Pub Date : 2021-02-19DOI: 10.1108/CPOIB-02-2021-0021
C. Dörrenbächer, R. Sinkovics, Florian A. A. Becker-Ritterspach, Mehdi Boussebaa, Louise Curran, A. Jonge, Zaheer Khan
Purpose This viewpoint takes up the Covid-19 pandemic as a trigger for a research agenda around societally engaged international business (IB) research Design/methodology/approach The paper is organized as a viewpoint First, it provides an overview of Covid-19 research in business and management and IB in particular Second, it introduces a societally engaged IB perspective, around poverty and human rights as well as trade Findings The paper offers an annotated introduction to the paper contributions of the special issue with three clusters, "re-reading the crisis", "crisis protectionism" and "firm strategies during the pandemic" Research limitations/implications The paper points to future research opportunities in terms of crisis management and societally engaged IB research Practical implications The Covid-19 crisis poses new questions for research on international business and its related disciplines In particular, the political, economic and societal disruption which the pandemic has caused highlights the importance of addressing broader societal issues such as climate change, poverty and inequality through a purposeful and forward-looking research agenda Originality/value The paper and the special issue are some of the first combined research outputs on the Covid-19 pandemic in international business
{"title":"The Covid-19 pandemic: towards a societally engaged IB perspective","authors":"C. Dörrenbächer, R. Sinkovics, Florian A. A. Becker-Ritterspach, Mehdi Boussebaa, Louise Curran, A. Jonge, Zaheer Khan","doi":"10.1108/CPOIB-02-2021-0021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/CPOIB-02-2021-0021","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose This viewpoint takes up the Covid-19 pandemic as a trigger for a research agenda around societally engaged international business (IB) research Design/methodology/approach The paper is organized as a viewpoint First, it provides an overview of Covid-19 research in business and management and IB in particular Second, it introduces a societally engaged IB perspective, around poverty and human rights as well as trade Findings The paper offers an annotated introduction to the paper contributions of the special issue with three clusters, \"re-reading the crisis\", \"crisis protectionism\" and \"firm strategies during the pandemic\" Research limitations/implications The paper points to future research opportunities in terms of crisis management and societally engaged IB research Practical implications The Covid-19 crisis poses new questions for research on international business and its related disciplines In particular, the political, economic and societal disruption which the pandemic has caused highlights the importance of addressing broader societal issues such as climate change, poverty and inequality through a purposeful and forward-looking research agenda Originality/value The paper and the special issue are some of the first combined research outputs on the Covid-19 pandemic in international business","PeriodicalId":46124,"journal":{"name":"Critical Perspectives on International Business","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2021-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43036631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-02-15DOI: 10.1108/CPOIB-02-2019-0013
C. Perera, C. Hewege
Purpose Applying mainstream, Western-centric corporate social responsibility (CSR) theory to make sense of CSR practices of multinational firms of non-Western origin seems to be problematic for CSR theory and practice. The purpose of this study is to critically analyse the CSR integration journey of a Japanese multinational firm with a view to understanding CSR integration in a global business context. Design/methodology/approach This study used a qualitative research method using a single case study approach to investigate a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context. A theoretical lens of seven patterns of CSR integration interwoven with Japanese and mainstream CSR discourses is used to make sense of internalisation and internationalisation process. Findings Main findings are presented under four themes: product harm crisis as a call for CSR, CSR governance and bottom up initiatives, recycling oriented CSR and product designing, co-existing Japanese CSR in the global marketplace. An external misfit of a firm’s practice in the domestic market can lead to internalising country-specific CSR through CSR integration resulting in successful internationalisation of country-specific CSR practices. Research limitations/implications Country-specific CSR integration follows context-specific routines and practices; this process can be shaped and reshaped by the prevailing international CSR discourse due to internationalisation of a firm’s operation. Originality/value Although CSR is viewed as a fundamental strategic priority driving firms to focus on shared value-creating products and services, how best a firm can integrate CSR into an existing business model is unclear. This gap is addressed in this current study.
