corporate realm finds itself amidst an unprecedented international business landscape. Conventional marketing paradigms and management strategies falter in such rapidly shifting environments, presenting both challenges and opportunities for multinational operations. This discourse delves into the myriad challenges facing multinational corporations, such as policy risks, legal framework disparities, cultural differentials, economic and monetary policy uncertainties, and disparate rates of technological advancement. Moreover, the article conducts a profound analysis of theories pertaining to international business and multinational management, cultural variance theories, as well as strategic management theories, with the aim of furnishing a robust theoretical foundation for multinational operations and management. Beyond mere theoretical exploration, this article also endeavors to elucidate various successful strategies in multinational operations and management, encompassing market entry strategies, marketing strategies, human resources management strategies, and financial and risk management strategies, in order to furnish enterprises engaging in international markets with reliable guidance and successful paradigms, thus encouraging the realization of both social value and commercial interests in tandem.

Understanding the evolution of international human resource management research: a bibliometric review over the past 25 years (1995–2019)

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to offer a comprehensive overview of the field of international human resource management (IHRM) research by tracing its evolutionary development over a 24-year period. The study seeks to understand how the field has progressed by considering historical research themes and their subsequent integration into more recent scholarly work, thereby identifying current and emerging research trends.Design/methodology/approachThis paper employs bibliometric analysis to examine the evolutionary path of IHRM research from 1995 to 2019. A dataset of 1,507 articles from journals specializing in IHRM, international business and general management was created. Analysis at the keyword, thematic and network levels was conducted to identify trends, historical context and the interrelatedness of research themes.FindingsThe analysis reveals that IHRM research has gone through several phases of thematic focus, from initial emphasis on cultural differences and expatriate management to more recent topics like global talent management and digital transformation. Earlier research themes continue to be incorporated and re-contextualized in modern scholarship, highlighting the field’s dynamic nature.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the first to use a bibliometric approach to systematically examine the evolution of IHRM research. It not only provides a historical perspective but also outlines future research trends, incorporating the institutional logic perspective. The findings offer deep insights that are valuable for researchers, practitioners and policymakers interested in the development of IHRM research and its practical implications.

Enhancing lecture comprehension in English medium of instruction: a case study of an international business management programme in Belgium

The growing global trend of adopting English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) in higher education, particularly in non-English-speaking countries, presents a unique set of challenges. This study focuses on a group of students in Belgium navigating EMI within the context of a bachelor’s degree programme in International Business Management. It delves into the strategies employed by both lecturers and students to enhance learning outcomes while listening to EMI lectures. Through classroom observations and focus groups with EMI students, this research uncovers valuable insights into effective teaching and strategies that can be instrumental in ensuring EMI does not hinder the achievement of educational objectives. The study's findings contribute by putting forward a comprehensive repertoire of didactic strategies and resources, offering valuable guidance to lecturers, students, and curriculum developers involved in the EMI landscape of higher education, with a particular emphasis on improving students' comprehension of lecture content.

Learning from artificial intelligence researchers about international business implications

AbstractArtificial intelligence is a dynamic and emerging form of technological innovation that has numerous ramifications for international business managers. The aim of this article is to obtain commentary from researchers about the role artificial intelligence will play in the global arena. This includes asking questions about how it will affect internationalization processes and whether it will lead to more international collaboration. Well‐known researchers provide advice on what international business managers should do in terms of staying competitive but also how they can integrate learning from artificial intelligence into their business operations. Lastly, suggestions for future research regarding the interplay between international business and artificial intelligence are provided.

