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[EN] Review articles or literature reviews are a critical part of scientific research. While numerous guides on literature reviews exist, these are often limited to the philosophy of review procedures, protocols, and nomenclatures, triggering non-parsimonious reporting and confusion due to overlapping similarities. To address the aforementioned limitations, we adopt a pragmatic approach to demystify and shape the academic practice of conducting literature reviews. We concentrate on the types, focuses, considerations, methods, and contributions of literature reviews as independent, standalone studies. As such, our article serves as an overview that scholars can rely upon to navigate the fundamental elements of literature reviews as standalone and independent studies, without getting entangled in the complexities of review procedures, protocols, and nomenclatures., Open access funding provided by Libera Universita di Bolzano within the CRUI-CARE Agreement.

PurposeCross Cultural and Strategic Management (CCSM) began publication in 1994 and completed its 27th year in 2020. The purpose of this study is to provide a bibliometric analysis of CCSM during the period between 1994 and 2020.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a variety of bibliometric tools including performance analysis, authorship analysis, bibliographic coupling, keyword co-occurrence and regression analysis to present the retrospect of CCSM.FindingsCCSM's publication and citations continue to enjoy consistent growth throughout the years. While most contributions originate in the United States, the diversity of both research and the researchers themselves continues to grow. Over the period, the emphasis has been on quantitative research design. Archival data have been the most preferred data source, and content analysis the most used data analysis method, although its use has somewhat declined over the years. Major recurring themes in the journal include cultural barriers, concept of culture, national culture, culture and organizational practices, and expatriate employees. Important drivers of citations are also identified.Research limitations/implicationsThe study’s contributions are twofold. First, the authors’ comprehensive bibliometric analysis of published research in CCSM helps uncover its underlying intellectual structure and the evolution of its research themes over time. Awareness of these patterns and major themes should help future CCSM scholars to better situate their studies within the extant body of knowledge. Second, the authors’ analysis should also aid in shaping future editorial strategies for CCSM as it continues to compete with other similar journals in the fields of international business, international management and strategy.Originality/valueCCSM earned its reputation for quality, and as a result is currently one of the leading journals in its field. Therefore, by closely examining its underlying knowledge structure, the authors provide a more complete understanding of the intellectual progress made to date in CCSM, while also shedding light on its future.

The Management International Review (MIR) celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2020. In commemoration of this event, we use a bibliometric analysis to present a retrospective on the journal by analyzing its content for the years between 2006 and 2020. We find that the collaboration culture in MIR has risen over time with the increase in the median size of author teams. Moreover, the collaboration network has become more global over time. The methodology used in the journal is predominantly empirical and quantitative with archival data sources most commonly used. The bibliographic coupling of the MIR corpus reveals that the major themes in the journal revolve around “culture,” “emerging economies,” “innovation, knowledge transfer, and absorptive capacity,” “internationalization process,” “culture and entry modes,” and “internationalization and performance.” A comparison with other leading international business journals provides distinct pathways in which MIR may continue to grow. Finally, it is important to note that while the share of conceptual studies has decreased significantly in the last 15 years, the MIR editors want to see more novel and theoretically grounded conceptual articles in the journal.

Bibliometric analysis is a popular and rigorous method for exploring and analyzing large volumes of scientific data. It enables us to unpack the evolutionary nuances of a specific field, while shedding light on the emerging areas in that field. Yet, its application in business research is relatively new, and in many instances, underdeveloped. Accordingly, we endeavor to present an overview of the bibliometric methodology, with a particular focus on its different techniques, while offering step-by-step guidelines that can be relied upon to rigorously perform bibliometric analysis with confidence. To this end, we also shed light on when and how bibliometric analysis should be used vis-a-vis other similar techniques such as meta-analysis and systematic literature reviews. As a whole, this paper should be a useful resource for gaining insights on the available techniques and procedures for carrying out studies using bibliometric analysis.

