Purpose
Strategic agility is a fuzzy concept that has become crucial to cope with environmental uncertainty and instability; hence, more in-depth studies are highly needed. The aim of this paper is ...to shed light on the still diffuse research area of strategic agility by clarifying its scope and concept, as well as identifying the different topics that have been examined thus far. Finally, the intent of this paper is to show the existing gaps in the literature to provide scholars with a clear roadmap for future research.
Design/methodology/approach
Bibliometric and content analyses are used in this study to review the most impactful papers in strategic agility between 1996 and 2021. Citation and mapping analyses are conducted through SciMAT software, and a dynamic approach is adopted by assessing and discussing the evolution of strategic agility throughout five different periods.
Findings
This study reveals that strategic agility is a research line that has neither gained consensus nor reached maturity and that it is linked to several thematic areas or topics. The study offers a complete understanding of the state of the art of strategic agility over time and underscores its main future research lines.
Originality/value
This study presents a complete map of the strategic agility research thus far by using novel bibliometric techniques. This approach is especially interesting because it allows for identifying the dynamic relationships among themes within the topic over five different periods.
研究目的
策略靈活性是一個模糊概念。這個概念對應付環境的不確定性和不穩定性至為重要, 因此, 我們極須對其作更深入之研究。目前, 對策略靈活性的研究範圍仍很分散。本文擬為這研究範圍提供解說, 方法是透過闡釋策略靈活性的範疇和概念, 及確定至今曾被探討過的課題。最後、本文擬顯示目前文獻中的研究缺口, 以為學者提供一個未來研究的清晰藍圖 。
研究的方法/理念
研究利用文獻計量分析法與內容分析法, 去審視1996年至2021年期間研究策略靈活性最有影響力的文章, 透過SciMAT可視化軟件進行引用文獻及繪圖分析, 亦採用動態方法, 去評估及討論橫跨五個不同時期策略靈活性的演變。
研究結果
研究顯示、策略靈活性為一既無共識, 也未臻成熟的研究線; 研究亦顯示、策略靈活性與多個專題領域及主題相關連。本研究使我們對策略靈活性隨著時間推移的最新理念得到全面的理解, 研究亦強調了策略靈活性未來主要的研究線。
研究的原創性/價值
本研究透過新穎的文獻計量分析法, 提供了一個策略靈活性研究發展至今的完整藍圖。這方法至為有趣, 因其能確定橫跨五個不同時期、在同一課題下各個主題間的動態關係。
Strategic alliances in the biotechnology sector are key to achieving the sustainable development goals of the Agenda 2030 and to boosting technology transfer, value creation and firms’ survival. This ...paper focuses on a
momentum
that has scarcely been analysed in the literature; from the moment a firm decides to form an alliance, to the moment the contract is signed. There are many combinations of antecedents that may influence the pre-alliance phase and lead either to the final signing of the alliance or to its cancellation. We base on the transaction cost theory and analyse how different combinations of possible impediments and firm-specific attributes affect the final contract signature. We use a qualitative comparative analysis on 69 firms in the Spanish biotechnology sector that belong to the Spanish Bioindustry Association (AseBio). The results help to identify and understand the different scenarios that may lead biotech firms to sign the strategic alliance contract.
•We examine how financial capital affects the decision to export (export propensity) and the share of exports over total sales (export intensity) by foreign subsidiaries of multinational enterprises ...(MNEs).•We dissect exports into intra-firm exports (exports to sister affiliates and parent firms) and arm’s length exports (exports to third-party external customers). We focus on the types of capital which can be used to finance exports, namely, intra-firm loans and bank loans.•We theorise that these two financing sources have different impacts on subsidiary export behaviour.•We use a survey dataset of subsidiaries, host-country data, and two-part models to test our hypotheses.•We find that intra-firm loans are positively related to arm’s length export propensity and intensity; however, intra-firm loans have no significant relationship with intra-firm export propensity and export intensity. Bank loans only have a positive impact on the likelihood of subsidiaries becoming arm’s length exporters, but they do not help subsidiaries with arm’s length export intensity. Bank loans negatively impact the likelihood of subsidiaries becoming intra-firm exporters; however, once subsidiaries participate in intra-firm exports, bank loans are positively associated with intra-firm export intensity. We discuss the implications of our findings for theory and practice.
