What Do We Know about the Success and Failure of International Joint Ventures? In Search of Relevance and Holism

On the future of international joint venture research

“…The author characterizes IJV research of that time as dominated by theory-thin, narrow, and non-cumulative empirical studies leading to somewhat arbitrary, piecemeal, nonadditive findings, while arguing for the need for theory development, qualitative studies, and the analysis of soft factors. However, it appears that this criticism and call for changes, despite receiving support in work that critiqued the ongoing 'rush to empiricism' (Buckley & Glaister, 2002), has largely gone unheeded (Nippa & Beechler, 2013). While on the one hand highlighting the progress IJV research has made in shedding light on phenomena, theories used, and particular findings, these reviews have also revealed glaring deficiencies in the body of previous research.…”

“…In view of the fast-growing number of studies, books, and practitioner guidelines, which made it more and more difficult to comprehend what has been examined and found, dedicated review papers emerged as early as the late 1980s (Geringer & Hebert, 1989). Indeed, not counting publications in neighboring fields, more than a dozen review and meta-analytic papers on different aspects of IJV research have been published (for an overview, see Nippa & Beechler, 2013).…”

A Literature-Based Analysis and Comparative Assessment of Key Success Factors for Managing Russian-Foreign IJVs

“…Recent criticism on IJV research at large and particularly Sino-Foreign IJVs reveals substantial deficits in terms of theoretical/conceptual, methodological and practical rigor (Nippa & Beechler, 2013;Nippa et al, 2007;Parkhe, 1993). The findings regarding the manifest and latent contents of research articles on Russian-and Soviet-Foreign IJVs re-confirm the deficits and inconsistencies derived from research on IJVs in general and Sino-Foreign IJVs in particular.…”

“…Especially process theories and increasing longitudinal studies will foster the quality of research. Literature in the IB/IM field on peculiarities of theory application in the context of Russia (and CEE in a more general sense) may serve as stimulus for innovative research questions, corroborating the general quest for more IJV theory development (e.g., Meyer, & Peng, 2005;Parkhe, 1993;Nippa, & Beechler, 2013).…”

“…Thus, poor economic performance as well as a rather high failure and termination rate of IJVs are recorded in the literature frequently leading to the dissatisfaction of all parties involved (e.g., Li, Xin, Tsui, & Hambrick, 1999;Hennart & Zeng, 2002). Subsequently, research on success factors for managing IJVs is an important research stream of International Management (IM) and International Business (IB) (e.g., Parkhe, 1993;Nippa & Beechler, 2013;Park & Ungson, 1997;Reus & Rottig, 2009). Yet, whereas success determinants of IJVs in markets such as China and partly India have continuously been in the very forefront of scholarly interest (e.g., Luo, 1997), empirical research on success factors of IJVs in other transitional and emerging market economies rather has been kept to the sidelines.…”