Andrew Barron

The financial crisis and the gathering of political intelligence: A cross-country comparison of SMEs in France, Sweden and the UK

This article reports the findings of a study that compared cross-national differences in how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) monitored political responses to the economic and financial crisis of 2007–2009. Original, empirical data collected through an online survey of 206 small business managers in France, Sweden and the UK were analysed to explore the extent that they monitored policy responses to the crisis, their motivations for doing so, and the sources of information they used for political intelligence gathering purposes. The findings show that the monitoring of political initiatives by SMEs in response to the recession varied in accordance with the extent to which their countries are affected by the recession. Also, small business managers on the whole considered it more important, despite the international nature of the crisis, to monitor political responses in national rather than supranational political settings. Contrary to our expectations, we found that SMEs across all three countries drew on similarly wide sources of information when monitoring policy responses to the crisis. Also surprising was the finding that SME managers in the UK relied heavily on official government sources when gathering intelligence on attempts to alleviate the recession’s effects.

The impact of national business cultures on large firm lobbying in the European Union: evidence from a large-scale survey of government affairs managers

Abstract This paper reports research into cross-national differences in corporate lobbying in the European Union (EU). Original data collected through an online survey, conducted between April and June 2010, of 132 government affairs managers in large firms are analysed to ascertain the extent their political activities are influenced by the national business cultures in which they were socialised. Findings indicate significant relationships between (1) respondents’ culturally-grounded attitudes towards time and their level of engagement with policy-makers, and (2) their culturally-conditioned attitudes towards power and hierarchy and their choice of political tactics when seeking to promote their political interests. Contrary to expectations, no significant relationship was found between respondents’ cultural preferences for acting autonomously or within a group, and their level of participation in the policy-making process. The research makes important contributions to the literature on Europeanization as well as to research into the internationalisation of corporate political strategising.

The Role of Political Intelligence in Firms’ Export Decisions During the Euro Crisis

Inspired by the literatures on internationalization and absorptive capacity, we develop a model exploring how small firms—during crises—acquire and apply political information to export decisions. We test our model using data collected during the 2012 Eurozone crisis from a sample of 440 British, French, and Swedish SMEs. Findings indicate that firms dependent on the Eurozone for exports and heavily impacted by the crisis engaged in frequent political monitoring. In turn, frequent monitoring leads to the development of formal routines for exploiting political information. Firms with the most formal routines sought new export opportunities beyond the Eurozone. In contrast to previous research into small‐firm internationalization, our study stresses the significance of “shortcut” searching activities, non‐market information, and firms’ decisions to reduce prior investments in export markets.

Corporate political strategizing in the European Union during the 2007 – 10 recession : an exploratory study

Using original data collected from a survey of Brussels-based Government Affairs Managers (GAMs) in May and June 2010, we explore the political actions of firms in the European Union during the 2007–10 financial crisis. Findings suggest that the financial constraints imposed by the crisis had a significant impact on whether GAMs entered into short-term or long-term relationships with policy makers and whether they engaged in individual or collective action. Significant crosscountry differences were also observed between the political objectives pursued by firms, their propensity to engage in collective political action, and the tactics they use to influence policy makers. Taken together, these findings challenge institutional explanations of EU lobbying, which suggest that the EU system of policy making provides powerful incentives for firms to adopt specific lobbying behaviours in order to gain a seat at the EU policy-making table.

Early Internationalisation of New and Small Indian Firms: An Exploratory Study

Abstract Purpose This study is a response to the paucity of research into early internationalising firms based in India. We seek to explore the internationalisation of small and new Indian firms and the decision-making process of their entrepreneurs/managers. Methodology/approach The study uses original, primary data gathered from in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with the managers of six such firms to explore the factors that might facilitate, motivate, or impede the efforts undertaken by young Indian firms to embark upon a process of early internationalisation. Findings Our findings suggest that, in line with their counterparts from other countries, the early internationalisation of small firms from India is driven primarily by the search for more favourable demand conditions overseas and is facilitated by new technologies. However, we find no evidence suggesting that the emergence of early internationalising firms from India is driven by the search for more favourable production conditions or by the direct international experience and exposure of their founders. In line with prior scholarly work, our research suggests that government support is an important facilitator of early internationalisation of small firms. Originality/value The study provides insights into the internationalisation process of INVs from India and contributes to broadening our understanding of the behaviour of firms under a set of specific institutional conditions. Based on our findings, we develop a conceptual framework which can be useful for further empirical testing. Our study is also one of the few to be conducted on a sample of INVs from India.

La culture et son impact sur les actions politiques des entreprises - Le cas du Règlement général sur la protection des données (RGPD)

Cette recherche expose d’importantes differences culturelles dans la maniere dont les entreprises ont tente d’atteindre leurs objectifs politiques lors de la formulation d’un nouveau reglement europeen. Ainsi, les entreprises anglo-saxonnes etaient plus disposees que leurs homologues europeens a conduire des actions politiques individuelles tout en mettant en œuvre des tactiques de constitution de coalitions. Une approche comparative met l’accent sur la comprehension de la rationalite des actions politiques des entreprises. Nos resultats encouragent les lobbyistes a considerer l’impact des differences culturelles dans les strategies politiques de leurs concurrents internationaux.