Stages Of Internationalization Research Articles

Dowling, P. J., Festing, M., Engle Sr., A. D., International Human Resource Management (6th Edition), Cengage Learning EMEA, 2013

Dowling, P. J., Festing, M., Engle Sr., A. D., International Human Resource Management (6th Edition), Cengage Learning EMEA, 2013 1 A Capsule Summary of the Book and Its Review The sixth edition of International Human Resource Management, which marks more than 20 years since its first edition in 1990, is a collaborative work of three senior researchers/professors from Australia, Germany, and the United States, respectively. They bring together unifying, diverse, changing, and complex perspectives about the process of balancing both the integration and differentiation of human resource activities in different countries. Specifically, they clearly demonstrate that among other variables, the "complexity involved in operating in different countries and employing different national categories of employees is a key variable differentiating domestic and international HRM, rather than any major difference between the HR activities performed" (p. 18). Thus, they acknowledge that "a consistent theme throughout this book [is] the way in which IHRM requires a broader perspective of what operating internationally involves, and a clear recognition of the range of issues pertaining to all categories of staff operating in different functional, task, and managerial capacities is essential" (p. 278). 2 Objective and Targeted Audience The objective of the book is "to explore the implications that the process of internationalization has for the activities and policies of HRM. In particular, [the authors] are interested in how HRM is practiced in multinational enterprises (MNEs)" (p. 2). It is accurately stated that the book is "ideal for intermediate and graduate students across all Human Resource Management programs. It can also be used alongside the majority of broad based business modules, including international management" (back cover). 3 Structure and Contents The book, totaling 347 pages, is well structured in ten chapters. It also includes a preface, walk through tour, eight longer cases--which provide a detailed example of real-life Human Resource situations--as well as a glossary, and index. Chapter 1, Introduction, outlines an array of material. First, the scope of the book is discussed. Among the three broad approaches that categorize the field of international HRM--(1) cross-cultural management, (2) comparative industrial relations, and (3) HRM in multinational firms--the author team focuses on the third approach. The chapter provides an overview of the emerging field of international HRM by (a) defining international HRM, (b) articulating the issue of expatriate assignment management, (c) examining differences between domestic and international HRM along with variables that moderate differences between the two, and (d) discussing a model of strategic HRM in multinational enterprises. The overview thoroughly provides groundwork to address the context of culture. Thus, Chapter 2, The Cultural Context of IHRM, examines several ways in which culture may be conceptualized and/or defined. It begins with an introduction to the research surrounding cross-cultural management. Several studies are embedded within this research including: Schein's (2004) concept of culture; Hofestede's (1991, 2008) cross-cultural management study; the GLOBE study (1991); the Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner study (2002); and the cultural dimensions by Hall and Hall (1990). The textbook authors conclude, "that an adequate understanding of the cultural context, as it impacts the behavior of [an] organization's employees, is of decisive importance" (p. 39). Organizational influences upon IHRM activities are also important. Therefore, Chapter 3, The Organizational Context, focuses on an internal perspective of identifying "the HR implications of the various options and responses that international growth places on the firm" (p. 73). Specifically, the authors explore factors that drive both standardization and localization and how to balance both in MNEs; different structural arrangements such as matrix, heterarchy, transnational, and networked structures; control and coordination aspects; and stages of internationalization. …

Incremental versus Rapid Internationalisation of Firms: Results of Exploratory Investigation from Poland

Objective: The main objective of the article was to discuss the pace of internationalisation and its empirical verification among Polish firms taking into account two factors - strategic thinking and familiness of the studied firms. Research Design & Methods: The paper, apart from literature review and its critique, is based on results of a survey conducted among randomly selected 355 internationalised firms of different sizes from Poland. Findings: Firms having an internationalisation strategy rather internationalize faster than these lacking such a strategy, taking into account the average number of years elapses from its founding to the first internationalisation. The empirical results show that the average time of internationalisation is shorter in case of family firms than non-family firms. Implications & Recommendations: Strategic thinking seems to be very important while going international. A well thought-out strategy can stimulate the whole process of internationalisation, so decision makers, especially entrepreneurs, should pay more attention to strategic aspects, even in early stages of development or early internationalisation. Contribution & Value Added: The article attempts to enrich the ongoing scientific discourse on the role of time and the pace of internationalisation by adding some evidence from Poland illustrating and verifying the links between strategic thinking as well as familiness of firms and the speed of internationalisation measured in years from the establishment of firms.

