Simon Collinson

Relevance and Rigor in International Business Teaching: Using the CSA-FSA Matrix

We advance three propositions in this paper. First, teaching international business (IB) at any level needs to be theoretically driven, using mainstream frameworks to organize thinking. Second, these frameworks need to be made relevant to the experiences of the students; for example, by using them in case studies. Third, these parameters of rigor and relevance need to be seamlessly integrated. We then demonstrate these principles using Rugmans CSA-FSA matrix, describing both the theoretical and practical value of the framework.

Asset Recombination in International Partnerships as a Source of Improved Innovation Capabilities in China

This paper examines how multinational enterprises MNEs and local partners, including suppliers, customers and competitors in China, improve their innovation capabilities through collaboration. We analyse this collaboration as a three-way interaction between the ownership-specific O advantages or firm-specific assets FSAs of the MNE subsidiary, the FSAs of the local partner, and the location-specific assets of the host location. Our propositions are examined through a survey of 320 firms, supplemented with 30 in-depth case studies. We find that the recombination of asset-type Oa FSAs and transaction-type Ot FSAs from both partners leads to new innovation-related ownership advantages, or recombinant advantages. The study reveals important patterns of reciprocal transfer, sharing and integration for different asset categories tacit, codified and different forms of FSA and explicitly links these to different innovation performance outcomes. Ot FSAs, in the form of access to local suppliers, customers or government networks are particularly important for reducing the liability of foreignness for MNEs.

Recombination for innovation: performance outcomes from international partnerships in China

This paper examines the relationship between different types of international partnerships and innovation performance. By drawing on a conceptual framework which outlines how new bundles of transferrable and nontransferrable ownership advantages are created from such partnerships (Collinson and Narula, 2014), we analyze empirical evidence from a large-scale survey of 320 individual company responses from the China-based operations of foreign multinational firms alongside in-depth case studies. Our study reveals that different types of collaborative partnerships (cooperative vs. competitive) are associated with different innovation performance outcomes (product vs. process innovation). In addition, we find that a sustainable, reciprocal relationship between collaborative partners can generate superior innovation performance. Contextual factors including the role of government and industry characteristics have an important bearing on innovation performance in collaborative partnerships in China. We conclude with implications for researchers, managers, and policymakers.

Building castles from sand : unlocking CEO mythopoetical behaviour in Hewlett Packard from 1978 to 2005

How do successive CEOs use myths in an organization over time? While studies start to provide us with understanding of the discourse employed by particular organizational actors, we lack studies about the discourse used by successive strategic actors over long periods of time and the precise mechanisms of such use. To address this gap we theorise the components of mythopoetical behaviour of CEOs and apply critical discourse analysis to unpack the discursive mechanisms used by three CEOs at Hewlett Packard over a 27-year period. We offer two contributions: first, we elaborate on the concept of mythopoetical behaviour (mythopoesis) and show how it forms part of the four discursive mechanisms of authorization, moral evaluation, rationalization and mythopoesis that allow incoming CEOs to construct and legitimise their identity as strategic actors. Second, we develop the notion of mythopoetical distance to provide a method to examine how myths developed by CEOs are compared to the institutionalised myths in their firms.

Corporate Hybrids and the Co-evolution of Institutions and Enterprise in China

This original and important book explores how the interaction between China and multinational enterprises (MNEs) has the potential to affect the future of the Chinese economy, the global economy, and international business.

Chapter 9 Asian Business is Regional, not Global

Of the 75 Asian firms with data on regional sales, only three are global whereas 66 have the majority of their sales in their home region. Why is this? Despite a large literature extolling the global success of Asian firms, especially the Japanese, why does the evidence suggest that most Asian firms operate regionally? This study explains how most large Japanese firms have firm-specific advantages, which are based in their home region.

Lean versus agile production: flexibility trade-offs within the automotive supply chain

Given the recent dynamics of the automotive industry in the UK, the ability for a firm to be flexible has often taken priority over other performance indicators. Using the notion of distinct business models and trade-offs as our theoretical lens, the purpose of this study was to: (1) Distinguish lean and agile firms based upon production methods; and (2) Compare lean and agile levels of external flexibility (EF) and supply chain flexibility (SCF). Data was obtained from 140 automotive firms in the Midlands (UK) via a survey which was sent by emails. Findings supported the theoretical notion of trade-offs, as firms implementing agile production methods were found to be more flexible in comparison with firms implementing lean production methods. More importantly, the agile firms that possessed high EF levels and SCF levels were predominantly positioned at the lower end of the automotive supply chain, whereas the lean firms were largely found to be operating at the top of the supply chain. First, we provide an innovative way in which lean and agile firms can be conceptualised. Second, as flexibility levels were assessed on actual numerical values, as opposed to using opinion based Likert Scale questions, a methodological contribution is made. Third, as flexibility is in its infancy stage of theoretical development we make an empirical contribution by developing a taxonomy that distinguishes each production concept. Finally, given the supply chain position to where lean and agile firms were found, we invoked a power perspective better understand this phenomenon.

Disintegration and De-Internationalization: Changing Vertical and International Scope and the Case of the Oil and Gas Industry

Global trading of oil and gas means international markets are more open than at any previous time. As a result, the oil industry oligopoly is being deconstructed and vertically integrated MNCs are being reconstituted to address this fact. In parallel, emergent MNCs in the form of National Oil Companies are now entering the competitive arena. Traditionally dominant MNCs are adopting new operating models focused on technological and financial strength. We examine changes in the once-dominant industry paradigm of vertical integration using several theoretical lenses. These include transaction-cost economics, the resource-based view and institution theory. The giant MNCs operated globally for decades and are an important variant of the MNCs studied in strategic management literature. We suggest the current theoretical models do not explain sufficiently how these MNCs respond to current changes and by using industry observation we contribute to modernization of this literature.