{"title":"Internalising and internationalising country specific CSR practices of a Japanese multinational company","authors":"C. Perera, C. Hewege","doi":"10.1108/CPOIB-02-2019-0013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/CPOIB-02-2019-0013","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000Applying mainstream, Western-centric corporate social responsibility (CSR) theory to make sense of CSR practices of multinational firms of non-Western origin seems to be problematic for CSR theory and practice. The purpose of this study is to critically analyse the CSR integration journey of a Japanese multinational firm with a view to understanding CSR integration in a global business context.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000This study used a qualitative research method using a single case study approach to investigate a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context. A theoretical lens of seven patterns of CSR integration interwoven with Japanese and mainstream CSR discourses is used to make sense of internalisation and internationalisation process.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000Main findings are presented under four themes: product harm crisis as a call for CSR, CSR governance and bottom up initiatives, recycling oriented CSR and product designing, co-existing Japanese CSR in the global marketplace. An external misfit of a firm’s practice in the domestic market can lead to internalising country-specific CSR through CSR integration resulting in successful internationalisation of country-specific CSR practices.\u0000\u0000\u0000Research limitations/implications\u0000Country-specific CSR integration follows context-specific routines and practices; this process can be shaped and reshaped by the prevailing international CSR discourse due to internationalisation of a firm’s operation.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000Although CSR is viewed as a fundamental strategic priority driving firms to focus on shared value-creating products and services, how best a firm can integrate CSR into an existing business model is unclear. This gap is addressed in this current study.\u0000","PeriodicalId":46124,"journal":{"name":"Critical Perspectives on International Business","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2021-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42765940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-02-11DOI: 10.1108/CPOIB-07-2020-0090
C. Dörrenbächer, Heinz-Josef Tüselmann, Heinz-Rudolf Meissner, Q. Cao
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical framework to categorize the quality of industrial relations in foreign affiliates. Using the case of foreign affiliates in Germany, this paper further explores what factors shape the quality of industrial relations in foreign affiliates. Design/methodology/approach Given the scarcity of research on industrial relations in foreign affiliates, this paper is based on conceptual work as well as on a comparative case investigation of 21 foreign affiliates in Germany, involving informants from both labor and management. Findings Industrial relations in foreign affiliates in Germany can take four different qualities, based on the following: social partnership; conflict partnership; latently adversarial; and adversarial relations. While previous literature focused on country-of-origin effects, the authors’ case-based investigation further revealed that both affiliate effects and multinational corporation (MNC) effects have a strong impact on the quality of industrial relations in foreign affiliates in Germany. Originality/value This paper provides systematic evidence on the presumption that micro-organizational and MNC-specific factors are necessary to gain a deeper understanding of industrial relations in MNCs. Moreover, this paper contributes to the discussion on the quality of industrial relations in foreign affiliates in Germany, by placing results from both single-case studies and management surveys into perspective.
{"title":"What shapes industrial relations in foreign affiliates? Comparative case study results from Germany","authors":"C. Dörrenbächer, Heinz-Josef Tüselmann, Heinz-Rudolf Meissner, Q. Cao","doi":"10.1108/CPOIB-07-2020-0090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/CPOIB-07-2020-0090","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical framework to categorize the quality of industrial relations in foreign affiliates. Using the case of foreign affiliates in Germany, this paper further explores what factors shape the quality of industrial relations in foreign affiliates.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000Given the scarcity of research on industrial relations in foreign affiliates, this paper is based on conceptual work as well as on a comparative case investigation of 21 foreign affiliates in Germany, involving informants from both labor and management.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000Industrial relations in foreign affiliates in Germany can take four different qualities, based on the following: social partnership; conflict partnership; latently adversarial; and adversarial relations. While previous literature focused on country-of-origin effects, the authors’ case-based investigation further revealed that both affiliate effects and multinational corporation (MNC) effects have a strong impact on the quality of industrial relations in foreign affiliates in Germany.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This paper provides systematic evidence on the presumption that micro-organizational and MNC-specific factors are necessary to gain a deeper understanding of industrial relations in MNCs. Moreover, this paper contributes to the discussion on the quality of industrial relations in foreign affiliates in Germany, by placing results from both single-case studies and management surveys into perspective.\u0000","PeriodicalId":46124,"journal":{"name":"Critical Perspectives on International Business","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2021-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47272436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-20DOI: 10.1108/CPOIB-05-2020-0041
