Internationalization Process Research Articles

Emerging Partnerships of SDGs and HRM Practices During the Pandemic: A Study of the Indian IT Industry

Post-pandemic, the world of work has changed, and the pandemic has accelerated the responsible business agenda, representing a huge opportunity for the human-centric approach to HRM to transform the world of work. The drive towards responsible and sustainable business demands a new way of thinking, and the old conventional thinking approach addressing piece-meal solutions is an approach of the past. The human resource management (HRM) practices of multinational corporation (MNC) subsidiaries in India in the IT sector are studied within an institutional theory framework to look at how MNCs operating in India are incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Applying the tenets of DiMaggio and Powell’s (1983) work, we understand that an MNC subsidiary located in India will be influenced by both potentially contradictory pulls from institutional factors in the local environment and international isomorphic processes. With a qualitative approach and primary data collected via in-depth interviews with 52 HR professionals (including host and subsidiaries) from 8 MNCs, our findings indicate that the subsidiaries based in India are mostly adopting the pattern exhibited by larger organizations in their environment that are viewed as successful (mimetic isomorphism) in implementing the SDGs. There is still a huge scope for improvement in these subsidiaries in terms of investing in people’s capabilities for future sustainable work. The research contributes to the bourgeoning literature on HRM practices and how MNC subsidiaries operate in different contexts and cultural settings in the IT sector.

Prehospital guidelines on in-water traumatic spinal injuries for lifeguards and prehospital emergency medical services: an international Delphi consensus study

BackgroundTrauma guidelines on spinal motion restriction (SMR) have changed drastically in recent years. An international group of experts explored whether consensus could be reached and if guidelines on SMR performed by trained lifeguards and prehospital EMS following in-water traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) should also be changed.MethodsAn international three-round Delphi process was conducted from October 2022 to November 2023. In Delphi round one, brainstorming resulted in an exhaustive list of recommendations for handling patients with suspected in-water TSCI. The list was also used to construct a preliminary flowchart for in-water SMR. In Delphi round two, three levels of agreement for each recommendation and the flowchart were established. Recommendations with strong consensus (≥ 85% agreement) underwent minor revisions and entered round three; recommendations with moderate consensus (75–85% agreement) underwent major revisions in two consecutive phases; and recommendations with weak consensus (< 75% agreement) were excluded. In Delphi round 3, the level of consensus for each of the final recommendations and each of the routes in the flowchart was tested using the same procedure as in Delphi round 2.ResultsTwenty-four experts participated in Delphi round one. The response rates for Delphi rounds two and three were 92% and 88%, respectively. The study resulted in 25 recommendations and one flowchart with four flowchart paths; 24 recommendations received strong consensus (≥ 85%), and one recommendation received moderate consensus (81%). Each of the four paths in the flowchart received strong consensus (90–95%). The integral flowchart received strong consensus (93%).ConclusionsThis study produced expert consensus on 25 recommendations and a flowchart on handling patients with suspected in-water TSCI by trained lifeguards and prehospital EMS. These results provide clear and simple guidelines on SMR, which can standardise training and guidelines on SMR performed by trained lifeguards or prehospital EMS.

Government Intervention, Internationalization Model and Higher Education Resource Flow: An Analysis of Higher Education in Late Qing Dynasty and Modern China

With the purpose of saving the country, the Qing Dynasty built new institutions of higher learning to impart western knowledge, which played a role in promoting the development of modern higher education in China. In order to explore the development context of China's higher education under different backgrounds in the late Qing Dynasty and modern times, this study reviews the relevant theoretical basis in recent years. This paper summarizes the formation of the education system in the late Qing Dynasty and modern China, the specific intervention of the government in higher education, and the flow of higher education resources in recent years, and analyzes its internal flow and external flow. Through the analysis of higher education in the late Qing Dynasty and modern times, it can be seen that the innovation and development of the internationalization mode of higher education is the inevitable requirement to realize the transformation of the internationalization power of higher education into the internationalization power of higher education. In addition to the classic model, co-construction model, satellite model and education cluster model, we should also actively explore and develop other new international education models, further expand the vision of running schools, enhance international awareness, accelerate the internationalization process of higher education, and achieve beyond the traditional higher education power. In order to provide reference for the future development of China's higher education internationalization under the background of "double first-class" construction.