The rapidly growing literature on the internationalization strategies of emerging market firms (EMFs) has not paid adequate attention to the role that reputation may play in an EMF’s internationalization. This is an important limitation, as reputation’s tacitness and embeddedness mean that EMFs will likely face significant challenges in transferring it overseas. Using the literature on location-bound advantages and resource transfer, we argue that whether an EMF is known more for its capabilities or its character will likely affect the firm’s location choice, and whether it has a greater desire to exploit or to augment its reputation will likely affect its entry mode strategy. Finally, we offer a typology of EMF internationalization patterns based on the interaction of the different reputation types and motives held by these firms. Thus, we shed light on how the nuances of EMFs’ reputation influence their internationalization strategies.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being adopted by organizations, yet implementation is often carried out without careful consideration of the employees who will be working along with it. If employees do not understand or work with AI, it is unlikely to bring value to an organization. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the ways in which employees and AI can collaborate to build different levels of sociotechnical capital. Accordingly, we develop a model of AI integration based on Socio-Technical Systems (STS) theory that combines AI novelty and scope dimensions. We take an organizational socialization approach to build an understanding of the process of integrating AI into the organization. Our framework underscores the importance of AI socialization as a core process in successfully integrating AI systems and employees. We conclude with a future research agenda that highlights the cognitive, relational, and structural implications of integrating AI and employees.

Liquid–liquid solvent extraction process consists of dispersion of one phase into another in the form of fine drops and allowing the solute of interest to migrate from one phase into the other. Sub...

PurposeAs multinational companies enter different countries, the extent of cultural unfamiliarity they face depends on their most recent entry. We examine this pattern of added cultural distance between a newly entered target country and the closest previous one and its effect on ownership decisions in each cross-border acquisition (CBA). We also examine the combined effect of added cultural distance and time between successive acquisitions on such decisions.Design/methodology/approachThe sample came from the Thomson Financial Securities Data Corporation (SDC) Platinum database, which spans different source and target countries for a 25-year period (1980–2014). We collected firm- (acquirer and target), industry-, country-, and transaction-level variables from SDC. After merging information from the different sources, the final sample comprised 10,423 CBA observations from 138 target countries.FindingsOur findings reveal that the ownership share decision is affected negatively by added cultural distance but positively by the time between two successive acquisitions. In addition, prior ownership and geographic distance moderate the relationship between added cultural distance and ownership in CBAs.Practical implicationsOur findings suggest that MNCs' managers who consider CBAs need to carefully examine closest previous target information and CBA experience, rather than focusing on direct cultural distance between the focal firm and target firm. Additionally, they should also consider the relevance of key contingency factors.Originality/valueWe disentangle the effects of added cultural distance on CBA ownership decisions and explore the boundary conditions of this relationship.

While cross-border innovation research has made significant advancement in globalizing its reach, analyses on emerging market multinational enterprises (EMNEs) are still at a nascent stage. This chapter attempts to capture the dynamics of cross-border innovation by EMNEs. The authors’ synthesis integrates insights from institutional theory and innovation literature and offers a novel typology of EMNE innovation strategies. They describe the unique characteristics of the place (emerging markets) that tend to drive cross-border innovation, and how learning efforts and knowledge capabilities of the players (EMNEs) differ from more established multinational enterprises from developed market multinational enterprises (DMNEs). In addition, policies such as pro-market reforms that may help spur EMNE innovation across borders are discussed. The gaps identified in the synthesis serve as the springboard for future scholarly endeavours that aim to better utilize the cross-border innovation context of EMNEs.

In this paper we explicate the role of external knowledge search motives and host country context (local embeddedness) in driving different knowledge outcomes in offshoring. Drawing on the offshoring/offshore outsourcing literature, we develop a classification scheme based on different knowledge search motives (exploitation vs. exploration) and local embeddedness (low vs. deep). Utilizing this classification scheme, we discuss four important knowledge outcomes in offshoring: knowledge replication, refinement, renewal, and recombination. Additionally, we highlight how client-supplier relational governance, and offshoring knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may accentuate the effectiveness of various knowledge outcomes and value creation potential.

Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL)-based inspection gauges are widely used for full periphery inspection under Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of buried petroleum pipelines. These tools, known as Instrumented Pipeline Inspection Gauge (IPIG), are inserted into the pipeline; it travels along with the cargo and is retrieved at receiving barrel after travelling hundreds of kilometres. However, there are unpiggable pipelines in oil refineries, process industries and power plants (conventional and nuclear), where inline inspection is not possible. These lines are mostly inspected at few locations during in-service inspection schedule by spot thickness measurement, but full-length inspection with full periphery coverage is not feasible due to unavailability of any standard inspection tool. Nevertheless, integrity management of such pipes are of paramount importance. To address this challenge, a novel inspection tool called Sectored External PIG for 10″ NB carbon steel pipeline (SEPIG-10) has been developed based on MFL technology. The tool is extremely light weight and can be moved across the pipe (axially and circumferentially) with ease. The tool has been successfully tested at static test rigs with known calibration defects, giving encouraging results in defect detection and size (length, width and depth) estimation.

Detection of liquid-liquid interface is critical in solvent extraction equipment/contactors typically used in petroleum and hydrometallurgical industries. An instrumentation system, comprising of a self-calibrating ultrasonic sensor and a novel signal processing algorithm is reported. It can be used to estimate location of liquid-liquid interface along with speed of sound in both the liquids without any manual/user intervention. The algorithm involves use of discrete wavelet transform and matched filter. The system has been tested at laboratory scale under wide range of industrially relevant conditions. The system works for any pair of liquid without apriori knowledge of their acoustic characteristics, is insensitive to changes in temperature and/or compositions. It also works for dirty interfaces contaminated with particulate matter or emulsion. The above mentioned features truly impart the sensor system “deploy-and-forget” capabilities. The range, accuracy and resolution of the system, with respect to interface location, are 40–200 mm, 0.45% FS (Full-scale) and less than 1 mm, respectively.

The literature on business groups (BGs) has identified reputation as a critical factor in their success and survival. However, most studies have assumed that BGs are well-known and well-regarded—an assumption that may not be tenable in the context of international expansion. We use signaling theory to explore the causes of an unacknowledged source of BG heterogeneity—variance in their reputation prominence (whether they are well-known or not) and reputation quality (whether they are regarded favorably or unfavorably)—and seek to understand how this heterogeneity may result in differences in BG affiliates’ geographic scope and location choices as they internationalize.

Ammonium nitrate is one of the most common wastes generated in both front and back end of nuclear fuel cycle. Accurate and online estimation of ammonium nitrate concentration assumes importance in denitration processes for treatment of this waste. An ultrasonic based concentration estimation system is developed for online estimation of ammonium nitrate concentration in process vessels. A 5 MHz ultrasonic sensor is designed for this aim. The reflected signal is acquired and processed to measure the time-of-flight (TOF) across a known distance, which, in turn, is used to estimate the speed of sound in the medium. The effect of temperature on the results is studied in detail. A linear calibration equation is generated (R2∼0.995) which can predict concentration for measured value of TOF and temperature. Range, accuracy and resolution of the system are 0−150 g/L, 1.8 g/L and 1.5 g/L respectively. Moreover, the system is able to capture rapid dynamics of concentration change, updated every 25 ms. Applicability of the system is also tested with other nitrate bearing medium (sodium nitrate streams).

Industrial clusters are a critical component of the competitive viability of economies around the world. However, clusters are not static but evolve in response to technology and competition. This process has garnered interest from scholars and from practitioners, with the focus primarily on local linkages and networks. Although global knowledge ties have the potential to fuel innovation, scant attention has been given to global knowledge connectivity in the context of cluster evolution. We analyze a comprehensive 30-year patent dataset (1975–2005) associated with the Akron industrial cluster in Northeast Ohio. The results also show that innovation in the cluster has survived in spite of a long-term decline in manufacturing activity and employment. The survival of innovation in the Akron cluster is driven by increasing specialization at the local level with an emphasis on technologies rather than products and growing connectedness to global innovation systems. A key implication of our study is the importance of anchor tenant multinational enterprises and research institutions in ensuring the persistence of local innovation through two key processes (a) orchestrating knowledge networks; and (b) spawning startup activity. We provide support for recent work in industrial marketing suggesting that network evolution has both deterministic and strategic aspects.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) endeavors have been made mandatory for certain firms in India through the Companies Act, 2013. In this chapter, we focus on the nuances of this Act as it relates to CSR and discuss possible strategic implications for the Indian firms. To this end, we analyze strategic opportunities associated with mandatory CSR and identify potential challenges. Our in-depth analysis also explores avenues for future scholarly research in this area.