Louise Curran, J. Eckhardt, Jaemin Lee
Purpose This paper aims to explore trade policy measures taken in response to COVID-19 and analyses in detail their extent and nature. It assesses their compatibility with World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements: specifically, whether they were necessary and justifiable efforts to protect the security and health of populations and asks how this widespread recourse to trade barriers may impact on international business? Design/methodology/approach This paper analyses an extensive database from the International Trade Centre of trade measures taken in response to COVID-19. It differentiates by type of country, nature and coverage of measures (imports or exports, type of product…). On the basis of existing jurisprudence, this paper analyses whether restrictive measures were likely to be judged legal under WTO rules. Findings This paper finds that, although the majority of trade measures are probably justifiable, there were nevertheless many measures whose coverage and/or nature was such that a justification under existing WTO exceptions is, at the very least, arguable. Such widespread and intense instigation of potentially WTO incompatible measures in such a short period of time undoubtedly undermines the global trade rules on which international business has relied for decades. Originality/value There is little existing analysis of the legality of measures taken under the security exceptions and no substantial analyses of the measures taken in response to COVID-19. Furthermore, little scholarly attention has been paid to the impacts on international business of the increasing use of WTO “exceptions” to justify trade measures to protect national industries and populations.
{"title":"The trade policy response to COVID-19 and its implications for international business","authors":"Louise Curran, J. Eckhardt, Jaemin Lee","doi":"10.1108/CPOIB-05-2020-0041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/CPOIB-05-2020-0041","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This paper aims to explore trade policy measures taken in response to COVID-19 and analyses in detail their extent and nature. It assesses their compatibility with World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements: specifically, whether they were necessary and justifiable efforts to protect the security and health of populations and asks how this widespread recourse to trade barriers may impact on international business?\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000This paper analyses an extensive database from the International Trade Centre of trade measures taken in response to COVID-19. It differentiates by type of country, nature and coverage of measures (imports or exports, type of product…). On the basis of existing jurisprudence, this paper analyses whether restrictive measures were likely to be judged legal under WTO rules.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000This paper finds that, although the majority of trade measures are probably justifiable, there were nevertheless many measures whose coverage and/or nature was such that a justification under existing WTO exceptions is, at the very least, arguable. Such widespread and intense instigation of potentially WTO incompatible measures in such a short period of time undoubtedly undermines the global trade rules on which international business has relied for decades.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000There is little existing analysis of the legality of measures taken under the security exceptions and no substantial analyses of the measures taken in response to COVID-19. Furthermore, little scholarly attention has been paid to the impacts on international business of the increasing use of WTO “exceptions” to justify trade measures to protect national industries and populations.\u0000","PeriodicalId":46124,"journal":{"name":"Critical Perspectives on International Business","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46622881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-11DOI: 10.1108/CPOIB-05-2020-0053
S. Riaz, Sean Buchanan
Purpose - This paper aims to present a critical interpretation of unfolding events related to corporate and policymaking elites during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic crisis to serve as a point of contrast to mainstream views Design/methodology/approach - Drawing upon literature on elite maintenance and power, learning from recent previous crises and emerging evidence during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, this study develops arguments to question and problematize the exercise of power by elites toward maintenance of existing systems across the pandemic Findings - Critical examination points attention to three related but analytically distinct strategies in the exercise of elite power: reinforcing myths, redirecting blame and reclaiming positions, all directed to maintain the system and preserve power The potential effects of this ongoing elite maintenance are highlighted, revealing the old and new forms of power likely to emerge at the corporate, national and global levels across the pandemic crisis and endure beyond it Social implications - It is hoped that the critical examination here may build more awareness about the deep and complex nature of elite power and systems across the globe that preclude meaningful system change to address societal challenges It may thereby provide more informed engagement toward system change Originality/value - The main originality of the paper lies in its attempt to tie together the various types of elite maintenance works and their potential effects into an overarching narrative Making these connections and interpreting them from a critical perspective provides a rare large-canvas picture of elite power and system maintenance, particularly across a global crisis