Speed of the internationalisation process. The role of objective vs. subjective perceptions of time

AbstractTime is often neglected as a factor in international business research. In this paper, objective and subjective perspectives of time are incorporated into the study of speed of a firm's internationalisation process. The concept of speed is defined as the relationship between distance and time, and therefore we propose a theoretical framework that applies these two perspectives of time both to distance and to time, and differentiate between three levels of analysis: individual, organisational, and environmental. Our framework also incorporates two mediating constructs: learning speed and risk perception. Ten hypotheses are proposed that contribute towards a better understanding of the temporal dimension of the internationalisation process.

Blockchain and sustainable finance: Enhancing transparency and efficiency in green investments

The study aimed to analyse the possibilities of using blockchain technology to increase transparency and efficiency in sustainable finance. The application of blockchain technologies and environmental and social practices in the context of sustainable finance was analysed, emphasising implementation and prospects in Kyrgyzstan. Blockchain, as an innovative decentralised data recording technology, provides a high level of security, transparency and immutability, which renders it particularly valuable for the financial sector. The study highlighted how blockchain can improve international transfer processes, increase the transparency of financial transactions and simplify the management of smart contracts, and noted existing challenges such as scalability and legal issues. The role of blockchain technologies in sustainable finance, especially in the field of green investments, was highlighted as an important aspect of the study. The introduction of blockchain in areas such as green project financing and social initiative management can help increase investor confidence and improve investment performance. Financial technology is also central in shaping new approaches to finance and investment, facilitating access to capital through crowdfunding and person-to-person (P2P) lending platforms. The introduction of environmental and social practices in financial institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic demonstrates the growing attention to corporate responsibility and sustainable development, despite the initial stage of their implementation. On international stage, successful projects such as the use of blockchain to track supply chains, green bonds and carbon credit management demonstrate the potential of technology to improve the transparency and efficiency of sustainable finance. These examples can be used by Kyrgyzstan in developing and implementing domestic blockchain and environmental and social initiatives, contributing to more sustainable economic growth and attracting international investment

The challenges of Internationalisation of Chinese companies in Africa and Europe: A comparative analysis

The current research is undertaken as an in-depth comparison of challenges related to the internationalization process into Africa and Europe for Chinese firms. This paper synthesizes the empirical evidence that identifies and contrasts the different obstacles and strategies associated with expanding into these two diverse regions through a systematic review methodology. The Chinese firms face regulatory unpredictability, infrastructural deficiencies, and cultural integration problems within African countries themselves, which call for strategies like local partnerships and community engagement. In Europe, challenging factors involve stringent regulatory standards, high market competition, and political-economic uncertainties, all calling for a "comply, differentiate, and adapt" approach. The study therefore gives emphasis to the fact that strategies have to be designed for the respective region and provides concrete recommendations of how Chinese companies can master these complex environments successfully. These findings add significant value to the field of international business and further support the need for tailored approaches toward effective internationalization. Keywords: Internationalisation, Chinese Companies, Africa, Europe, Regulatory Challenges, Market Strategies.

The Effects of International Transportation Process on Food Safety and Quality in Export of Agricultural Products: Sample Application in an Export Oriented Organisation

