The Role of Networks in the Internationalization of Management Consulting Firms: A critical View on traditional Theory

The Role of Networks in the Internationalization of Management Consulting Firms: A critical View on traditional Theory
Author: Nils Laacks
Publisher: diplom.de
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2010-01-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3836640961

Inhaltsangabe:Introduction: The French economist Jean Fourastié had already predicted the expansion of the service sector in his early work in 1949. Accordingly, the economies of the developed countries were prognosticated a division into the three major branches agriculture, manufacturing and services with an increasing domination of the latter over time. In fact, the actual growth of the tertiary sector even surpassed Fourastié s expectations. Knowledge-intensive business services constituted the fastest growing sector in Western economies at the end of the twentieth century . Within this group of knowledge-intensive business services management consulting represents one of the fastest growing business models. Before the first economic slowdown in the consulting industry started in 2000, the global market for advisory services had grown at rates between 10 and 15 percent. In Europe, the turnover of the consulting sector rose about twenty-seven percent annually during the second half of the nineties. Growth today represents one of the key success factors in the consulting business and firms have to reach certain growth rates in order to stay competitive. There are mainly two different strategies for enterprises to achieve the goal of prosperous growth. Firms can either follow the strategy of diversification or internationalization. An increasing number of consulting firms decides to expand business activities into international markets in order to stay competitive and take advantage of new possibilities associated with globalization. Empirical studies have shown that the propensity of firms to internationalize not only accounts for large multinational corporations but also for small and medium-sized firms. Therefore, scientists and economists have put attention to the internationalization efforts of management consulting firms. Nevertheless, scientific literature about the internationalization of these business models is still scarce. Most of the existing theories are based on empirical findings that refer specifically to material goods and are thus often criticized for not adequately reflecting the unique characteristics of services. Numerous internationalization theories have been developed during the last forty years. While common theories focus on aspects such as transaction costs or knowledge about a particular market, approaches that are more recent underline the central role of relationships and international networks. In my study, I [...]

Emerging Market Multinationals

Emerging Market Multinationals
Author: Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2016-03-17
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1107073146

This book examines the challenges faced by emerging market multinationals as they develop their international operations and proposes actionable solutions.

Business Models and Firm Internationalisation

Business Models and Firm Internationalisation
Author: Christian Nielsen
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 147
Release: 2021-12-21
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 100051840X

Internationalisation has been a binding request for firms dealing with the challenges of the present-day realities. Extant international business publications have recently begun to point out the relationship between the notions of ‘business model’ and ‘internationalisation’, yet the filed needs considerably more attention. The core aim of this book is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the ways in which business models and internationalisation impact one another in the process of initiating and expanding international business activities. The analysis makes it feasible to detect the core issues of the interdependences between business models and internationalisation to facilitate management decision-making and implementation of pertinent firm internationalisation incorporating the application of appropriate business models. In this book, the business model is applied to explore the specifics and aspects of firm internationalisation processes. Innovating the business model is analysed as a persuasive means for augmenting the propensities of firms to internationalise. The book enriches the comprehension of the significance of business model innovation as an enabler of firm internationalisation, in view that scares in what manners business model innovation facilitate firm internationalisation. The book chapters address a broad range of issues encompassing: the general roles of business model in firm internationalisation, the relationships between digital business models and platforms on one side and firm internationalisation on another, how business models determine the internationalisation of services firms, the interplay between business models and firm internationalisation in specific contexts. It will, therefore, be of interest to researchers, academics and advanced students in the fields of international business and management.

Born Global Firms

Born Global Firms
Author: S. Tamer Cavusgil
Publisher: Business Expert Press
Total Pages: 136
Release: 2009-08-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1606490133

This book helps managers and scholars understand the born-global phenomenon. We offer a comprehensive treatment of born globals, from distinctive features of these companies, to strategies that they use for international success, to implications of the phenomenon for international small- and medium-sized enterprises. We review useful theories and frameworks, as well as introduce a new field based on the born-global phenomenon - international entrepreneurship.