Determinantes do Desempenho Exportador de Pequenas e Médias Empresas Manufatureiras Brasileiras sob a Perspectiva da Visão Baseada em Recursos e do Modelo de Uppsala

Studies of the determinants of export performance include companies located in developed countries and emerging economies. A predominance of studies focusing on large companies in developed countries was observed. The studies tested the RBV and the Uppsala model in isolated ways. The combined use of variables in the models of RBV and Uppsala studies of Brazilian SMEs appear as a gap to be filled in organizational research. This research contributes to theoretical and empirical knowledge involving the phenomena related to the internationalization of Brazilian SMEs by proposing a model integrating these approaches. This research aims identify the determinants of export performance of SMEs in the perspective of RBV and the Uppsala Model. On a survey with 84 SMEs were employed multiple statistical techniques (factor analysis, linear and logistic regression and structural equation modeling). Resources influenced by the idiosyncrasies of the company and its stage of internationalization affected the export performance. Managerial resources were prevalent on organizational resources. Stage of internationalization and exporting time influenced the relationship between export performance and resources. Size and technological intensity not mediated export performance. Resources and stage of internationalization affect the export performance of SMEs. The following question was developed: What are the determinants of export performance of Brazilian manufacturing SMEs? SMEs in emerging countries arouse the attention of governments worldwide since its economic, employment and income opportunities that provide and challenges facing to innovate, promote sustainability, establish and consolidate its internationalization.

Determinants of foreign direct investment and entry modes of Polish multinational enterprises: A new perspective on internationalization

This study uses firm data to examine the locational trends of foreign direct investment projects undertaken by Polish companies. The findings of the study are consistent with the evolutionary models of internationalization. Companies in the early stages of internationalization are motivated by markets and resource seeking, whereas efficiency seeking and strategic asset seeking are significant motivators in the advanced stages of internationalization. However, our results with respect to Polish cross-border acquisitions by service companies and greenfield foreign direct investments by industrial or manufacturing companies did not confirm the evolutionary model findings. We found evidence that, in both cases, investments are motivated by the need for efficiency or strategic assets.

ON THE CONTEXTUAL EMBEDDEDNESS OF RAPIDLY INTERNATIONALIZING VENTURES

ABSTRACT Within the last two decades it was observed that internationalization behavior of firms does not necessarily follow traditional theories of internationalization. Many firms internationalize rapidly and skip some of the internationalization stages that are supposed by traditional models. That is why the purpose of this paper is the development of a theory of contextual embeddedness by the use of a definitional corridor for rapidly internationalizing ventures (RIVs) along the dimensions speed, scope and degree of internationalization, which is argued to help to overcome the fragmentation of existing empirical results concerning this phenomenon. Keywords rapidly internationalizing ventures; born globals; context; embeddedness.

The roles and competencies of HR managers in Slovenian multinational companies

Purpose– The HRM literature provides various typologies of the HR managers’ roles in organizations. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the roles and required competencies of HR managers in Slovenian multinational companies change when these companies enter the international arena.Design/methodology/approach– The authors explored the total population of 25 Slovenian multinational companies (MNCs) operating in Serbia. In these companies the authors conducted interviews with 16 expatriates working in branches in Serbia, sent questionnaires to the CEOs, and conducted a survey of 50 HR managers and interviews with 15 of them. The authors used a triangulation approach and analyzed the results by multivariate methods and content analysis.Findings– The authors found that the complexity of HR managers’ roles, and expectations of their competencies, increases with an increasing level of internationalization of companies. Orientation to people and conflict resolution are seen as elementary competencies needed in all stages of internationalization. The key competence is seen to be strategic thinking that, according to CEOs and expatriates, goes hand in hand with cultural sensitivity, openness to change and a comprehensive understanding of the international environment and business processes.Practical implications– These results can potentially be used for assessing the HRM roles and competencies in different stages of company internationalization, especially MNCs operating in the ex-communist states of Europe, and will help HR managers to support expatriates, CEOs and other employees working in branches abroad more efficiently.Originality/value– This study contributes to the review and evaluation of the quite limited research on HR managers’ roles and competencies in MNCs. It focuses on MNCs and outward internationalization in the Central and Eastern European region. It contributes to studies of the HR managers’ roles and competencies and is the first study to establish a set of roles and competencies for HR managers in Slovenian MNCs.