Towards a more balanced treatment of culture in international business using an ethnographic design: a multinational family business case study

PurposeThe negative cultural bias vis-à-vis international business and cross-cultural management has been duly acknowledged, necessitating recommendations towards investigating its positive effects. Methodologically, quantitative research clearly predominates, and there have been calls for alternative approaches. Thus, this conceptual paper addresses the research gap (methodological and thematic) by investigating if multicultural teams can be an essential part of the global workforce and whether positive effects exist regarding dynamic capabilities, learning and knowledge transfer.Design/methodology/approachThe underlying ethnographic research design enabled exploring within the embedded single case study from an emic perspective, including qualitative observation and semi-structured expert interviews, and provided detailed insights into the company’s multicultural work environment.FindingsThe results reveal that applying a qualitative design allowed the needed exploration and show that multicultural, geographically dispersed teams are positively experienced and considered necessary in today’s globalised world. They are likely to increase in the future. Moreover, dynamic capabilities (multicultural competencies) are indispensable for multicultural teamwork. Regarding learning opportunities, different viewpoints for discussion and the ability to reflect on these offer valuable insights. In line with theory, multiculturality is considered a “two-edged sword”, providing simultaneous benefits and challenges. Contrary to the theory, even highly important information transfers can occur virtually, although occasional physical contact is essential for trust building.Originality/valueThe multinational family business offers a unique example of a positive relationship between multiculturalism and organisational excellence and demonstrates how the application of a qualitative methodology can support theory building by delivering a revised model of dynamic capabilities in multicultural environments with geographical dispersion.

Managing artificial intelligence in international business: Toward a research agenda on sustainable production and consumption

AbstractThe collaboration between artificial intelligence (AI) and humans is reshaping international business (IB) management dynamics, aiming to achieve global sustainable development. Recent IB literature indicates that managing AI brings benefits such as better resource reconfiguration, reduced transaction costs, and global sustainable development. However, existing IB literature provides only meager knowledge about the characteristics of AI and how these characteristics can be employed for international expansion at the intersection of sustainable development. In response, our aim is to construct these characteristics by employing directed qualitative content analysis of empirical AI research. Based on our three constructed characteristics of AI, we contribute to current IB literature by providing a framework to balance economic and social goals and utilizing AI for global sustainable development. Further, we provide future IB research themes to guide IB and AI research toward achieving a sustainable production and consumption agenda.

The impact of cultural distance on the migration of professional athletes as high-skilled employees

AbstractGlobal migration creates both challenges and opportunities for employees and employers. An important issue in international business and human resource management is the integration of employees into a culturally different working industrial environment because focusing on cultural differences, integration, and mitigating culture shock can provide a competitive advantage. Our research examined the global migration involving the Hofstede cultural dimensions in the sports industry, especially in the football transfer market. The paper aims to find a relationship between cultural distance as an expression of cultural differences and international transfers of professional footballers as high-skilled and talented employees. Our study is based on a substantial quantitative examination of processing 34,430 international transfers. Our research question is: What kind of relationship can be detected between cultural distance and the migration of professional footballers? The results of a linear regression model show a significant negative correlation between the number of transfers and cultural distance. However, we believe that the country's economic performance and professional sports standards or quality are essential in addition to the cultural distance. Therefore, as a next step, the analysis involved both factors in getting a more sophisticated result. The results of the multiple regression model confirm the attitude of professional athletes; besides cultural distance, the impact of other factors (economic and/or professional aspects) is also important. Therefore, we recommend that companies pay close attention to their particularly valuable human resources.

Internationalising high–tech SMEs: Advancing a new perspective of open innovation

Choosing a foreign market entry strategy is known to be essential for firm internationalisation yet there is very little focus on the role, purpose, and value of open innovation for internationalising high–tech SMEs. A review of the international business, international entrepreneurship and international marketing literature combined with a bibliometric mapping of 2501 articles on firm internationalisation, suggests that research does not readily associate open innovation and the internationalisation of high–tech SMEs. This is regardless of open innovation's activities that can span over a firm's immediate geographical space. Thus, this study introduces new theoretical explanations and a midrange open innovation theory to advance open innovation as an alternative foreign market entry strategy especially for internationalising high–tech SMEs. This has theoretical and practical implications for academics, international business managers, and practitioners because it introduces an alternative internationalisation strategy for SMEs.

