Gabriel Robertstad Garcia Benito | Bi Norwegian Business School (original) (raw)

Papers by Gabriel Robertstad Garcia Benito

Research paper thumbnail of The future of global strategy

Global Strategy Journal, Aug 1, 2022

Research SummaryGlobal strategy, that is, the analysis of strategy in an international context, h... more Research SummaryGlobal strategy, that is, the analysis of strategy in an international context, has co‐evolved with the dramatic changes in the global economy in the 21st century. Research advances have enabled a more sophisticated understanding of how firms develop strategies in an increasingly turbulent global environment in which societal expectations, technological advances, and political decisions are all in a state of continuous change. In this article, we reflect and provide suggestions for how the field may evolve on five key themes of global strategy: cooperation, coordination, governance, politics, and innovation. We also outline suggestions for future research on global issues that are gaining increasing centrality in business decisions: climate change, artificial intelligence, and geopolitics.Managerial SummaryThe study of how the context affects firms' strategies has changed with the transformation of the world in the 21st century. Research has provided a better understanding of how managers create and implement strategies in response to changes in societal expectations, technological advances, and political decisions. In this article, we reflect and provide suggestions for future studies on five key themes of global strategy: cooperation, coordination, governance, politics, and innovation in multinationals. We also outline suggestions for analyzing the increasingly important grand challenges that affect business decisions: climate change, artificial intelligence, and geopolitics.

Research paper thumbnail of Into the unknown: The extent and boldness of firms' international footprint

Global Strategy Journal, Feb 19, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of The Termination Dilemma of Foreign Intermediaries: Performance, Anti-Shirking Measures and Hold-Up Safeguards

Advances in international marketing, Sep 8, 2007

For many exporting firms, success in foreign markets hinges to a large extent on the performance ... more For many exporting firms, success in foreign markets hinges to a large extent on the performance of their foreign intermediaries (Albaum, Strandskov, & Duerr, 2002; Ellis, 2000; Root, 1987). In spite of the key role played by intermediaries in foreign markets–ie sales ...

Research paper thumbnail of Change in domestic network centrality, uncertainty, and the foreign divestment decisions of firms

Journal of International Business Studies, Nov 26, 2018

We investigate the role of domestic interfirm networks for the foreign divestment decisions of fi... more We investigate the role of domestic interfirm networks for the foreign divestment decisions of firms. We argue that firms' foreign operations risk being divested when a firm becomes more central in its domestic network. Positive changes in firm centrality at home facilitate access to information about new business opportunities, but they may also lead firms to consider reconfiguring their value chain activities and resources across locations. The resulting opportunity costs of maintaining foreign operations could subsequently lead to their divestment. Moreover, we argue that the positive association between an increase in firm centrality in the domestic network and foreign divestment is stronger under higher uncertainty, as pursuing new business opportunities at home becomes more appealing. We distinguish between firm-specific uncertainty and domestic market uncertainty. We test and get support for our hypotheses using foreign subsidiary data from U.S. firms in the ICT industry.

Research paper thumbnail of Dealing with high-risk environments: Institutional-based tools to reduce political risk costs

Journal of International Management, Aug 1, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Foreign operation mode flexibility: tradeoffs and managerial responses

International Journal of The Economics of Business, Mar 10, 2021

Abstract Firms’ ability to change foreign operation modes appears highly desirable in an increasi... more Abstract Firms’ ability to change foreign operation modes appears highly desirable in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable global environment. We propose and discuss mode flexibility as a management capability, with the aim at curbing the potential downsides of flexibility; in particular, the extra costs of coordination and contracting as well as revenue losses due to diminished partner commitment. We model the balancing and shifting of essential tradeoffs in relation to the two dimensions of mode flexibility – multiplicity and switchability – and highlight modularization and reciprocal use of real options as examples of tradeoff-shifting mechanisms that may improve the cost-benefit balance of mode flexibility.