Strategic sustainability management and export performance

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the practices of strategic sustainability management and the main indicators of export performance in industrial companies of the rubber artifacts sector.Design/methodology/approach– The study characterizes itself as descriptive and quantitative and has had the intention to analyze the main practices of strategic sustainability management and the export performance indicators in companies of the artifacts and rubbers sector of the States of São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul. For this, one has carried out a survey with companies of the rubber sector. The conceptual model adopted in the study is made up of a set of variables related to the strategic sustainability management and to the export performance.Findings– The main results have made evident that, in general, companies involve stakeholders and their employees in sustainable strategies; internationalize themselves via exports, by means of intermediaries in Brazil and find themselves in an initial internationalization stage. Moreover, it is possible to maintain that most companies do not believe that sustainability is an initiative separated from company action.Practical implications– One recommends to the studied companies a greater commitment with the international strategies, organizing themselves to pressure the government to give a greater support to the studied sector, and a greater inclusion of sustainability in the organizational strategies, in order to improve their competitiveness in the local and international market.Originality/value– The analyzed data allowed identify the great importance of sustainability, with few barriers against their implementations. Furthermore, it is possible to say that the actions which are toward the practice of sustainability management helped positively for the export performance, confirming the hypotheses of this paper.

From pre-internationalization to post-internationalization: relationship marketing perspective

Although several aspects of the internationalization process and relationship marketing strategy have been addressed in the literature, there is a lack of a unified theoretical framework that explains the impact of relationship marketing strategy on internationalization process. This study was undertaken as an initial attempt to address the role of relationship marketing in the internationalization process. To understand this concept, the internationalization process is divided into two stages: pre-internationalization, which focuses on overcoming the psychic distance and post-internationalization, which focuses on market entry and positioning. At the different stages of internationalization, different variables of relationship marketing assume relatively greater levels of importance, which are likely to have implications for the implementation of an internationalization process. Through a thorough analysis of the literature, and a review of a number of international examples, three research propositions are provided and streams for further research necessary to understand this neglected area of research are then provided.

Organizational Culture and Stages of Internationalization: a Study in Four Companies in the Brazilian Electrical-Metal-Mechanical Segment

The study aimed to identify values and cultural dimensions of companies at different stages of internationalization according to the Uppsala model. We developed a construct to identify the values of organizational culture through the Organizational Culture Profile (OCP) mapping model. The study is descriptive. To classify the internationalization stage we conducted structured interviews. Referring to the internationalization stages the Alpha company is in Stage 1, the Beta company in Stage 2, the Gamma is in Stage 3 and the Delta in Stage 4. In the Beta and Delta companies, the cultural values are present and in the Gamma company they are partially present. In the culture dimensions, collectivism and cultural consistency predominate. The companies classified in the more advanced stages of internationalization (2, 3 and 4) share similarities in values and cultural dimensions. For the Beta, Gamma and Delta companies the results are in accordance with the models used.