Drawing on the comparative ownership framework, we perform a comparative analysis of Chinese and Indian multinational enterprises (MNEs)’ ownership strategies in knowledge-intensive cross-border acquisitions (CBAs). Specifically, we claim that due to their lower comparative ownership advantage, and the consequent higher information asymmetry, Chinese MNEs are more cautious (than Indian MNEs) in their ownership strategy. We rely on a dataset of acquisitions undertaken by high and medium-high tech Chinese and Indian MNEs worldwide during the period of 2000-2014. Results confirm that Chinese MNEs prefer lower equity control than their Indian counterparts. However, such a preference for lower equity decreases with higher home-host institutional distance and host country-specific previous experience. These factors do not seem to modify the ownership preference of Indian MNEs in the same way.

Detection of liquid-liquid interface is critical in solvent extraction equipment/contactors typically used in petroleum and hydrometallurgical industries. An instrumentation system, comprising of a self-calibrating ultrasonic sensor and a novel signal processing algorithm is reported. It can be used to estimate location of liquid-liquid interface along with speed of sound in both the liquids without any manual/user intervention. The algorithm involves use of discrete wavelet transform and matched filter. The system has been tested at laboratory scale under wide range of industrially relevant conditions. The system works for any pair of liquid without apriori knowledge of their acoustic characteristics, is insensitive to changes in temperature and/or compositions. It also works for dirty interfaces contaminated with particulate matter or emulsion. The above mentioned features truly impart the sensor system “deploy-and-forget” capabilities. The range, accuracy and resolution of the system, with respect to interface location, are 40–200 mm, 0.45% FS (Full-scale) and less than 1 mm, respectively.

This symposium includes five papers that showcase the broadening range of research on human capital flow, or overall employee movement into and out of organizations (Call et al; 2015; Nyberg & Ploy...

Integrity management of cross country buried oil pipelines is one of the most challenging task of pipeline operators. Under integrity management program, in-line inspection of buried pipelines with Instrumented Pipeline Inspection Gauge (IPIG) tool is the only means to monitor the health of these pipelines. IPIG works on non-destructive techniques like magnetic flux leakage (MFL), eddy current (EC), ultrasonic (UT) etc. It uses any particular technique or combination based on the application. In-line inspection of pipeline involves inserting an IPIG into the pipe transporting liquid/gaseous petroleum cargo. IPIG houses an array of sensors (mostly magnetic flux leakage, eddy current, ultrasonic etc) that is used to sense the thickness (or change in thickness) of pipe as the tool travels. Offline analysis of this data reveals critical parameters necessary for pipeline health assessment and maintenance. For optimum performance of IPIG with respect to fault detection and tool integrity, it is mandatory for the tool to move at near constant speed. As motion of the tool is a function of differential pressure across it, which in turn depends on the flow-rate of petroleum cargo, a speed control mechanism is necessary to decouple the tool speed from varying cargo flow-rate. A prototype dynamic speed control mechanism is developed and integrated into an existing IPIG tool and tested in IOCL R&D Centre, Faridabad. The tool has successfully negotiated speed excursions with necessary control actions. The paper outlines the development of speed control algorithm based on IPIG tool dynamics, its implementation in 24" IPIG tool and analysis of results obtained in multiple field trials.