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the effects of the international transportation process on food safety and quality, especially in agricultural products. One of the main ideas of the current research is to provide information and improvement areas on the general issues (without the risks of food safety) through international transport of agricultural products.. Theoretical Framework: Today, access to safe food, sustainability and traceability, contain great importance. Particularly, the control points to be carried out in the processes related to loading, transporting, transporting to the points of sale, unloading and storing, when necessary, from the collection of fields, greenhouses and similar production areas of crops covered by crop production should be determined correctly. It is necessary to carry out these controls according to the relevant food safety legislation and standards applied within the scope of food safety and customer demands, and to evaluate the results obtained for prevention and improvement purposes. Method: The methodology of the research is selected as a sample application on a specific case study. The selected company is an import-export company based in Hungary. During the identification and classification of process data, process parameters, process objectives and results, which come from Kropy Fruit Hungary Kft, for all control points in these processes, were evaluated. Results and Discussion: The results of this study are examined by analyzing the common requirements of the management system standards used for food safety purposes. As results, the used data in this study is the analysis results and the application of the relevant food safety standard requirements, the implementation of the legal requirements within the scope of the transportation processes, the identification and elimination of the elements threatening the food safety in the international transportation and storage processes. As an improvement, reduction of the losses at these stages and recommendations for similar organizations for safe food transport were discussed. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of the research are discussed and how the results can be practiced in real life organizations are indicated as recommendations. The risks and non-compliances arising from the employees of the organization were also examined and the effects of human factors on food safety in these processes and recommendations for improvement were developed. Originality/Value: The originality of the research comes from the fact that even though food safety and quality are popular topics in the specific research field; the effects of transportation process specifically in agricultural products and how the related regulations and standards can influence it positively were still questionnable. Therefore, the value of the current research is bringing a new questionnable area and its solution to the academic field, while touching to real life, practical examples and considering new improvement and innovative solutions.

La internacionalización de la educación superior desde la perspectiva de estudiantes universitarios

Introduction: Corporación Universitaria del Caribe-CECAR has been interested in creating internationalization spaces from academy, transforming its teaching-learning processes regarding the demands of the globalized world; this has allowed to develop and to strengthen, in these future professionals, the competences and abilities that fit the labor and social needs from the context they will work in. Objective: The current study aims at identifying practicum students’ perceptions towards higher education internationalization and describing the benefits of internationalization in such processes. Method: The applied methodology had a mixed descriptive approach; the data collection tools were the Likert scale to measure CECAR’s internationalization and the documentary revision. Results: Within results, it was evidenced that, in 2021-2, the 79% of practicum students has a positive attitude and only the 21% has a rejection attitude with regard to internationalization processes. Regarding its main benefits, is highlighted the critical thinking aspect that is developed on professionals which allow them to communicate assertively throughout diverse contexts and generating international academic networks. Conclusions: To conclude, undergraduates are interested in making part of internationalization activities, letting them to articulate their academic process with international experiences in their practicum requirement, in which they can strengthen their professional skills and competences

Embedding Building Information Modelling in the Construction Area: A Case within an Undergraduate Civil Engineering Program

Undergraduate programs face the challenge of staying up-to-date by responding to globalization, internationalization, and regionalization processes. Civil engineering programs should meet the requirements of the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operation (AECO) industry. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a methodology that involves shared digital representations of built assets to facilitate design, construction, and operation processes within the construction knowledge field. The present research describes a methodology with six mechanisms to develop and consolidate BIM-related competencies within the construction area from an undergraduate civil engineering program. It also explores students’ perceptions about the subjects within this area and their relationship with the training and reinforcement of the competencies. The study follows a descriptive scope with an action research design. The principal result is the methodology, which has six mechanisms: (1) BIM implementation into topics and syllabi; (2) use of collaborative platforms; (3) professor training programs; (4) establishment of student organizations; (5) development of a BIM application project; and (6) area and subject meetings. The validation process, which included professors, enrollment, employability and research rates, and the curricular proposal and students’ perceptions, revealed that the mechanisms could effectively support the development and reinforcement of BIM-related competencies.

МЕТОДОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ ПОДХОД К АНАЛИЗУ МНОГОАСПЕКТНОСТИ ВЛИЯНИЯ СТРЕССОВЫХ СИТУАЦИЙ НА УРОВЕНЬ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ СУБЪЕКТОВ ТАБАЧНОЙ ПРОМЫШЛЕННОСТИ

The presented scientific article reveals the role of studying the comprehensive fea-tures of ensuring the economic security of business structures, taking into ac-count modern stressful situations. The examples of the impact of international processes on the economic security of companies are presented. Groups of risks have been identified for tobacco industry enterprises (legislative, social, econom-ic, technological and environmental), which can lead to stressful events that lead to an imbalance in their economic security system. The author's interpretation of the term "stressful event in business" is presented and the author's approach to the formation of a register of stressful situations in the system of economic securi-ty of tobacco industry enterprises is revealed. Special attention is paid to the main stages of the author's method of analyzing the multidimensional impact of stressful situations on the level of economic safety of a tobacco industry enter-prise, based on a point-based assessment of the desired parameters. The ad-vantage of the proposed toolkit is the ability to demonstrate the calculated values obtained in the matrix of stressful events, which will allow them to be divided in-to appropriate groups for subsequent analysis, application of mechanisms and methods of regulatory action

Multidimensional challenges of internationalization among universities in Southeast Asia: A scoping review of empirical evidence

AbstractInternationalization plays a crucial role in building the international competitiveness and profile of a university. However, the process of internationalization can be very challenging. The understanding of these challenges is very crucial for internationalization implementation and improvement. This scoping review aimed to map the existing empirical evidence on the peculiar challenges of internationalization among universities in Southeast Asia. This scoping review was conducted based on Arksey and O’Malley's methodological framework and it was reported using the PRISMA‐ScR checklist. Ten research databases were systematically searched to retrieve all literature relevant to the review question. The retrieved articles were deduplicated and screened based on the review's eligibility criteria, and only the eligible articles were included in the review. Thereafter, relevant data were charted, collated, and summarized from the included literature and presented as results. A total of 34 articles were included in this review. Most of them were qualitative studies (26/34) and from studies conducted in Malaysia (21/34). The reported internationalization challenges in these articles were multidimensional and ranged from the individual to governmental level; however, the most reported challenges were the ones at the individual level which include issues related to adjustment/coping, trust, limited personal resources, family, and essential survival needs. There are numerous challenges facing the implementation of internationalization among universities in Southeast Asia. More efforts need to be placed at all levels to improve the status quo.

Entrepreneurial and international? The role of entrepreneurial orientation in the Brazilian franchises’ internationalization process

PurposeWe investigate the relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) and the internationalization pathways of Brazilian franchises. Our aim is to unravel the patterns of firm-level entrepreneurial characteristics vis-à-vis their corresponding processes of internationalization.Design/methodology/approachWe extracted and curated data from the directories of the Brazilian Franchising Association (ABF). Additionally, we scrutinized the International Intensity, International Complexity and EO degree of 27 Brazilian franchises engaged in international activities. Associations between these dimensions were assessed through fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).FindingsOur findings suggest that franchisees can enhance their international activities by adopting various configurations of EO attributes. This discovery illuminates the intricacies of EO and its association with firms’ operations and performance. Accordingly, we empirically demonstrate that EO is not a monolithic element. Instead, it should be perceived as a multifaceted and dynamic construct.Originality/valueThis study aimed to examine the internationalization process of franchises through the EO lens, a perspective that has not been explored in the existing literature. This unique approach offers novel insights about the internationalization processes of this particular business model. Furthermore, our research delves into the intricate relationship between firm-level EO and the trajectories of firm-level internationalization.

Businesses model innovation: a key role in the internationalisation of SMEs in the era of digitalisation

The study investigates the relationship between digital technology (DT) and the degree of internationalisation of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The theoretical model is further extended by reviewing the mediating effects of business model innovation (BMI). The study employed partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses based on the cross-sectional data from 495 SMEs in Vietnam. The findings provide a novel perspective on the vital role of DT in BMI. However, DT poses challenges for SMEs in the degree of the internationalisation process. This study combines the internationalisation theory, particularly the Uppsala model and the resource-based view to examine the impact of DT on the internationalisation of SMEs through the mediating role of BMI.