Razões organizacionais para a expatriação: um estudo empírico em empresas portuguesas

Este estudo explora as razões que levam as empresas portuguesas a utilizar expatriados. Foram estudadas 8 empresas localizadas em Portugal. Destas empresas, 7 são sedes do grupo internacional e 1 empresa é filial de uma multinacional sedeada na Alemanha, envolvendo um total de 16 entrevistas a responsáveis organizacionais pela gestão de expatriados. Foi seguida uma metodologia de tipo qualitativo com recurso a entrevistas semi-estruturadas para recolha de informação e utilizada a análise de conteúdo temática para o tratamento dos dados. Os resultados sugerem que as razões que levam as empresas a expatriar colaboradores estão ligadas às necessidades do negócio, ao controlo das suas operações internacionais, à exportação da cultura da sede para as filiais, à representação institucional da sede nos países estrangeiros, ao desenvolvimento de competências individuais. Concluímos que as empresas localizadas em Portugal parecem desenvolver uma estratégia de Gestão Internacional de Recursos Humanos (GIRH) segundo uma abordagem etnocêntrica, característica de empresas em estádios recentes de internacionalização.

FINANCING COSTS: DOES THE DEGREE OF INTERNATIONALIZATION MATTER?

ABSTRACT Using firm-level panel data this paper examines whether degree of internationalization (DOI) matters for cost of financing for U.S. firms. The results suggest that there is a U-shaped relationship between cost of capital and DOI: at the early stage of internationalization, the cost of capital decreases with internationalization. When the degree of internationalization reaches a certain point, however, cost of capital will start increasing with internationalization. Our study also demonstrates that the U-shaped relationship also holds for cost of equity and cost of debt. This may be a reflection that stock investors and creditors don’t always value more internationalization. Investors perceive an optimal firm DOI. Keywords Internationalization; Cost of capital; Cost of equity; Cost of debt

<b> A justiça de transição: ápice da internacionalização do direito? </b> - doi: 10.5102/rdi.v9i4.2118

The article deals with transitional justice as a possible advanced stage of internationalization of law process and the possibilities for integrating process that integrates this phenomenon, especially in terms of statebuilding and globalization. These processes are connected and influence each other reciprocally. Their interactions contribute to a better understanding of the international dynamic and to development of international law. The text integrates the analyzes of statebuilding process, which had become very frequent in the international arena as a strategy to build peace and stability in post-conflict countries, and transitional justice, which represents a legal instrument to support a more pacific and sustainable state reconstruction, in the search to reconcile past struggles and conflicts, to create or strengthen juridical and legal institution to the State and to elaborate legislations, which are able to reflect national realities. Globalization is also present at the article because it is the environment where all the internationalization of law takes place, spread, is built and influences the state building process, with the transition framework.

<b> A justiça de transição: ápice da internacionalização do direito? </b> - doi: 10.5102/rdi.v9i4.2118

The article deals with transitional justice as a possible advanced stage of internationalization of law process and the possibilities for integrating process that integrates this phenomenon, especially in terms of statebuilding and globalization. These processes are connected and influence each other reciprocally. Their interactions contribute to a better understanding of the international dynamic and to development of international law. The text integrates the analyzes of statebuilding process, which had become very frequent in the international arena as a strategy to build peace and stability in post-conflict countries, and transitional justice, which represents a legal instrument to support a more pacific and sustainable state reconstruction, in the search to reconcile past struggles and conflicts, to create or strengthen juridical and legal institution to the State and to elaborate legislations, which are able to reflect national realities. Globalization is also present at the article because it is the environment where all the internationalization of law takes place, spread, is built and influences the state building process, with the transition framework.

Do barriers to export vary for born globals and across stages of internationalization? An empirical inquiry in the emerging market of Turkey

Although the literature on export barriers has been growing, this issue of whether barriers to export exhibit significant differences among firms has not been addressed. In particular, the question of whether these impediments are uniform for born globals – a new breed of exporting firms that initiate exporting soon after inception – is unresolved. Similarly, barriers to export are thought to vary across different stages of internationalization. Therefore, the present work explores this fundamental issue. The empirical study is carried out in the context of an emerging market, Turkey, providing an opportunity for examining the stability of earlier findings (carried out largely in advanced economy settings) for rapidly developing economies. Results suggest that perceived barriers differ mainly for firms in the domestic marketing stage, pre-export stage and for born global firms.