The Multinational Enterprise (RLE International Business)

The Multinational Enterprise (RLE International Business)
Author: John H. Dunning
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 364
Release: 2012-11-26
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0415643147

The book focuses on the major environmental implications stemming from the growth of the multinational enterprise in a multiple currency world. A survey of the background to the multinational enterprise and concluding summaries ensure that this book is one of the most widely embracing volumes available on the subject.

Managing Networks in International Business

Managing Networks in International Business
Author: M. Forsgren
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 274
Release: 2014-02-04
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1317762479

The book introduces a unique and innovative perspective for the study of international business networking. In contrast to the standard construction of models for optimal strategic decision-making, the essays in this book emphasise interpretation, learning by doing, trust and co-operation in the international business community. The editors focus upon business relationships within and between firms as well as the importance of middle management in the international arena.

Managing the Embedded Multinational

Managing the Embedded Multinational
Author: Mats Forsgren
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 239
Release: 2007-01-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1845428056

This monograph is based on an extensive dataset and a very well documented case study. Such a wealth of empirical material provides an ideal ground to test theories and enables the authors to elaborate interesting conceptualisations of some specific aspects of the broader network approach, particularly concerning the internationalisation of business networks. Anna Spadavecchia, Business History Combined with recent advances in network analysis [the book] can be instrumental in advancing our understanding, which will not only be useful for research scholars, but also provide practical guidance for managers. . . It is full of ideas which seem like deceptively simple black stones that in the hands of a skillful artisan can be turned into dazzling diamonds. Charles Dhanaraj, Journal of International Business Studies The work by Forsgren et al. offers a major contribution in terms of the analytical power of network relationships. By shifting to an exchange based perspective, they challenge the classical view of organizational power and control, but also the sources of organizational capabilities. They argue that the distinct capabilities and resources of the organization are developed through relationships and connections. Wilhelm Barner-Rasmussen, Rebecca Piekkari, Joanna Scott-Kennel and Catherine Welch, Academy of Management Perspectives An interesting and insightful book. It questions a lot of traditional thinking about international firms and the way they operate. Throughout the book, the reader is invited to develop a different perspective. This perspective might be called a relationships and networks theory of the firm. While this may sound familiar, the book goes well beyond anything I have seen in the existing literature, in terms of conceptualizing relationships and networks and in using this perspective to guide and interpret case study and survey research results. William G. Egelhoff, Fordham University, US It is now well accepted in the academic literature that the multinational corporation can be usefully modelled as a network of relationships. But it is less well-known that the origins of this perspective can be traced back to work done in Uppsala, Sweden, in the 1970s and 1980s. The term business network was first used there, and many important ideas around power and influence have also emerged from this research centre. In this new book, three of the key members of the Uppsala school develop a synthesis of the more recent ideas to come out of their research on networks. By focusing on the concept of the embedded multinational they show how the internal networks of the multinational interact with the web of external networks each subsidiary unit has in its local market. This book provides a definitive and compelling point of view of the importance of networking thinking to the study of the multinational corporation. It is an important book, and it will be widely cited in years to come. Julian Birkinshaw, London Business School, UK Forsgren, Holm, and Johanson have been among the leaders in developing the idea of the multinational firm as a network that spans different country environments. This perspective cautions the easy prescription that a multinational firm can do everything easily, if it just has the right organizational form. Relationships matter, as do the legitimacy of the firm in the context of its foreign investments. This book provides rich case insights into these dimensions. Bruce Kogut, INSEAD, France This book expands the business network view on managerial issues in multinational corporations. Specifically, it scrutinises the importance of a subsidiary s external and internal business network for its strategic and organizational role within the corporation. The internationalisation of firms in terms of management issues and headquarters control, the influence of subsidiaries on decisions and learning processes within multinational corporations are examined in detail. It is argued that