Mode Combinations and International Operations: Theoretical Issues and an Empirical Investigation
Journal article, Peer reviewed
Permanent lenke
http://hdl.handle.net/11250/93576Utgivelsesdato
2011Metadata
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- Scientific articles [1667]
Originalversjon
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11575-011-0101-4Sammendrag
An enduring characteristic of extant literature on foreign operation modes is its
discrete choice approach, where companies are assumed to choose one among
a small number of distinctive alternatives.
• In this paper, detailed information about the operations of six Norwegian
companies in three key markets (China, UK and USA) is used as the basis for
an exploration of the extent to which, and how and why, companies combine
clearly different foreign operation modes. We examine their use of foreign
operation mode combinations within given value activities as well as within
given countries.
• The study reveals that companies tend to combine modes of operation; thereby
producing unique foreign operation mode “packages” for given activities
and/or countries, and that the packages are liable to be modified over time –
providing a potentially important optional path for international expansion.
• The data show considerable variation across cases; ranging from extensive use
of mode combinations to a singular focus on a specific mode of operation. The
study contributes to a refinement of our understanding of the path of
internationalisation, and throws up a number of awkward theoretical questions
about the process.
Beskrivelse
The final publication is available at www.springerlink.com