Research on the Importance of Cross-cultural Integration in International Business Management

The aim of this study is to delve into the significance of cross-cultural integration in international business management. In the context of globalization, cross-cultural integration has become a key factor for businesses to gain a competitive advantage in the international market. A profound understanding and effective utilization of cultural diversity enable businesses to better address challenges in the international market, enhance their competitiveness, and achieve sustainable development. This research will focus on the impact of cross-cultural integration on business strategies, team collaboration, market expansion, etc., aiming to provide management strategies and decision references for businesses and further advance the theory of international business management. Through in-depth research and empirical analysis, this study aims to offer a comprehensive and profound international management perspective, providing crucial guidance and support for businesses to stand resilient in global competition.

Focus on education: Taking stock of key themes, topics, trends and communities in international business and international management education research

This paper sheds light on education in International Business (IB) and International Management (IM) by identifying the main topics, themes, trends and subdomain clusters in their education-focused literature. Using a combination of text- and network-based analysis, only recently introduced for data analysis in IB/IM, we reveal themes focused mainly on five areas: global focus; learning and skill development; teaching and curriculum development; economic and management issues; and student types and experience. Further, we examine the extent to which keywords associated with critical perspectives enter the education literature to gain insight into the embrace of issues related to sustainability, ethics, empathy and gender.

Achieving Global Convergence? Integrating disruptive technologies within evolving SME business models: A micro-level lens

This research responds to the call on global convergence in the international business management domain. Global convergence requires new evolutionary, devolutionary and even revolutionary strategies that are framed in the context of digital transformation. The digital transformation phenomenon has led to different theoretical and managerial perspectives on disruptive technologies provoking the need for more studies on the integration of such technologies within SMEs ecosystem-based business models (EBBMs). In this vein, by adopting a micro-level lens, this research examines 718 managers from SMEs in Europe who have already embraced the digital transformation process and have bonded physical and digital ecosystems. The results are analysed through the application of logistic regression analysis.A notable contribution of this study is the development of a new model which articulates the relationship between substantive capability, adaptation capability and change capability in the SME.The study articulates how these work, support and facilitate disruptive technology integration in EBBM and suggests a method for their evaluation. As emerged the consideration that DCs are not replicable is supported and so it has been shown that technologies cannot replace human beings in their transformation business capabilities. This addresses the evolutionary change of global convergence generated by disruptive technologies that: 1. empower individual skills; 2. develops renewed strategies for enhancing network capabilities and; 3. allows the exploring and exploiting of opportunities from the influence of EBBM.

The Impact of Experiential Learning and the Use of Digital Platforms on Global Virtual Teams’ Motivation

ABSTRACT This paper sheds light on the impact of the digital platforms’ enhancement and usage of latest synchronous and asynchronous teaching-learning platforms through a global virtual project involving business schools across five countries. The study focuses on how technology involved in the learning-teaching process at different business schools has affected the commitment of undergraduates and graduates in the post-COVID era. Furthermore, the paper discusses how the global virtual teams of students has increased their motivation in their studies. The paper is based on a blended learning international collaboration (BLIC) project involving 150 students participating in global virtual collaboration via different digital platforms in classes on International Management and International Business. The study results show, that with computer-supported collaborative learning, students across all involved business schools have been highly committed and motivated in conducting their assignments. The paper shows that the enhancement and utilization of digital platforms in face-to-face and online classes in International Business and International Management, within this virtual collaboration, has provided the students with new knowledge and has held motivation high throughout the project.

