Decoupling in international business: The ‘new’ vulnerability of globalization and MNEs’ response strategies

De-internationalization of cross-border investments from a de-globalization perspective: a systematic literature review and structuring of the field

“…Cohen et al (2016, p. 400) find that restructuring of the GVC takes place as MNEs question "whether their current structures and strategies are appropriate in the current turbulent times." This questioning has gained significantly more traction with the COVID-19 pandemic related questions about national self-sufficiency (Meyer 2017;Godsell et al 2023) and GVC resilience 23 (Panwar et al 2022;van Hoek 2020), with neologisms in the GVC context such as (diplomatic) "friend-shoring" (Khorana et al 2022;Meyer and Li 2022;Cui et al 2023;Witt et al 2023) symbolic for the trend that the GVC-at least partially-is about to be readjusted. Overall, the GVC share of trade 24 has followed a declining trend (UNCTAD 2020, p. 123) since the great financial crisis in 2008.…”

“…Moreover, comprehensive studies supplementing the more conceptual elaborations with contemporary data can offer valuable insights that can aid policymakers and MNE managers in their decision-making processes. In addition, Cui et al (2023) emphasize the new vulnerability of globalization and the need for a deeper understanding of its evolving challenges on the macro-and micro-levels of MNEs. Conducting detailed case studies tailored to specific sectors can greatly benefit MNE managers, because each sector and industry possesses distinct characteristics.…”

“…Additionally, motivated by security concerns and vulnerabilities arising from technological breakdowns and interdependencies, Luo (2022) advocates for a deeper exploration of the risks associated with technological decoupling. Cui et al (2023) and Cuervo-Cazurra et al (2020a; raise questions about the impact of decoupling and re-shoring on innovation as a firm-specific advantage to be developed and exploited by MNEs.…”

“…On the interrelationship between local MNE protagonists within the subsidiary and non-market actors such as politicians, Meyer and Li (2022, p. 565) recommend to get deeper insights on "which personality, skill profiles, leadership styles, and activities of subsidiary managers are most effective in managing local interfaces at times of disruption." Cui et al (2023) ask for more insight into individual top managers' traits, such as their political orientation, and how these political ties shape the directions MNEs take. Previous studies on internationalization have tended to give insufficient attention to the role of the individual (Buckley et al 2007); thus, future studies need to establish stronger connections between individual and organizational perceptions (Ambos et al 2020) which would support the derivation of different patterns within decision-makers contributing to (de-)globalization and (de-)internationalization on a granular level.…”

Analysis of Incoterms and Relational Resources to Improve Competitive Advantage: A Study of Freight Forwarders Company in Indonesia

“…However, many Freight forwarder companies fail to deliver the best service and incur high charges, then fail to develop good relationships in the long term (Wong and Karia, 2010). Poor relationships cause negative impacts between providers and customers (Cui et al, 2023;Lambert et al, 1999;Muscatello, 2023). The effect affects the company's global branding and competitive advantage (Ray and Sharma, 2020;Rop, 2022).…”