Research paper thumbnail of Promoting Efforts from Developing Countries: An Empirical Test of the Impact of Import Promotion Offices

The International Trade Journal, May 1, 1999

Increasing exports from developing countries is widely regarded as an important part of a develop... more Increasing exports from developing countries is widely regarded as an important part of a development and growth strategy. A major problem confronting exporters from developing countries is the many market barriers they typically face when attempting to enter markets ...

Research paper thumbnail of Back to basics: Behavioral theory and internationalization

Journal of International Business Studies, Dec 3, 2020

International business (IB) scholars' over-reliance on a select few theories leaves our understan... more International business (IB) scholars' over-reliance on a select few theories leaves our understanding of firm internationalization incomplete. The behavioral theory of the firm (BTF) can offer new insights and can be used to model a broad range of firm actions. We focus on the three basic BTF components: problemistic search, learning by doing, and vicarious learning. These components help us understand why firm behaviors are more dynamic and heterogeneous than other theories allow. BTF, with its emphasis on how firms assess performance according to aspiration levels, selectively learn and update routines, and selectively incorporate the learning of others, is better suited to examine the diversity and change increasingly observed in internationalization decisions. We explain why scholars should move beyond ''dynamizing'' static theories and show BTF's applicability to behaviors involving change such as multi-mode market entries and market re-entries. BTF also helps examine the decision to internationalize in the first place, nascent firm internationalization, location choices, international market adaptation, and headquarter-subsidiary relationships. We encourage IB scholars to use theories that can handle the complexity increasingly associated with modern firm growth, and propose BTF as a promising starting point.

Research paper thumbnail of Domestic alliance networks and regional strategies of MNEs: A structural embeddedness perspective

Journal of International Business Studies, Oct 1, 2018

We draw on a social network perspective to explain multinational enterprises' (MNEs) propensity t... more We draw on a social network perspective to explain multinational enterprises' (MNEs) propensity to distribute their operations unevenly across various regions of the world. We focus on how the positioning of MNEs in their domestic network of strategic alliances affects their geographic scope; i.e. whether they concentrate on their home region or expand beyond it. We theorize that embeddedness in alliance networks constitutes a double-edged sword to the geographic scope of MNEs. Strong embeddedness in domestic alliance networks drives the development of location-bound firm-specific advantages (FSAs), which may narrow down MNEs' geographic scope. In contrast, moderate embeddedness leads to more non-location-bound FSAs, which reduce liability of foreignness, and hence motivate MNEs to widen their geographical scope. We thus predict a nonlinear relationship between domestic alliance network embeddedness and MNE geographic scope. Furthermore, the impact of the domestic alliance network on MNE geographic scope hinges on the organizational ability to efficiently and effectively absorb resources stemming from the network. We test our hypotheses using FDI data from 302 U.S. MNEs in the information and communication technology industry for the period of 2001-2008, and generally find robust support for the hypothesized relationships.

Research paper thumbnail of Governmental goals and the international strategies of state-owned multinational enterprises: a conceptual discussion

Journal of Management & Governance, Aug 22, 2021

State owned multinational enterprises (SOMNEs) have received extensive attention in recent resear... more State owned multinational enterprises (SOMNEs) have received extensive attention in recent research in international business and corporate governance, which demonstrates effects of state ownership on a range of international strategic decisions such as the degree of internationalization, foreign entry modes, and host country location choices. Such effects are explained by factors such as SOMNEs' non-financial goals, corporate governance, and institutional pressures. However, results are mixed and context-dependent, and overall we still have an incomplete understanding of what governments aim to achieve through SOMNEs, and how these goals in turn lead to different international strategies. This conceptual article aims to explore how specific government goals may affect international strategies. We provide a more fine-grained view on SOMNE financial and non-financial goals and link them to key international strategic decisions such as the degree of internationalization, entry and establishment modes, and host country location choice. We review and extend previous literature and identify novel theoretical arguments, leading to an extensive set of propositions. We also sketch ideas for empirical studies of SOMNE objectives.