Strategic divestment of emerging market firms: the influence of returnee managers and CEO characteristics

PurposeThis study aims to examine the role of returnee managers that can affect the strategic-divestment decision of emerging-market firms (EM firms). Drawing on arguments from the upper echelons theory and international human resource mobility perspectives, this study aims to propose that returnee managers influence corporate divestitures when the business outlook is negative. In addition, this study aims to examine the interplay between returnee managers and CEOs, whose characteristics can foster or undermine the efforts of returnee managers to engage in corporate divestments.Design/methodology/approachThis study examines 278 firms from nine emerging economies. The negative binomial regression was employed to estimate the model. In the robustness checks, the logistic regression was adopted to confirm the earlier findings.FindingsThe empirical results support the notion that returnee managers strengthen the relationship between firm performance and divestments. Because of the limited liabilities of foreignness and outsidership, returnee managers can gain social trust and credibility through communication and social interaction. Furthermore, the results provide mixed support for the moderating effect of CEO characteristics on the performance–divestment relationship.Practical implicationsThis study reveals that returnee managers are a great asset for EM firms that aim to find synergies and upgrade their capabilities through asset reconfiguration, which is an essential activity of emerging market firms to integrate themselves into the global competition. Meanwhile, CEO characteristics can foster (through their education level) or hinder (due to their age) divestment attempts, influenced by returnee managers.Originality/valueThis study explores an understudied phenomenon in international business (IB): strategic divestment of EM firms. The literature that examines strategic divestment and corporate refocusing in emerging markets is extremely limited. Furthermore, this study explores the novel topic that intersects the international business (IB) and international human resource management (IHRM) research areas. Specifically, this study investigates the impact of returnee managers on strategic divestments.

Deconstructed entrepreneurial orientation and export performance: mediating role of differentiation and cost leadership strategy from the developing country context

PurposeThe aim of this study is to examine the effects of innovativeness (INN), proactiveness, (PRC) and risk-taking (RIT) on the export performance of apparel small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the role of differentiation and low-cost leadership (LCL) strategies as mediating effects between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) dimensions and the performance of exporting firms. INN, RIT and PRC are considered EO dimensions.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey was carried out by providing a questionnaire to the owners, directors and senior managers of the apparel SMEs – the primary data of 550 treated by structural equation modeling (SEM) technique for final data analysis.FindingsThe study has revealed the positive dimensional effect of EO on export performance. For the mediation effects of differentiation and LCL, differentiation strategy (DS) positively mediates between INN, PRC and export performance. However, no mediation has been found between RIT and export performance. On the other hand, LCL has found positive effects between INN, RIT and export performance. However, the mediation effect was absent between PRC and export performance.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations/implications- This study has been conducted on only Muslim owners, senior export managers and directors of apparel SMEs in Bangladesh. It has examined the two main competitive strategies as a mediator between EO dimensions and export performance. The findings of this study are based on one country data analysis.Practical implicationsEO, differentiation and low-cost leadership (LCL) strategy are resources and capabilities of an organization to create a competitive advantage to enhance performance. The factors of this research are helpful for SME practitioners.Originality/valueThe direct and indirect effects (differentiation and LCL strategy) of EO dimensions on export performance in an emerging country, i.e. the South-Asia region, is a pioneer study. Therefore, current research has theoretical and managerial implications for the international business and strategic management literature.

The Student’s Perception in Using Trello as A Learning Media to Support E-Portfolio Based Learning

This study aims at evaluating students’ perceptions of using the Trello application as a learning media to support e-portfolio based learning. The research employs a survey method to assess students’ perspectives on the usefulness and ease of use of Trello for organizing course materials, managing assignments, and developing their digital portfolios within a blended learning environment. The participants are the students of International Business Management study program who are following the English for Specific Couse named English for Business which implementing Trello-supported e-portfolio based blended learning. Data is collected through questionnaires distributed via Google Forms. The results indicate that use of the Trello application in e-portfolio based blended learning can enhance student engagement and participation, as well as aid students in developing their digital portfolios. In conclusion, employing the Trello application as a supporting tool for e-portfolio based blended learning provides an effective and innovative approach to improving the quality of learning. The study recommends integration of Trello to facilitate students’ learning organization and digital portfolio management as an alternative model for future educational practices. Further research could examine the impact on specific learning outcomes.

