• norsk
    • English
  • English 
    • norsk
    • English
  • Login
View Item 
  •   Home
  • Handelshøyskolen BI
  • Student papers
  • Master of Science
  • View Item
  •   Home
  • Handelshøyskolen BI
  • Student papers
  • Master of Science
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Foreign operations and modes diversity: A study of Norwegian oil field services

Zhang, Wenwen; Prydz, Eva
Master thesis
Thumbnail
View/Open
1760244.pdf (2.562Mb)
GRA 19502 Master Thesis_Quantitative Dataset.xlsx (476.1Kb)
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2487041
Date
2017
Metadata
Show full item record
Collections
  • Master of Science [1116]
Abstract
This study takes a critical look at both how firms configure their foreign

operations in the global market place; and the rational for and impediments behind

the dynamics of mode configurations. The data analysis draws mainly on dynamic

foreign operation modes theories based on two controversial perspectives—

economic perspective and internationalization theory. This is complemented with

research on an activity based perspective, in the field of global value chains and

factories. This research applied a mixed method by providing a quantitative

overview of mode configurations in Norwegian Oil Field Service (OFS) industry,

with further in-depth qualitative case analyses on OFS firms’ foreign operations.

The findings of this research indicate that certain types of activities tend to

favor specific mode configurations, where knowledge intensive activities drive the

foreign operation mode diversity on both location and activity levels.

Additionally, a lower degree of ownership is correlated with the diversity of

modes, especially at locational level. Moreover, by considering the foreign

operations as a three-dimensional construct (i.e. activity, location and corporate

governance), managers may gain a more clear and structured picture of their

foreign operations. It is also stressed that foreign operations must be viewed over

a temporal dimension as it is subject to continuous circumstantial changes. In turn,

having a full understanding of how to configure foreign operations across the

three dimensions over time might entail a competitive advantage. While this paper

only found a correlation between the locational dimensional construct and firm’s

performance, further investigations on performance is highly warranted and called

out for by the authors. Moreover, some important characteristics of OFS steered

the firms to build strategic flexibility into their foreign operations. This might be

linked with the highly increasing trend of contractual modes usage; while the

firm’s operations remain diversified in their mode packages. Besides, flexibility in

foreign operations might help managers mitigate issues, such as lock-in effects

and mode inertia.

In sum, this paper comprehensively investigates foreign operations and mode

diversity of OFS firms. The study also tries to encourage further research in

cleaning up the somewhat “messy” reality of foreign operation modes and their

configurations.
Description
Masteroppgave(MSc) in Master of Science in Business, Strategy - Handelshøyskolen BI, 2017
Publisher
BI Norwegian Business School

Contact Us | Send Feedback

Privacy policy
DSpace software copyright © 2002-2019  DuraSpace

Service from  Unit
 

 

Browse

ArchiveCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDocument TypesJournalsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDocument TypesJournals

My Account

Login

Statistics

View Usage Statistics

Contact Us | Send Feedback

Privacy policy
DSpace software copyright © 2002-2019  DuraSpace

Service from  Unit