In this study, we build upon internalisation theory in the international business literature and international trade finance in the international economics literature to examine how financial capital affects the decision to export (export propensity) and the share of exports over total sales (export intensity) by the foreign subsidiaries of multinational enterprises. We dissect exports into intra-firm exports (exports to sister affiliates and parent firms) and arm’s length exports (exports to third-party external customers), and we focus on the types of capital that can be used for financing exports, namely intra-firm loans and bank loans. We theorise that these two financing sources have different impacts on subsidiary export behaviour. To test our hypotheses, we use a survey dataset of subsidiaries, host-country data, and two-part models. Our findings show that intra-firm loans are positively related to arm’s length export propensity and intensity; however, intra-firm loans have no significant relationship with intra-firm export propensity and export intensity. Additionally, on the one hand, bank loans have a positive impact on the likelihood of subsidiaries becoming arm’s length exporters, but they do not help subsidiaries with arm’s length export intensity. On the other hand, bank loans negatively impact the likelihood of subsidiaries becoming intra-firm exporters; however, once subsidiaries participate in intra-firm exports, bank loans are positively associated with intra-firm export intensity. We discuss the implications of our findings for theory and practice.
•h-MoO3 composites with graphite, graphene, graphene oxide (GO) were synthesized.•Properties of the carbon material preserved; yields phase pure, crystalline oxide.•h-MoO3-graphene and GO show ...excellent performance as Li ion batteries anodes.•Explained by increased stability and a conductive network for diffusion of Li ions.
Hexagonal molybdenum trioxide (h-MoO3) microrods and their composites with graphite, graphene and graphene oxide (GO) are successfully synthesized by a soft chemistry route. The structural, compositional and electronic characteristics of the samples, investigated by a wide range of experimental techniques, evidence that the properties of the carbon material are preserved while yielding phase pure, highly crystalline oxide microstructures. h-MoO3 graphene and GO composites show excellent performance as Li ion batteries (LIBs) anodes. Precisely, h-MoO3 - GO electrodes deliver a remarkable specific capacity of 789 mA h g − 1 after 100 cycles at a high current density of 1000 mA g − 1, while h-MoO3 - graphene electrodes show an excellent stability at very high current densities, with specific capacities of 665 mA h g − 1 and 490 mA h g − 1 at 2000 and 3000 mA g − 1. The uniformly dispersed graphene and GO layers increase the structural stability of the composites and create a conductive network ensuring effective ambipolar diffusion of electrons and Li+ ions, as revealed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements and scanning electron microscopy of the cycled electrodes. These results expand the potential applications of h-MoO3 composites towards LIBs, paving the way for future improvements in this energy storage field.
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Purpose
This paper aims to shed new light on the multinationality‐performance debate by examining the performance of standardizing versus customizing firms from Spain.
Design/methodology/approach
The ...reasons for variations in performance of exporting firms build on the industrial organization and resource‐based views of strategy, which are shown to be linked to the integration (standardization) versus responsiveness (customization) framework of international business. The paper also incorporates the Uppsala model and the home region nature of international business activity. It develops hypotheses for both standardizing and customizing paths of international expansion for exporting firms. The paper uses the Survey on Business Strategies which has the support of the Ministry of Industry of Spain. This databank collects data of a representative sample of the Spanish manufacturing sector. The paper uses fixed‐effects regression models for the period 2000‐2008.
Findings
The paper provides evidence on how firms with a strategy of product standardization follow an M curve‐fourth degree polynomial relationship between the degree of internationalization (DOI) and performance. In contrast, product customization firms are observed to follow an inverted M curve relationship. Furthermore, by using both models, an appropriate level of internationalization can be suggested.
Originality/value
The paper provides theoretical and empirical support for the different relationships of standardizing and customizing firms when expanding abroad. This paper is one of the first to find empirical support for an M curve relationship between the DOI and performance, and certainly is the first one testing and corroborating an inverted M curve.
