Milena Ratajczak-Mrozek

Global Business Networks and Cooperation within Supply Chain as a Strategy for High-Tech Companies’ Growth

The specificity of the operation profile of high-tech companies, including the necessity of operating at the international scale may account for the fact that these companies may find in network relationships, business networks and cooperation an essential determinant for growth and competitiveness. Foreign entities should be especially interesting business partners for hightech companies, as they are often seen as representing more advanced knowledge, resources and experience. The aim of the article is to point out to global business networks (i.e. including both local and foreign entities), and especially to cooperation within supply chain, as an important basis for a growth strategy of a high-tech company. The article adopts assumptions of the network approach as a concept of companies cooperation. An analysis of the author’s own as well as secondary empirical research, with the focus on hightech companies located in Poland is presented. In particular, the data from own research of 62 high-tech companies in Poland conducted in the first half of 2011 is analysed. It shows that the high-tech companies placing great importance on cooperation within supply chain demonstrate a higher growth and level of competitiveness than the companies which do not ascribe such importance (bearing in mind that supply chain forms an important part of a business network).

The Importance of Locally Embedded Personal Relationships for SME Internationalisation Processes – From Opportunity Recognition to Company Growth

The purpose of the paper is to present the importance of locally embedded personal relationships and individuals’ networks for the rise of small and medium enterprises (SMEs)’ opportunities in the internationalisation process (especially the market entry phase) as well as their international operations and growth. Above all, the aim of the article is to answer the question what is influencing the actual impact of these resulting opportunities on internationalisation and growth. This paper adopts both a conceptual and empirical approach to the problem based upon a critical review of pertinent literature. Two case studies of companies from industries representing different levels of technological advancement, that is the furniture industry and IT industry, are presented. The theoretical and empirical analysis presented in the article points to the fact that relationships simultaneously facilitate opportunity recognition and themselves constitute such an opportunity. The analysis carried out as part of the case study proves that main factors determining the rise of the opportunity based on locally embedded personal relationships are trust and mutual understanding, in this way emphasising the importance of relational embeddedness. At the same time the realisation of these opportunities and therefore their impact on the internationalisation process and a company’s growth requires additional social factors (an entrepreneurial attitude) as well as economic factors (such as quality and competitive prices).

Cooperation between logistics service providers based on cloud computing

The paper describes the use of cloud computing in logistics, especially the creation of the multi-modal platform designed for cooperating logistics service providers and their customers. The research conducted within the EU project is presented. The article focuses primarily on the findings of its initial phase --- the analysis of information requirements needed for cloud computing platform. The processes maps and use case are proposed.

To be independent or balance interdependence

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify in what way micro and small firms from low-technology industries which are dependent on foreign companies can ensure that they derive benefits from these relationships and what is more, in what way government policy should support this. Design/methodology/approach – A longitudinal study of a furniture company has been used. The company’s relationship with its large foreign customer is analysed from the perspective of the market-oriented power dependence and the IMP interdependence concept. Additionally the secondary sources of information about Polish furniture industry have been used in order to present its international specificity. Findings – The analysis shows that micro and small firms may derive benefits from their relationships with foreign entities due to their flexibility and the creation of heavy resources based on the standards of cooperation. Policies supporting exports and internationalisation cannot be isolated activities which end with the ...

The SME perspective on motives and success factors in cross-border mergers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address two research questions. First: what causes an small and medium enterprises (SME) to engage in a merger with a multinational group and thereby change its relationships and to start functioning in a hierarchical structure which may be viewed as being the integration of a weaker entity by a stronger and bigger one? And second: what causes the successful continuation of a cross-border merger project from the perspective of an SME? Design/methodology/approach – The concept of the network position is adopted to undertake a longitudinal study of an IT company from Poland. Findings – From the perspective of the SME, its own perceived important network position resulting from the resources it possesses, the ability to decide how they are utilised, as well as relationships strongly supported by trust and a good atmosphere are key motives and success factors for the merger. Originality/value – By adapting the IMP research perspective and the concept of network positi...

On the Way to Being a Micromultinational – Hindrances and Success Factors

Abstract Purpose The chapter addresses two research questions. Firstly, where does the line between the highly internationalised small and medium enterprises (SME) and micromultinationals (mMNE) lie? Secondly, what are the success factors and hindrances to the process of becoming an mMNE? How to internationalise being a small company and build prosperous relationships on the foreign and domestic market on the way to becoming mMNE? Methodology/approach The single company longitudinal case study of a furniture producer from Poland is analysed. Data for the case was collected using six detailed interviews. Findings Due to different networking possibilities, which are often based on long-term but not formalised cooperation, sometimes the line between the highly internationalised SME, formally using only exporting and the mMNE is very narrow. The analysis corroborates the former studies concerning factors of the successful establishment of mMNEs, drawing attention to the importance of entrepreneurship and networking. However strong embeddedness in domestic relationships may constitute, at the same time, a driver as well as a hindrance in the process described. Originality/value The case study examines in detail the process of becoming an mMNE which may be used for teaching purposes regarding new organisational forms in international business.

Cloud Community in Logistics e-Cluster

In Europe there are a lot of transportation and logistics companies. They provide different services, depending on their sizes and scope. The largest logistics service providers use advanced ICT solutions enabling them to capture, transform and interchange data. However, others, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), do not have enough money to invest in new ICT solutions which allow to monitor data e.g. related to the inbound freight flows.

Supply chain configuration in high-tech networks

The supply chain configuration has recently been one of the key elements of supply chain management. The complexity of the relations and variety of the aims of their particular members cause it to be very difficult to build a supply chain effectively. Therefore, finding a feasible configuration in which both the business network and the company can achieve the highest possible level of performance constitutes a problem. Authors proposed the SCtechNet model based on graph theory, business network concept and the competitiveness indicator that helps to solve this problem by dynamic configuration of supply chains. The simulation results based on proposed model are presented and discussed.

The Network Theory of Companies’ Internationalization—the Importance of Relationships for International Expansion

Ratajczak-Mrozek provides a comprehensive review of studies in the field of the network theory of internationalization. The chapter starts with the informative description of the network model of internationalization and the revised Uppsala model 2009. Next it describes the role of different types of relationships and especially inward connections and domestic relationships in internationalization. Finally Ratajczak-Mrozek systematizes main areas of research in the network theory of internationalization. These areas of research include the role of knowledge, other resources and opportunities created through relationships in the internationalization, the influence of relationships (or knowledge, resources, opportunities) on a company’s entry into a foreign market and the general process of internationalization, the speed of internationalization and the company’s performance in the internationalization process.

Methodology of the Empirical Studies

Ratajczak-Mrozek presents the methodology of the conducted empirical research and the differences between qualitative and quantitative research and the purposes they serve. The chapter starts with the methodology of the qualitative study, including case studies of three companies representing furniture and IT industry: IKEA Industry Zbąszynek , nSense Poland and Flow. Next, the methodology of quantitative study is described. The survey aims to characterize and identify dependency between embeddedness of companies in domestic and foreign relationships and the resulting outcomes for business activity and performance, with special emphasis on outcomes in the context of foreign activity and internationalization. The chapter finishes with the description of main characteristics of 419 companies which took part in the survey.