Measuring Value in Development with Advanced Real Options for International Sequential Acquisitions

Even though the application of real options theory in international business research has increased substantially, the measurement of collaborative synergies in international sequential acquisition by means of advanced real options is still the theoreticall gap which needs to be filled by new research and promising area for empirical research. This paper moves the field forward and highlights the fact that strategic synergies can be considered as compound real options for growth that are opened by an international sequential acquisition and, thus, add market value to the acquirer. Our research is presented as a theory-building inductive case-based study. This paper aims to integrate sequential compound real options with real options that have changing volatility in order to evaluate collaborative tacit synergies (a value in development) of sequential international acquisitions; thus, it contributes to corporate finance, international business, and strategic management theory with a fresh evaluation of the applications of advanced real options.

The Role of Technological Innovation on the Effect of International Strategic Alliances on Corporate Competitiveness in Jordanian International Business Administration: Moderating and Mediating Analysis

Within the context of Jordanian international business management, the current study explores the subtle relationships between global strategic alliances (ISA), corporate competitiveness (CC), and technological innovation (TI). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) is used to assess the interaction between these variables as well as the mediation and moderation effects. Utilizing a sample size of 350 individuals who occupy professional, management, and decision-making roles in Jordanian businesses engaged in international commerce, the research article shows notable and significant positive associations. The results of the path analysis show a strong relationship between global strategic alliances (ISA) and both corporate competitiveness (CC) and technological innovation (TI). This shows that ISA is essential in fostering innovation inside organizations and developing competitive strategies. Additionally, this study looks at the connection between corporate competitiveness (CC) and technical innovation (TI), finding a very strong one. This emphasizes how important technological advancement is in enhancing a company's ability to compete. The model's mediating and moderating effects are the focus of the study's most important findings. The results provide solid support for the mediating role, indicating that the correlations between ISA, TI, and CC are interrelated and have an impact on one another. Furthermore, the findings of this study demonstrate a noteworthy moderation effect, suggesting the existence of external factors that exert an influence on the associations between these variables. This research provides valuable perspectives on the intricacies of global strategic partnerships, technical advancements, and corporate competitiveness within the realm of international business administration in Jordan. Through the elucidation of the complex interconnections and fundamental mechanisms, this research endeavour enhances our understanding of the influence of these factors on the competitive strategies and innovation endeavours of organisations.

Closer, stronger, and brighter: bringing IB and IHRM together through the lens of Sustainable Development Goals

Despite the shared research interest in multinational enterprises (MNEs) in international business (IB) and international human resource management (IHRM), the two fields of studies have been criticized for the lack of dialogues and collaborations that might be beneficial to extending the scope of knowledge in each. At the same time, both IB and IHRM have expanded into the international development area, evidenced by the growing interest in the role of MNEs in promoting or hampering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This perspective paper aims to address some of the critiques, challenge existing assumptions, and provide examples of research that critically examines the role of MNEs in promoting or hampering the realization of the SDGs. This paper highlights the emerging common ground between IB and IHRM, and identifies agendas for future theoretical and applied enquiries.

Introducing International Business Management Concept to High School Students

This community service aims to introduce the international business management concept to high school students. The program lasted around a month and was divided into 13 sessions in the form of online training. Two steps were taken to conduct the community service. The first step was to develop the training content and the second step was to deliver the online training program. 553 high school students in 2021 and 188 high school students in 2022 were selected to attend the program. However, in 2021 only 59 and in 2022 only 4 high school students participated in all sessions. The decreasing rate of attendance is alarming even though after finishing the online training sessions, the participants gained new knowledge related to the international business management concept. Hence, this paper aims to evaluate the community service program.

Two Decades of International Business and International Management Scholarship on Africa: A Review and Future Directions

Two Decades of International Business and International Management Scholarship on Africa: A Review and Future Directions