Civil Society and International Accountability

Abstract The role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in pursuing accountability for atrocity crimes through international law is more diverse than ever before, and the breadth of CSO activities and the modalities of their engagement with international justice institutions has been overlooked in the scholarship to date. This article explores various CSO approaches to advancing accountability, including at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court (ICC), investigative mechanisms (for Syria, Myanmar, and Iraq), and selected United Nations treaty bodies and regional human rights courts. Civil society actors take on many roles, including as advocates, documenters, analysts, victims’ representatives, and international law experts. While often described as indispensable to international justice efforts, the relationship between civil society and formal justice mechanisms remains novel and can feel incongruous with traditional and ostensibly independent and impartial legal processes. This is evolving as CSOs enter traditional international justice spaces in diverse ways. This article provides a framework to understand the modalities of CSO engagement with international legal processes, as well as critical challenges.

CONCEPTUALIZING THE SUBJECTIVITY OF GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IN CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY

This article, based on an interdisciplinary approach and structural-functional analysis tools, examines the transformation of classical forms of conceptualizing the subjectivity of global leadership in contemporary international relations theory under the influence of new global political realities. It emphasizes that the initial classical positioning of international leadership as the primacy or hegemony of a single state on the international stage is yielding to other political practices that have not yet gained normative consolidation and theoretical conceptualization. It has been identified that modern international processes demonstrate a trend towards the institutionalization of international leadership in the form of a collective subject of international relations, endowed with exceptional powers and special status. New theoretical approaches increasingly note a shift in focus from classical factors ensuring leadership in international relations by enhancing the status and leadership potential of individual actors to the formation of collegial global leadership, including the concept of global governance, which is increasingly seen as the most probable and conventionally interpreted prognostic model for the transformation of the modern world order. Contemporary international relations theory identifies several subjects of international relations, with the nation-state traditionally occupying a leading position. In recent decades, other actors have been added to the list, including international governmental and non-governmental organizations, transnational corporations, civil associations, and private individuals. The emergence of new types of international relations subjects on the international stage, combined with the increasing importance of integration associations and the growing technological potential of digital networks, alongside the practical impossibility of establishing control over them, and the transfer of certain sovereign powers from national states to international institutions, indicates that traditional methods of governance and regulation in world politics are becoming outdated, losing their relevance and effectiveness in contemporary conditions. This necessitates the formation of an institutional foundation appropriate to the modern international system. Increasingly, this foundation of world order is associated with the phenomenon of global leadership. However, attempts to conceptualize it based on classical subjects of international relations are demonstrating increasing methodological inefficiency, leading to the search for new forms of the subjectivity of global leadership on the international stage.

International entrepreneurial culture as a booster of early and rapid internationalisation: A comparative study of Born Globals vs non-Born Globals

AbstractThe literature demonstrates how Born Globals (BGs) make recourse to distinctive strategic intangible assets to accelerate their internationalisation processes while, nevertheless, broadly neglecting the role of International Entrepreneurial Culture (IEC) in generating and differentiating BGs despite its relevant role. This study examines the IEC as a driver of the early and rapid internationalisation of BGs and correspondingly seeks to capture the prevailing differences compared to non-Born Globals (non-BGs).Thus, we empirically tested and validated an IEC scale for a sample of 66 BGs and 102 non-BGs and deployed multivariate analysis techniques to identify the main differences among company profiles. The results reveal how BGs stand out from their peers in terms of autonomy (a dimension of the international entrepreneurial orientation (IEO)), international motivation, and international market orientation. Therefore, concentrating on developing these dimensions may return an effective means of boosting rapid and early internationalisation and thereby stand out from the competition. The remaining IEO dimensions, the international learning orientation and the international networking orientation were not relevant to this differentiating process.This research has important theoretical and practical implications, encouraging and guiding BG managers to adopt a strategic posture emphasising some particular IEC dimensions to differentiate themselves from their competitors and succeed in their early international involvement.

