Determinant Factors in the Internationalization of Knowledge-Intensive Services in a Peripheral Area

Muñoz-Guarasa, Marta; Pajares, Encarnación Moral

doi:10.4236/jssm.2014.72012

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Regarding the choice of this mode of internationalization it should be noted that a large part of the sample is engineering and architecture companies and real estate services that used internationalization to cope with the economic crisis of 2008 that affected, to a large extent, the sector of construction in Spain. Given this situation, they used exports as the fastest way to go abroad, a feature that is in line with recent findings for peripheral contexts (Éltető, 2018; Muñoz-Guarasa and Moral, 2014). Additionally, as a large part of the sample are young companies and they are at the beginning of their internationalization process, they may have chosen exports as a less risky and less resource-intensive internationalization strategy (such as foreign direct investment).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Competitive capabilities in knowledge-intensive services firms: strategic advantages of born globals in a peripheral region

Guarasa

Fischer

2020

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Purpose While the born global (BG) phenomenon has been well established in the literature, studies on accelerated internationalization of firms in the service sector have been scarce, particularly for the specific case of knowledge-intensive services (KIS). The purpose of this paper is to explore which competitive characteristics differentiate KIS BGs from other KIS firms in the context of a peripheral region. Design/methodology/approach The empirical focus of this study comprehends primary survey data from 250 Spanish KIS firms (Andalusia) that have been internationalized and analyzed through ordinal and ordinary least squares regressions. The authors address the “born-global effect” on five features of interest, namely, entry mode, technological capabilities, qualification of staff, external resources and quality of services. Findings Results suggest that KIS BGs in Andalusia perceive exports as a more relevant form of internationalization than its non-BG peers. Also, KIS BGs in Andalusia present higher levels of technological intensity. Differences in terms of staff qualification, access to extramural R&D resources and the quality of services could not be identified. Research limitations/implications The main limitation of this research concerns its cross-sectional character, thus hindering the evaluation of developmental trajectories taking place in the cohort under scrutiny. Such an approach would allow a better comprehension of the competitiveness dynamics in internationalized KIS firms. Also, because this assessment is geographically restricted to Andalusia, Spain, the authors recommend caution in establishing direct comparisons and appropriation of results for other regional/national contexts. Practical implications Recommendations for public policy include establishing the necessary infrastructures to encourage the technological development of KIS companies and provide support – through export promotion agencies, for instance – for early approximation with foreign markets. Taking into account the contributions of KIS firms for the development of a peripheral economy, this involves the need to establish instruments that provide strategic information to internationalize, as well as lines of funding for these companies. Originality/value Empirical evidence on KIS BGs is needed to fully grasp its differences to other internationalized service firms. The analysis within this specific domain represents an advance in the literature on this subject. Also, the context of peripheral regions – considering their economic differences to core areas – has been understudied. The elaboration and application of the survey have allowed the authors to have access to primary in-depth data and, therefore, to build a better understanding of KIS BGs in Andalusia, Spain.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Competitive capabilities in knowledge-intensive services firms: strategic advantages of born globals in a peripheral region

Guarasa

Fischer

2020

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Innovative services of companies in Podlaskie district

Skąpska

2018

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The aim of the paper is to examine the opinions of managers from Podlaskie district on innovations in services and to check whether the range of the provided services is accepted by service receivers. Research methodology-The e-survey is directed at the managers of Polish companies in Podlaskie district. By means of the Pearson correlation coefficient, there was also performed another analysis which is related to the connections of the profile questions with the survey questions as well as between the questions that had been coupled. Score-The research shows that the analyzed subsector of services is an interesting area in the context of innovations on the micro scale, and thus it has potential for further study. Local service industries that feature progressive services and flexibility factors towards customers have been identified here. Pearson's factor revealed the situations discourage managers to introduce progressive services on the market. Thus, the lower the degree of market saturation, the greater is the tendency to introduce those services. On the other hand, when the market assures prices that provide a high level of profitability, companies do not have motivation to introduce services of progressive character. Originality/value-There has been no similar research in the literature. In the paper there have been identified local service industries that feature progressive services and flexibility factors towards customers. It constitutes a precious market recommendation that is necessary for the managers of service companies from Podlaskie district to make proper decisions.

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Theoretical components of intra-industry service development strategy

Gnusowski

Goncharuk

Skąpska

et al. 2017

European Journal of Service Management

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JEL classificationA10, B40, O11, O12Keywords service sector, development strategy, economic growth, methodology of development Abstr actPresently, the globalization in trade and in capital markets forced service organizations to extend the range of service functions to meet globally accepted standards in a single economic system. However, not all service companies are the same. Globalization has different implications for different types of services and is affected by the nature of the process involved in creating and delivering a given service. The aim of this paper is to define strategies and enduring patterns of action for service sector entities such as: a set of reliable rules, means and reactions as well as to define new methods of performance through analysis and logical conclusions that arise from the laws and dependence between economic values. All the factors have significance in terms of the growth in services thus in the growth of the whole economy in general.

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Determinant Factors in the Internationalization of Knowledge-Intensive Services in a Peripheral Area

Cited by 3 publications

References 46 publications

Competitive capabilities in knowledge-intensive services firms: strategic advantages of born globals in a peripheral region

Competitive capabilities in knowledge-intensive services firms: strategic advantages of born globals in a peripheral region

Innovative services of companies in Podlaskie district

Theoretical components of intra-industry service development strategy

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