Explaining the internationalization of ibusiness firms

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Brouthers, Keith D.; Geisser, Kim Dung; Rothlauf, Franz
• 署名单位: University of London; King's College London; Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz; Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDIES
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2506
• DOI: 10.1057/jibs.2015.20
• 发表日期: 2016
• 页码: 513-534
• 关键词: internationalization theory; network theory; diffusion of innovation theory; Case theoretic approaches

摘要

Information and communication technologies have given rise to a new type of firm, the ibusiness firm. These firms offer a platform that allows users to interact with each other and generate value through user co-creation of content. Because of this, ibusiness firms face different challenges when they internationalize compared with traditional firms, even those online. In this article we extend existing internationalization theory to encompass this new type of organization. We theorize that because ibusiness firms produce value through the creation and coordination of a network of users, these firms tend to suffer greater liabilities of outsidership when expanding abroad and therefore concentrate on network and diffusion-based user adoption processes as they internationalize. Based on a multi-case investigation of a sample of ibusiness firms, we develop new theory and testable hypotheses. Thus, we make an important contribution by expanding internationalization theory to a new set of firms.