Research paper thumbnail of Multinational Enterprises from Small Economies: The Internationalization Pattern of Large Companies from Denmark, Finland and Norway

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, Jun 11, 2001

Analyzing the internationalization of large companies from small countries requires understanding... more Analyzing the internationalization of large companies from small countries requires understanding the process of internationalization by examining push-pull forces associated with the interface between micro and macro level factors. We examine the growth and international expansion of the ten largest companies in Denmark, Finland, and Norway over the period 1990 to 1999. Most companies in the sample became more international

Research paper thumbnail of Multinational Enterprises from Small Economies: Internationalization Patterns of Large Companies from Denmark, Finland, and Norway

International Studies of Management and Organization, 2002

Gabriel RG Benito is a professor in the Department of Strategy at the Norwegian School of Managem... more Gabriel RG Benito is a professor in the Department of Strategy at the Norwegian School of Management, Sandvika. Jorma Larimo is a professor in the Department of Marketing at the University of Vaasa, Finland. Rajneesh Narula and Torben Pedersen are professors in the ...

Research paper thumbnail of The untold story: Teaching cases and the rise of international business as a new academic field

Journal of International Business Studies

Research paper thumbnail of Location Flexibility in Global Supply Chains: The Efficiency-Imitability Tradeoff and Sustained Competitive Advantage

Contributions to Management Science

Research paper thumbnail of Dynamics of Operation Modes

The Oxford Handbook of International Business Strategy, 2020

This chapter takes stock of fifty years of research on mode dynamics—that is, the decisions to sw... more This chapter takes stock of fifty years of research on mode dynamics—that is, the decisions to switch and add operation modes in a foreign country—as a central international business strategy phenomenon. Numerous studies have advanced knowledge about the various forms of mode dynamics and their underlying drivers, especially regarding mode switches. However, this review of the research also reveals that understanding of the phenomenon of mode additions needs further development. The chapter proposes a theoretical framework for understanding mode additions and provides the example of modularization as an illustration of a mechanism that may help improve the cost–benefit balance of mode switches and additions.

Research paper thumbnail of An Exploration of the Information Behavior of Norwegian Exporters

International Journal of Information Management, 1993

Research paper thumbnail of A Subsidiary Perspective on Organizing-Costs in Multinational Corporations: The Roles of Distance, Coordination, and Relationship Atmosphere

Previous studies of organizing-costs in multinational corporations have taken the view of the par... more Previous studies of organizing-costs in multinational corporations have taken the view of the parent corporation. In this study, we turn the table around and examine how subsidiaries experience org ...

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring Subsidiaries’ Perceptions of Corporate Headquarters: Subsidiary Initiatives and Organizing Costs

Perspectives on Headquarters-subsidiary Relationships in the Contemporary MNC, 2016

Abstract The chapter examines how distance, integration mechanisms, and atmosphere influence the ... more Abstract The chapter examines how distance, integration mechanisms, and atmosphere influence the level of organizing costs and subsidiary initiatives in headquarter–subsidiary relationships. Survey data were collected at the subsidiary level in one major Norwegian multinational company. Empirical analyses were based on regression and partial correlation analyses. Organizing costs are driven by distance to headquarters as well as the integration mechanisms and the atmosphere that exists in subsidiary–headquarter relationships. Another important insight gained by this study is that integration mechanisms influence subsidiary initiatives.

Research paper thumbnail of Opening the Black Box of International Strategy Formation: How Harvard Business School Became a Multinational Enterprise

Academy of Management Learning & Education, 2021

This article addresses the question of why some business schools internationalize by establishing... more This article addresses the question of why some business schools internationalize by establishing units abroad. We study their internationalization by examining the process that led to Harvard Busi...