Policy termination made easy? The emerging trend towards sunsetting antimicrobial resistance national action plans

ABSTRACT While policy termination is usually more difficult than continuity in domestic policymaking, the international process for addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) shows that sustaining commitments can be the more difficult path. Addressing persistent crises requires persistent policy responses across multiple countries. Policy coordination among many countries has gained significant scholarly attention whereas analyses of continuing, longer-term commitments of many countries to crisis response are less common. This paper remedies this shortfall by analysing the commitments of different countries to the international policy process against AMR. It triangulates novel evidence in the form of distinct indicators based on global surveys, content analysis of national action plans (NAPs), and publication patterns of second-generation NAPs. The findings suggest that national commitments to the international process initially reached high levels but are now in decline. Countries are effectively ‘sunsetting’ their NAPs, and thereby ending commitments to the international process for addressing AMR. Many have refrained from renewing their NAPs, and those that do renew rarely show signs of learning or adaptation from previous NAPs. Hence, even in the AMR case, where a global and persistent threat rose high on the international political agenda, long-term commitment to the international response policy process is by no means assured.

Application of Clustering Algorithm in the Evaluation of College Students' English Reading Ability Under the Framework of Big Data

In recent years, China has accelerated the process of internationalization and made more and more achievements in transnational communication and cooperation. English learning is very important for contemporary college students. And English reading is an important means to acquire English language knowledge, understand external information and improve English language practice ability. Therefore, cultivating college students' English reading ability is a pivotal element in college English teaching. This study will focus on the application of clustering algorithm based on big data framework in the evaluation of college students' English reading ability, aiming at exploring and establishing an effective evaluation model to promote the improvement of college students' English reading ability and academic achievement.

A meta-analysis of international experience and performance: exploring the role of global mobility and national sentiments

PurposeInternational experience has long been recognized as a crucial determinant for firms’ knowledge management in the existing literature. However, within a global context, the relationship between international experience and the performance of multinational enterprises is intricate and remains ambiguous. While the impact of people mobility has been extensively studied, limited understanding exists regarding how global mobility of people and evolving external environments reshape the relationship. This study aims to integrate existing empirical evidence on this relationship and examines the contingencies posed by environmental factors.Design/methodology/approachThis study conducted a multilevel meta-analysis based on a sample of 231 effect sizes collected from 167 articles to systematically examine the international experience–performance relationship, considering the moderating effect of the global mobility of people and the rise of national sentiments (including authoritarianism and protectionism). A two-stage procedure comprising Hedges-Olkin-type meta-analysis and random-effects meta-analytic regression was adopted.FindingsThe findings demonstrate a predominantly positive international experience–performance relationship that varies across studies owing to differences in research design, variable measurements and firm characteristics. The relationship is positively moderated by the global mobility of people, yet the positive effect is contingent upon the level of national sentiments within home countries. The beneficial effect of inbound mobility on this relationship is attenuated by authoritarianism and protectionism, while the effect of outbound mobility is positively influenced by authoritarianism and less affected by protectionism.Originality/valueThis study offers novel theoretical insights into multinationals’ knowledge accumulation in the internationalization process. It contributes to the existing literature by presenting an integrated framework elucidating the international experience–performance relationship. Building upon the knowledge-based view, it integrates environmental dynamics and national sentiments to investigate the performance implications of multinationals’ international experience, thereby providing valuable practical insights for effective global knowledge management.

Understanding SMEs’ internationalization through digital platforms: the role of knowledge sharing and consumer education

PurposeThe aim of this study is to understand how digital platforms and context-specific characteristics of China – such as swift guanxi – affect opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) entering this market.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a qualitative approach based on a multiple-case study of Italian SMEs in the wine industry that have activated international activities in China. Primary data consist of 32 interviews with SMEs’ managers, local consumers and other stakeholders involved in firm internationalization.FindingsThe findings of this study highlight that in SMEs’ internationalization, the process of knowledge/learning on digital platforms takes place in a bidirectional way thanks to the interactions among multiple stakeholders, which activate consumer education and knowledge sharing.Originality/valueWhile previous research has emphasized firms' knowledge acquisition in the internationalization process, this study incorporates both the consumer perspective and the firm perspective, along with considering interactions with various stakeholders.