A completely functional rechargeable aluminium – ion battery (AIB) operating at room temperature based on hexagonal molybdenum oxide (h-MoO3) as positive electrode active material and AlCl3-Urea as ...electrolyte has been developed. This is the first demonstration of the compatibility between a metal oxide and a urea based electrolyte in an AIB. Our battery shows a good electrochemical performance by using this low-cost, eco-friendly, positive electrode - electrolyte system with low corrosion properties. Thanks to an exhaustive study carried out by using different characterization techniques (XRD, micro-Raman, CV), it has been observed that h-MoO3 is capable of efficiently inserting and de-inserting the redox active species in its crystalline structure by means of controlled diffusion processes. When combined with a suitable amount of carbon nanotubes, the capacitive properties of this material are enhanced, obtaining batteries with a pseudo-capacitive behaviour. This battery reaches specific capacity values ∼100 mA h g−1 at current densities of 100 mA g−1 and ∼45 mA h g−1 at current densities of 500 mA g−1, always with efficiencies higher than 90%. The obtained results pave the way for the commercialisation of these energy storage devices, providing a promising and simple strategy for the development of high performance, low-cost and non-corrosive AIBs.
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•Al-ion rechargeable battery based on h-MoO3 and AlCl3/urea has been developed.•CNTs addition in the electrode leads to high efficiency and stable batteries.•Compatibility of cheap non-corrosive electrolyte to foster the development of AIBs.
Abstract This study investigates a largely unexplored area by examining how internationalization, firm age, and environmental turbulence influence the key components of strategic agility, namely ...strategic sensitivity, leadership unity, and resource fluidity. Although these factors have been identified as potential catalysts for strategic agility, their specific impacts on strategic agility’s core capabilities have yet to be thoroughly explored. Our research aims to bridge this gap, providing a nuanced understanding of how each of these variables shapes the strategic agility of a firm. The study uses the empirical research of 220 Spanish firms in the service sector and then adopts partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze the data. Our findings indicate that internationalization has a dual effect on strategic agility: internationalization enhances strategic sensitivity, reflecting improved environmental awareness, but it diminishes leadership unity, illustrating the complexities of global leadership alignment. Additionally, an increase in firm age is associated with a decrease in all the aspects of strategic agility. By contrast, environmental turbulence positively impacts each dimension of strategic agility, suggesting that turbulent conditions can indeed promote the adaptability and responsiveness of a firm.
•We examine the relationship between the role of trade finance availability and the export intensity of multinational subsidiaries.•We theorize that the capability in combining internal and external ...debts as trade finance to support export intensity is an important subsidiary-specific advantage.•We empirically test our hypotheses using survey data with subsidiary managers in six ASEAN countries supplemented with host country-level data.•We find that subsidiaries utilize intra-firm loans to boost their export intensity. To some extent, they combine with bank loans.•They may have concerns about foreign exchange (FX) risks but the use of appropriate FX risk management is positively associated with export intensity.
We examine the relationship between the role of trade finance availability and the export intensity of foreign subsidiaries of multinational enterprises (MNEs). In developing our hypotheses, we draw upon insights derived from “new” internalisation theory (international business literature) and international trade finance (international economics literature). We empirically test these hypotheses using survey data compiled from subsidiary managers in six ASEAN countries, supplemented with host-country level data. We conceptualise, empirically test, and establish that the subsidiary-level capability in combining and utilising internal and external debts is an important subsidiary-specific advantage to support export intensity. We find that subsidiaries employ intra-firm loans from MNE internal capital markets and, to some extent, bank loans from external financial institutions to boost their export intensity. Subsidiaries may have concerns about foreign exchange risks, but the use of appropriate foreign exchange risk management is positively associated with export intensity. We discuss the implications of our findings for theory and practice.
We analyze the impacts on host country innovation of three knowledge-containing, inbound flows: imports (including intermediate and capital goods), inward licensing and inward FDI (equity ...participation of foreign firms). We measure firm-level innovation as the number of new products introduced in the host market and new patents registered by the host-country firms. Our study is the first one to examine the simultaneous impacts of these three inbound flows on host-country firms. We empirically test our dynamic models with panel data of manufacturing firms in Spain (1994–2015). We find positive impacts of all three inward flows, as far as introducing new products to the market is concerned. However, higher equity participation of foreign firms reduces host country patenting. The main implication for host-country firms is that openness to international inflows systematically improves the quality of resource combinations, leading to new products being introduced in the market.
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