Research paper thumbnail of Institutional Distance and MNE‐subsidiary Initiative Collaboration: The Role of Dual Embeddedness

European Management Review, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of The future of global strategy

Global Strategy Journal, Aug 1, 2022

Research SummaryGlobal strategy, that is, the analysis of strategy in an international context, h... more Research SummaryGlobal strategy, that is, the analysis of strategy in an international context, has co‐evolved with the dramatic changes in the global economy in the 21st century. Research advances have enabled a more sophisticated understanding of how firms develop strategies in an increasingly turbulent global environment in which societal expectations, technological advances, and political decisions are all in a state of continuous change. In this article, we reflect and provide suggestions for how the field may evolve on five key themes of global strategy: cooperation, coordination, governance, politics, and innovation. We also outline suggestions for future research on global issues that are gaining increasing centrality in business decisions: climate change, artificial intelligence, and geopolitics.Managerial SummaryThe study of how the context affects firms' strategies has changed with the transformation of the world in the 21st century. Research has provided a better understanding of how managers create and implement strategies in response to changes in societal expectations, technological advances, and political decisions. In this article, we reflect and provide suggestions for future studies on five key themes of global strategy: cooperation, coordination, governance, politics, and innovation in multinationals. We also outline suggestions for analyzing the increasingly important grand challenges that affect business decisions: climate change, artificial intelligence, and geopolitics.

Research paper thumbnail of Into the unknown: The extent and boldness of firms' international footprint

Global Strategy Journal, Feb 19, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of The Termination Dilemma of Foreign Intermediaries: Performance, Anti-Shirking Measures and Hold-Up Safeguards

Advances in international marketing, Sep 8, 2007

For many exporting firms, success in foreign markets hinges to a large extent on the performance ... more For many exporting firms, success in foreign markets hinges to a large extent on the performance of their foreign intermediaries (Albaum, Strandskov, & Duerr, 2002; Ellis, 2000; Root, 1987). In spite of the key role played by intermediaries in foreign markets–ie sales ...

Research paper thumbnail of Change in domestic network centrality, uncertainty, and the foreign divestment decisions of firms

Journal of International Business Studies, Nov 26, 2018

We investigate the role of domestic interfirm networks for the foreign divestment decisions of fi... more We investigate the role of domestic interfirm networks for the foreign divestment decisions of firms. We argue that firms' foreign operations risk being divested when a firm becomes more central in its domestic network. Positive changes in firm centrality at home facilitate access to information about new business opportunities, but they may also lead firms to consider reconfiguring their value chain activities and resources across locations. The resulting opportunity costs of maintaining foreign operations could subsequently lead to their divestment. Moreover, we argue that the positive association between an increase in firm centrality in the domestic network and foreign divestment is stronger under higher uncertainty, as pursuing new business opportunities at home becomes more appealing. We distinguish between firm-specific uncertainty and domestic market uncertainty. We test and get support for our hypotheses using foreign subsidiary data from U.S. firms in the ICT industry.

Research paper thumbnail of Dealing with high-risk environments: Institutional-based tools to reduce political risk costs

Journal of International Management, Aug 1, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Foreign operation mode flexibility: tradeoffs and managerial responses

International Journal of The Economics of Business, Mar 10, 2021

Abstract Firms’ ability to change foreign operation modes appears highly desirable in an increasi... more Abstract Firms’ ability to change foreign operation modes appears highly desirable in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable global environment. We propose and discuss mode flexibility as a management capability, with the aim at curbing the potential downsides of flexibility; in particular, the extra costs of coordination and contracting as well as revenue losses due to diminished partner commitment. We model the balancing and shifting of essential tradeoffs in relation to the two dimensions of mode flexibility – multiplicity and switchability – and highlight modularization and reciprocal use of real options as examples of tradeoff-shifting mechanisms that may improve the cost-benefit balance of mode flexibility.

