This exploratory research examines how corporate communications can influence stakeholder perceptions to enhance or detract from the city as a brand. It uses the UK city of Bradford as a case study and adopts theoretical concepts of product and corporate branding. Balmer's AC 2 ID test of...

The objective of this research is to empirically investigate the contribution of network knowledge and strategic orientation to firm-specific advantages (FSAs). Using a unique firm-level dataset of the largest multinational enterprise (MNE) units across six small advanced economies, we find...

We propose solutions to two recurring problems in cross-national research: response style differences and language bias. In order to do so, we conduct a methodological comparison of two different response formats--rating and ranking. For rating, we assess the effect of changing the commonly used...

This report is an update to the above mentioned UNCTAD/World Bank study (the "first phase"). Following that researchers revisited eight operations in four countries(Cambodia, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tanzania),conducting a total of 113 detailed additional interviewswith 349 stakeholders...

Purpose: The hallmark of today’s global value chains (GVCs), still dominated by multinationals from advanced economies, is a sophisticated international division of labor based on scale economies and prevailing factor endowment differences between countries. However, GVCs led by...

Purpose: This paper aims to contribute to the debate concerning the asserted end of the globalization process. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is a description of the evolution of all Swedish MNEs, the 50 largest companies and the ten truly global MNEs, building on data compiled by the...

Using unique firm-level data from Volvo Trucks and their 64 manufacturing suppliers in India, this paper focuses on the significance of technology transfer from transnational corporations (TNCs) to their domestic suppliers in developing countries. Our case study shows that a relatively small...

This article deals with the issue whether the ambition by foreign TNCs to secure quality control, technology and knowledge exclusiveness, cost efficiency and delivery terms among its host country suppliers leads to a strategy to tie up the suppliers to a forced dependence on their customers. It...

We define globalization as the geographical dispersion of multinational enterprises (MNEs)’ value chain, in combination with increased inter-regional coordination, and use detailed firm-level data to show that 12 of Sweden’s 17 largest manufacturing companies indeed are global. By developing...