2019
DOI: 10.1057/s41267-019-00256-2
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Digitalized service multinationals and international business theory

Abstract: Banalieva and Dhanaraj argue that digital service multinationals (DSMNCs) possess a new category of firm-specific advantage (FSA), the network advantage, and that, contrary to extant theory, they use networks as a mode of governance. I review the business models used by DSMNCs, compare them to non-digital ones, and explore what we can learn about them from extant IB theory. I conclude that network advantages are not a new category of FSAs, that networks are not a mode of governance, and that their use by DSMNC… Show more

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Cited by 67 publications
(63 citation statements)
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“…At the same time, there is always a need for prudence and commensurability in developing new theories. First, even though it was originally developed to explain the emergence of large manufacturing MNEs in the post-WWII era, the basic analytical approach of the theory is arguably still applicable to explaining the boundary choices by other types of MNEs in different time periods such as those from emerging economies (Verbeke & Kano, 2015), sponsored by the state (Grøgaard et al, 2019), run by a single family (Hennart et al, 2017), or focusing on digital services (Banalieva & Dhanaraj, 2019;Hennart, 2019). Therefore, a judicious approach to studying a seemingly new type of transaction or firm is perhaps first to assess carefully whether internalization theory still has substantial explanatory power to effectively explain the 'new' governance mode, transaction, or firm.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
See 1 more Smart Citation
“…At the same time, there is always a need for prudence and commensurability in developing new theories. First, even though it was originally developed to explain the emergence of large manufacturing MNEs in the post-WWII era, the basic analytical approach of the theory is arguably still applicable to explaining the boundary choices by other types of MNEs in different time periods such as those from emerging economies (Verbeke & Kano, 2015), sponsored by the state (Grøgaard et al, 2019), run by a single family (Hennart et al, 2017), or focusing on digital services (Banalieva & Dhanaraj, 2019;Hennart, 2019). Therefore, a judicious approach to studying a seemingly new type of transaction or firm is perhaps first to assess carefully whether internalization theory still has substantial explanatory power to effectively explain the 'new' governance mode, transaction, or firm.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…If they are mostly endogenous to experience, what does that say about the possibility of establishing causality, an important criterion for which is temporal precedence? Indeed, Hennart (2019) suggests that a theory based on such FSAs borders on the tautological, because they can only be observed ex post through the degree of the success of the MNE's international operations, reflecting a more fundamental issue that also applies to the wider realm of the RBV (Priem & Butler, 2001;Cockburn, Henderson, & Stern, 2000). Perhaps this implies that we need to take one step further back and ask which firm-or location-specific factors are likely to influence O TI and O TE .…”
Section: Boundary-augmenting Fsas: Antecedents and Consequencesmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…1372-1387. Hennart shows the importance of network advantage (Hennart, 2019(Hennart, , pp. 1388(Hennart, -1400.…”
Section: Literature Reviewmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…An efficient solution can then be to license or franchise SMEs. This is done by some fast food companies that enter into franchise contracts with a large number of SMEs; by credit card branders such as Visa and MasterCard that use local banks to sign up customers and process payments; and by some internet platforms, such as Uber and Lyft, that rely on local independent drivers rather than company employees (Hennart, 2019b). Vertical integration into local production, on the other hand, will be chosen when the costs of direct monitoring of employee-staffed outlets are not excessive while quality debasement by franchisees cannot be controlled by franchising contracts (Hennart, 2010).…”
Section: Differences In Optimal Scale Between Stagesmentioning
confidence: 99%