Research paper thumbnail of Promoting Efforts from Developing Countries: An Empirical Test of the Impact of Import Promotion Offices

The International Trade Journal, May 1, 1999

Increasing exports from developing countries is widely regarded as an important part of a develop... more Increasing exports from developing countries is widely regarded as an important part of a development and growth strategy. A major problem confronting exporters from developing countries is the many market barriers they typically face when attempting to enter markets ...

Research paper thumbnail of Back to basics: Behavioral theory and internationalization

Journal of International Business Studies, Dec 3, 2020

International business (IB) scholars' over-reliance on a select few theories leaves our understan... more International business (IB) scholars' over-reliance on a select few theories leaves our understanding of firm internationalization incomplete. The behavioral theory of the firm (BTF) can offer new insights and can be used to model a broad range of firm actions. We focus on the three basic BTF components: problemistic search, learning by doing, and vicarious learning. These components help us understand why firm behaviors are more dynamic and heterogeneous than other theories allow. BTF, with its emphasis on how firms assess performance according to aspiration levels, selectively learn and update routines, and selectively incorporate the learning of others, is better suited to examine the diversity and change increasingly observed in internationalization decisions. We explain why scholars should move beyond ''dynamizing'' static theories and show BTF's applicability to behaviors involving change such as multi-mode market entries and market re-entries. BTF also helps examine the decision to internationalize in the first place, nascent firm internationalization, location choices, international market adaptation, and headquarter-subsidiary relationships. We encourage IB scholars to use theories that can handle the complexity increasingly associated with modern firm growth, and propose BTF as a promising starting point.

Research paper thumbnail of Domestic alliance networks and regional strategies of MNEs: A structural embeddedness perspective

Journal of International Business Studies, Oct 1, 2018

We draw on a social network perspective to explain multinational enterprises' (MNEs) propensity t... more We draw on a social network perspective to explain multinational enterprises' (MNEs) propensity to distribute their operations unevenly across various regions of the world. We focus on how the positioning of MNEs in their domestic network of strategic alliances affects their geographic scope; i.e. whether they concentrate on their home region or expand beyond it. We theorize that embeddedness in alliance networks constitutes a double-edged sword to the geographic scope of MNEs. Strong embeddedness in domestic alliance networks drives the development of location-bound firm-specific advantages (FSAs), which may narrow down MNEs' geographic scope. In contrast, moderate embeddedness leads to more non-location-bound FSAs, which reduce liability of foreignness, and hence motivate MNEs to widen their geographical scope. We thus predict a nonlinear relationship between domestic alliance network embeddedness and MNE geographic scope. Furthermore, the impact of the domestic alliance network on MNE geographic scope hinges on the organizational ability to efficiently and effectively absorb resources stemming from the network. We test our hypotheses using FDI data from 302 U.S. MNEs in the information and communication technology industry for the period of 2001-2008, and generally find robust support for the hypothesized relationships.

Research paper thumbnail of Governmental goals and the international strategies of state-owned multinational enterprises: a conceptual discussion

Journal of Management & Governance, Aug 22, 2021

State owned multinational enterprises (SOMNEs) have received extensive attention in recent resear... more State owned multinational enterprises (SOMNEs) have received extensive attention in recent research in international business and corporate governance, which demonstrates effects of state ownership on a range of international strategic decisions such as the degree of internationalization, foreign entry modes, and host country location choices. Such effects are explained by factors such as SOMNEs' non-financial goals, corporate governance, and institutional pressures. However, results are mixed and context-dependent, and overall we still have an incomplete understanding of what governments aim to achieve through SOMNEs, and how these goals in turn lead to different international strategies. This conceptual article aims to explore how specific government goals may affect international strategies. We provide a more fine-grained view on SOMNE financial and non-financial goals and link them to key international strategic decisions such as the degree of internationalization, entry and establishment modes, and host country location choice. We review and extend previous literature and identify novel theoretical arguments, leading to an extensive set of propositions. We also sketch ideas for empirical studies of SOMNE objectives.