Etapy umiędzynarodowienia przedsiębiorstw sektora rolno-spożywczego w wybranych powiatach województwa wielkopolskiego

Etapy umiędzynarodowienia przedsiębiorstw sektora rolno-spożywczego w wybranych powiatach województwa wielkopolskiego

Institutional Barriers and Exits of Small-sized Foreign Subsidiaries under Unfavorable Conditions

This study examines how market conditions in host countries affect the entry and exit decisions of multinational corporations’ foreign subsidiaries. Taking the real options perspective, we expect that smaller investments are associated with more flexible entry and exit. We also predict that better established host countries’ institutional and financial development facilitate easier exits for foreign subsidiaries under unfavorable market conditions. We find from a Cox proportional hazard rate model on STATA 10 that when market conditions become more unfavorable that smaller investment smaller investments endogenously chosen during the initial stage of internationalization lead to earlier exits than larger investments. We also find that strong institutional and financial development positively moderates small-sized subsidiaries’ earlier exits under negatively-resolved uncertainty conditions.

ESTRATÉGIA DE INTERNACIONALIZAÇÃO DE EMPRESAS BRASILEIRAS DE CONSTRUÇÃO PESADA: REFLEXÕES SOBRE A TRAJETÓRIA E RESULTADOS

Considering the fact that internationalization is a booming phenomenon, the paper aims to describe the process of internationalization of Brazilian companies in the heavy construction sector which have internationalized their activities through the execution of foreign direct investment (FDI). The focus is to understand the trajectories adopted in understanding the choices made, and the identification of the results obtained by these companies, experienced in international markets. Performing empirical research in business segment of heavy construction felt the need to broaden the scope of studies related to the internationalization of service firms. About the internationalization path adopted, the analysis of four cases showed similarities. To minimize the ignorance concerning market conditions, companies work normally with local partners. Concerning strategic choices and outcomes arising, the cases showed that the maintenance of external activity followed other criteria in addition to profitability. Maintaining external operations also been explained in terms of the need for constant updating. Different stages of internationalization were identified in the companies studied.

Internationalization Strategy of Brazilian Heavy Construction: Reflections on the History and Results

Considering the fact that internationalization is a booming phenomenon, the paper aims to describe the process of internationalization of Brazilian companies in the heavy construction sector which have internationalized their activities through the execution of foreign direct investment (FDI). The focus is to understand the trajectories adopted in understanding the choices made, and the identification of the results obtained by these companies, experienced in international markets. Performing empirical research in business segment of heavy construction felt the need to broaden the scope of studies related to the internationalization of service firms. About the internationalization path adopted, the analysis of four cases showed similarities. To minimize the ignorance concerning market conditions, companies work normally with local partners. Concerning strategic choices and outcomes arising, the cases showed that the maintenance of external activity followed other criteria in addition to profitability. Maintaining external operations also been explained in terms of the need for constant updating. Different stages of internationalization were identified in the companies studied.

Foreign direct investment strategies by developing country multinationals: A diagnostic model for home country effects

We explore how home country conditions affect outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) strategies (scale, timing, location) employed by developing country multinational corporations (DMNCs). Extending from the springboard and LLL (leverage, linkage, and learning) perspectives, we illustrate that DMNCs rely on their home base during their internalization process in a unique fashion compared with traditional multinationals due to their well‐established strengths at home and competitive weaknesses overseas. Our survey of 153 DMNCs from China shows that, beyond the host country impacts that have been widely studied, DMNCs' overseas investment strategies are influenced by home country environment parameters, including economic growth, perceived institutional hardship, competitive pressure, and by their home country operational characteristics, including inward internationalization, innovation orientation, and business development stage.

The impact of professional service firms’ expansion challenges on internationalization processes and performance

In making the distinctions in the internationalization of capital-intensive service firms (CISFs) vs. knowledge-intensive service firms (KIFs), KIFs were found to realize financial gains in earlier stages of internationalization than CISFs. Should not this make them more likely to internationalize? Still, service firms are significantly more ‘home oriented’ than manufacturing firms. This paper explains why professional service firms (PSFs), a subcategory of KIFs, are likely to follow a more cautious internationalization process and proposes a spider web-like expansion process. Then, it explains how PSFs’ characteristics of (1) clients’ dependence (2) knowledge commoditization, and (3) executives’ hubris moderate the internationalization to performance relationship.