An unresolved tension exists in the literature on the foreign entry strategies of service multinational corporations (SMNCs). Prior research indicates that SMNCs face higher levels of transaction costs than non-service firms, making them more likely to prefer foreign entry strategies with greater hierarchy and control. Another stream of research suggests that less hierarchical entry strategies could increase SMNCs' flexibility and their ability to learn about the local environment, allowing them to adapt products and services to local needs. This suggests that there are important, underappreciated tradeoffs involved with the degree of hierarchy in SMNCs' foreign entry mode. To address this tension in the literature, we build a conceptual approach that integrates TCE with signaling theory to argue that firms' reputation for behavioral intent could have wide-ranging impacts on SMNCs' entry mode strategy and partner selection likelihood. Integrating these theories suggests the need to acknowledge that it takes “two to tango”: the attributes and preferences of both the foreign entrant and the local partner need to be factored into foreign entry strategies. We develop propositions using this integrative approach in order to contribute to further theoretical development in this important and growing stream of research.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) endeavors have been made mandatory for certain firms in India through the Companies Act, 2013. In this paper, we focus on the nuances of this Act as it relates to CSR and discuss possible strategic implications for the Indian firms. To this end, we analyze strategic opportunities associated with mandatory CSR and identify potential challenges. Our in-depth analysis also explores avenues for future scholarly research in this area.

Using knowledge-based view (KBV) and contingency arguments, we develop and test a model that investigates the relationship between the effectiveness and efficiency of cross-border knowledge gained from international business affiliates (IBAs) and the focal (recipient) firm’s performance. We argue that both of these dimensions of learning not only have a direct and positive effect on the performance of the focal firm but also a synergistic one. Also, we suggest that the direct and positive effect of both the effectiveness and the efficiency in learning from the IBA on focal firm performance is moderated by the technological turbulence of the context in which the focal firm operates. Results indicate that the effectiveness of learning, although not the efficiency in learning, positively impacts the focal firm’s performance. However, cross-border learning efficiency and effectiveness jointly improve the focal firm’s performance. Results show that the level of technological turbulence attenuates the positive effect of the effectiveness of learning on the focal firm’s performance. In fact, under high technological turbulence conditions, effective learning becomes detrimental to the focal firm’s performance.

The commercialization of technological innovation, which is key to entrepreneurial success, represents a combination of several entrepreneurial activities. Building on research in management, strategy, entrepreneurship, and economics, this research summarizes 194 articles from 62 journals, categorizing them into six broad entrepreneurial activity themes: sources of innovations, types of innovation, market entry competence and feasibility, protection, development, and deployment. This review and synthesis suggest a framework of commercialization and an agenda for future research along with recommendations and guidance for future research. The proposed agenda provides topics and research questions for research, as well as related recommendations regarding the study and practice of the commercialization of innovation.

This article proposes an analytical framework to explain value creation through offshore outsourcing by addressing a key question: How do firms create value by outsourcing their business functions to foreign external providers? The growing prevalence of offshore outsourcing as a dominant business practice in global business makes this question worthy of further research attention. Situated within the organizational design literature, our proposed value creation framework also draws from strategic resource management, disintegration, location-specific resourcing, and externalization (D–L–E) and contingency perspectives. Our analysis shows that firms embarking on offshore outsourcing create value by effectively managing their internal and external resources in accordance with a changing global environment. The framework has significant implications for theory and practice and suggests avenues for further research.

Relying on relational capital theory and transaction cost economics (TCE), this study identifies factors that impede or promote alliance formation in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Environmental uncertainty and knowledge intensity impede firms' RD the focal firm's overall trust in partners enhances alliance formation. Trust interacts positively with environmental uncertainty and knowledge intensity to affect alliance formation in SMEs. The findings reflect data from a longitudinal sample of 854 German SMEs, captured over eight years from 1999 to 2007.

This study revisits Chandler's seminal work Strategy and Structure (1962) empirically. This work helped fashion the notion of strategic fit as well as the need for new organisational forms. Chandler's fit–performance thesis proposes that firms which match structure to their strategy will become economically more efficient than mismatched firms. The very same firms Chandler studied are analysed financially as their structure evolves through successive phases of being matched to their strategy, mismatched, and then finally matched again. Over 70 longitudinal tests are performed, yielding mostly statistically significant results. These tests surprisingly suggest that mismatched firms generally outperform firms that match structure to strategy. Such results matter in light of new conceptual approaches being introduced on the subject of ‘fit’; novel plausible explanations are provided for this apparent theoretical paradox.