Research paper thumbnail of Multinational Enterprises from Small Economies: The Internationalization Pattern of Large Companies from Denmark, Finland and Norway

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, Jun 11, 2001

Analyzing the internationalization of large companies from small countries requires understanding... more Analyzing the internationalization of large companies from small countries requires understanding the process of internationalization by examining push-pull forces associated with the interface between micro and macro level factors. We examine the growth and international expansion of the ten largest companies in Denmark, Finland, and Norway over the period 1990 to 1999. Most companies in the sample became more international

Research paper thumbnail of Multinational Enterprises from Small Economies: Internationalization Patterns of Large Companies from Denmark, Finland, and Norway

International Studies of Management and Organization, 2002

Gabriel RG Benito is a professor in the Department of Strategy at the Norwegian School of Managem... more Gabriel RG Benito is a professor in the Department of Strategy at the Norwegian School of Management, Sandvika. Jorma Larimo is a professor in the Department of Marketing at the University of Vaasa, Finland. Rajneesh Narula and Torben Pedersen are professors in the ...

Research paper thumbnail of The untold story: Teaching cases and the rise of international business as a new academic field

Journal of International Business Studies

Research paper thumbnail of Location Flexibility in Global Supply Chains: The Efficiency-Imitability Tradeoff and Sustained Competitive Advantage

Contributions to Management Science

Research paper thumbnail of Dynamics of Operation Modes

The Oxford Handbook of International Business Strategy, 2020

This chapter takes stock of fifty years of research on mode dynamics—that is, the decisions to sw... more This chapter takes stock of fifty years of research on mode dynamics—that is, the decisions to switch and add operation modes in a foreign country—as a central international business strategy phenomenon. Numerous studies have advanced knowledge about the various forms of mode dynamics and their underlying drivers, especially regarding mode switches. However, this review of the research also reveals that understanding of the phenomenon of mode additions needs further development. The chapter proposes a theoretical framework for understanding mode additions and provides the example of modularization as an illustration of a mechanism that may help improve the cost–benefit balance of mode switches and additions.

Research paper thumbnail of An Exploration of the Information Behavior of Norwegian Exporters

International Journal of Information Management, 1993

Research paper thumbnail of A Subsidiary Perspective on Organizing-Costs in Multinational Corporations: The Roles of Distance, Coordination, and Relationship Atmosphere

Previous studies of organizing-costs in multinational corporations have taken the view of the par... more Previous studies of organizing-costs in multinational corporations have taken the view of the parent corporation. In this study, we turn the table around and examine how subsidiaries experience org ...

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring Subsidiaries’ Perceptions of Corporate Headquarters: Subsidiary Initiatives and Organizing Costs

Perspectives on Headquarters-subsidiary Relationships in the Contemporary MNC, 2016

Abstract The chapter examines how distance, integration mechanisms, and atmosphere influence the ... more Abstract The chapter examines how distance, integration mechanisms, and atmosphere influence the level of organizing costs and subsidiary initiatives in headquarter–subsidiary relationships. Survey data were collected at the subsidiary level in one major Norwegian multinational company. Empirical analyses were based on regression and partial correlation analyses. Organizing costs are driven by distance to headquarters as well as the integration mechanisms and the atmosphere that exists in subsidiary–headquarter relationships. Another important insight gained by this study is that integration mechanisms influence subsidiary initiatives.

Research paper thumbnail of Opening the Black Box of International Strategy Formation: How Harvard Business School Became a Multinational Enterprise

Academy of Management Learning & Education, 2021

This article addresses the question of why some business schools internationalize by establishing... more This article addresses the question of why some business schools internationalize by establishing units abroad. We study their internationalization by examining the process that led to Harvard Busi...

Research paper thumbnail of Institutional Distance and MNE‐subsidiary Initiative Collaboration: The Role of Dual Embeddedness

European Management Review, 2021