Efforts of emerging economies to upgrade into global market capabilities are often conceptualized as either discrete choices or ongoing experiments. Mediating between these perspectives, this study uses the concepts of value regime and economic imaginary to examine micro-dynamics in upgrading....

Building linkages with global lead firms, so-called strategic coupling, can be an effective way for emerging economies to upgrade into higher-level market capabilities. However, strategic coupling can be very difficult in particular for peripheral regions, which typically lack the size, skilled...

As a latecomer economy, Africa faces persistent difficulties with catching up in global markets. This study examines the strategic potential of community-based hybrid models, which balance market profitability with social impact in local communities. Focusing on the global business services...

This paper examines key firm-level factors influencing initial strategic responses to offshoring implementation challenges. Comparative case findings indicate that firms are likely to try to mitigate challenges if they perceive to have control over their cause; if strategic objectives are diverse;...

Outsourcing of IT, tech support and other business services has become a global trend. Watching India’s success in the outsourcing space, many developing countries now try to grow their own business service economy, including countries in Africa. But what does it really take to become a global...

Prior research on project-based organizing in creative industries has emphasized the importance of regionally embedded institutions, creative networks and intermediaries in the development of regional project ecologies. Recently, film and television production in the United States has expanded...

Global delivery models (GDMs) are transforming the global IT and business process outsourcing industry. GDMs are a new form of client-specific investment promoting services integration with clients by combining client proximity with time-zone spread for 24/7 service operations. We investigate...

This study investigates estimation errors due to hidden costs — the costs of implementation that are neglected in strategic decision-making processes — in the context of services offshoring. Based on data from the Offshoring Research Network, we find that decision makers are more likely to...

Offshore outsourcing of administrative and technical services has become a mainstream business practice. Increasing commoditization of business services and growing client experience with outsourcing have created a range of competitive service delivery options for client firms. Yet, data from...