PurposeThe paper aims to understand which location determinants are relevant in a subsidiary location decision under the interaction influence of an emerging‐market firm's (EMF) resource and internationalization motives.Design/methodology/approachThe paper prepares a typology of an EMF's resources which are different from those of a developed‐country firm. It proceeds to argue which internationalization motives are likely to work for an EMF endowed with a specific resource. Finally, the paper posits the impact of resource and internationalization motives on the relevance of some location determinants over others in an EMF's location decision matrix.FindingsThe conceptual framework proposes a relationship between EMF resources, internationalization motives and location determinants and prioritizes some location determinant(s) over others for various combinations of EMF resource and internationalization motives.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper contributes to the literature by proposing a unique typology of EMF resources. The overall framework informs the scholars about the importance of idiosyncratic resources as the basis of differential location decisions.Practical implicationsThis article presents a guiding framework for multinational managers to assess optimum location decisions on the basis of idiosyncratic firm resources and internationalization motives.Originality/valueThe paper fills a scholarly gap by proposing a framework that relates firm resources and internationalization motives to location determinants. In the process, the paper also proposes a resource typology for resources unique to EMFs.

Estimation of shape and size of metal loss defects in ferromagnetic plates/pipes from magnetic flux leakage (MFL) signals calls for the development of an inverse mapping system, which is very often non-linear and ill-posed. Identification of such systems needs regularization and modeling in multi-resolution framework. This paper proposes a new inverse mapping approach for defect profile estimation and sizing from MFL signals, using a partially time-varying model. The model works with wavelet projections and selectively employs time varying and time invariant models in different sub-bands to estimate the defect shape. Shape synthesis uses alternate projections (in two signal spaces) that converge to minimum norm solution. Length and width profile of defects are estimated independently. The model is trained with reference defects and is validated with unknown signals from laboratory and field runs in test rigs. This paper reports 1-D results which show excellent match with actual sizes and shapes of defects.

Purpose – “Organizational identification” refers to a perception of “oneness” with an organization. The purpose of this paper is to provide a model of organizational identification for virtual team workers and examine the role of cultural dimensions in a virtual setting. Specifically, it poses individualism‐collectivism and uncertainty avoidance as potential situational contingencies that may affect the determinants of an organizational identification relationship in a virtual work setting.Design/methodology/approach – The proposed research framework delineates how cultural dimensions relate to virtual work‐associated individual (interpersonal trust, need for affiliation) and environmental (spatial and cultural dispersion, ICT‐enabled communication) factors and organizational identification. Several testable propositions emerge.Findings – This study provides a foundation for empirical studies that examine the linkages among organizational identification, virtual work, and environment‐related factors and c...

PurposeA virtual organization (VO) is a set of geographically dispersed and functionally diverse organizational entities interconnected by electronic forms of communication that cooperate with one another for a common valued outcome. The objective of this article is to propose a research framework that illustrates the development of trust between VOs.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides an overview of literature on VOs, identifies antecedents of trustworthiness in virtual environment, explores the role of boundary spanners' interpersonal trust, and relates them to inter‐VO trust formation. A research analysis is developed that depicts the proposed relationships.FindingsThe propositions shed light on the overall interorganizational trust building process in VOs. In doing so, the framework also acknowledges the role of individual boundary spanners of a trustor organization in the trust development process.Originality/valueSystematic scholarly research relating to VOs has been somewhat limited. With the emergence of VOs as important organizational forms, there is an increasing need to comprehend how interorganizational trust is developed and maintained in VOs. This study attempts to fill this gap in the extant literature by exploring how social exchange factors in a virtual context relate to factors of organizational trustworthiness of the trustee organization. In addition, this paper also investigates the key role played by the boundary spanners of both organizations in the trust formation process.