{"title":"Elite maintenance work across the Covid-19 crisis: a critical view on power and language","authors":"S. Riaz, Sean Buchanan","doi":"10.1108/CPOIB-05-2020-0053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/CPOIB-05-2020-0053","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose - This paper aims to present a critical interpretation of unfolding events related to corporate and policymaking elites during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic crisis to serve as a point of contrast to mainstream views Design/methodology/approach - Drawing upon literature on elite maintenance and power, learning from recent previous crises and emerging evidence during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, this study develops arguments to question and problematize the exercise of power by elites toward maintenance of existing systems across the pandemic Findings - Critical examination points attention to three related but analytically distinct strategies in the exercise of elite power: reinforcing myths, redirecting blame and reclaiming positions, all directed to maintain the system and preserve power The potential effects of this ongoing elite maintenance are highlighted, revealing the old and new forms of power likely to emerge at the corporate, national and global levels across the pandemic crisis and endure beyond it Social implications - It is hoped that the critical examination here may build more awareness about the deep and complex nature of elite power and systems across the globe that preclude meaningful system change to address societal challenges It may thereby provide more informed engagement toward system change Originality/value - The main originality of the paper lies in its attempt to tie together the various types of elite maintenance works and their potential effects into an overarching narrative Making these connections and interpreting them from a critical perspective provides a rare large-canvas picture of elite power and system maintenance, particularly across a global crisis","PeriodicalId":46124,"journal":{"name":"Critical Perspectives on International Business","volume":"1 1","pages":"20"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45447064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-07DOI: 10.1108/CPOIB-12-2017-0095
Jan Hermes, Irene Lehto
Purpose This study aims to understand how the coevolution of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and emerging economy institutions affects social and economic (in)equality in an ambiguous, emerging economy context from a political actor perspective. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative in nature, the study builds on conversations with 20 political actors involved in the peacebuilding process in Myanmar/Burma. It analyzes their perceptions of interaction of MNEs and host economy institutions from a social constructionist viewpoint. Findings The study identifies four coevolution patterns which portray the evolving interaction between MNE activities and different elements of their host institutional environment as well as their consequences for social and economic (in)equality. Originality/value This study contributes to critical international business research on emerging economies by emphasizing the different and partly conflicting host institutions of various stakeholder groups involved in the coevolution of MNEs and host institutional environments. The more nuanced conceptualization of the complex institutional environment enables the analysis of inequality as a direct and indirect outcome of MNE–institution interaction. Thus, the study connects to the business and human rights discussion and provides insight into the consequences of MNEs’ adoption of social and environment standards.
{"title":"Inequality through MNE–emerging economy coevolution? A political actor view on Myanmar/Burma’s peacebuilding","authors":"Jan Hermes, Irene Lehto","doi":"10.1108/CPOIB-12-2017-0095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/CPOIB-12-2017-0095","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This study aims to understand how the coevolution of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and emerging economy institutions affects social and economic (in)equality in an ambiguous, emerging economy context from a political actor perspective.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000Qualitative in nature, the study builds on conversations with 20 political actors involved in the peacebuilding process in Myanmar/Burma. It analyzes their perceptions of interaction of MNEs and host economy institutions from a social constructionist viewpoint.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The study identifies four coevolution patterns which portray the evolving interaction between MNE activities and different elements of their host institutional environment as well as their consequences for social and economic (in)equality.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This study contributes to critical international business research on emerging economies by emphasizing the different and partly conflicting host institutions of various stakeholder groups involved in the coevolution of MNEs and host institutional environments. The more nuanced conceptualization of the complex institutional environment enables the analysis of inequality as a direct and indirect outcome of MNE–institution interaction. Thus, the study connects to the business and human rights discussion and provides insight into the consequences of MNEs’ adoption of social and environment standards.\u0000","PeriodicalId":46124,"journal":{"name":"Critical Perspectives on International Business","volume":"17 1","pages":"102-126"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41741491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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