Internationalization of service industry firms: understanding distinctive characteristics

Internationalization process and strategies has been a popular topic among international business researchers for some time. However, most of these studies deal with manufacturing firms and researc...

The choice of offshoring operation mode: A behavioural perspective

Since offshoring has recently become an integral part of corporate strategies, choosing the specific offshoring operation mode is a crucial aspect for CEOs. Using a sample of 466 offshoring operations, this study analyses offshoring mode decisions from the rationale of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Drawing on this perspective, our results indicate that this decision seems to be clearly influenced by the manager's intentions and partially determined by some competences originated in the resources and experience of the firm. Additionally, and contrary to the common view in the field, our findings suggest that instead of being a possible intermediate option between the “make or buy” d…

Learning from foreign operation modes: The virtuous path for innovation

In this article, we analyze the impact of learning from internationalization on small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) performance along different development paths. Drawing on the exploitation versus exploration logic, we use an alternative view of foreign operation modes (the learning perspective) to provide insights into the impact of such learning on technological and organizational innovation as well as overall performance. Our results, which are derived from a sample of 132 SMEs active in traditional manufacturing industries, point to a path to superior performance that entails resource-augmenting operation modes and organizational innovation. JEL CLASSIFICATION: O31; F23; L25; M10; M1…

Running faster and jumping higher? Survival and growth in international manufacturing new ventures

Going international early is increasingly the choice of new ventures in manufacturing industries. However, does earliness provide a positive outcome for internationalisation? To answer this, we have longitudinally analysed 3181 manufacturing new ventures established between 2002 and 2012. Using Cox regressions, we found that the 124 late internationals had the lowest risk of failure, while the 229 early internationals could not compensate for their mortality risk with significantly higher levels of growth in the post-internationalisation period. We discuss why an early internationalisation is more perilous than beneficial and provide some suggestions for the internationalisation of new ven…

Globalization and its impact on operational decisions

PurposeThis paper aims to analyse the impact of globalization on the manufacturing operations of industries and industrial districts and how it influences the specialization and diversification of manufacturing decisions.Design/methodology/approachThe sample includes 9,684 Spanish manufacturing textile firms and the analysis is both cross‐sectional and longitudinal.FindingsThe results show that globalization tends to diminish the district and subsector effects over time, but they also show the positive impact of specialization on productivity and of diversification on business growth.Originality/valueThe paper indicates to managers that the production function in textile firms has viability…

The internationalization of SMEs: Building models for long-term development

Organizational Learning, Innovation and Internationalization: A Complex System Model

Research on organizational learning, innovation and internationalization has traditionally linked these concepts through linear causality, by considering any one of them as the cause of another, an approach that might be considered contradictory and static. This paper aims to clarify these relationships and proposes a dynamic theoretical model that has mutual causality at its core and is based on ideas originating in complexity theory. The final model results from case studies of two clothing sector firms. The authors consider that the three concepts constitute a complex system and can adapt and transcend, as any alteration can take the system to the edge of chaos. Adaptability is fostered …