The Impact of Micromultinationals on the International Business Field of Study: A systematic literature review on mMNE literature
Author
Høj, Alexander Lehmann
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2018
Submitted on
2018-10-29
Pages
57
Abstract
Dette studie undersøger, hvordan mikromultinationale virksomheder (mMNEs) – små virksomheder med aktiviteter i flere lande – påvirker den etablerede forskning i International Business (IB). Med en systematisk litteraturgennemgang analyserer vi centrale mMNE-studier for at kortlægge deres teorier, metoder, forskningshuller og resultater. Vi adresserer spørgsmålene: Hvordan har mMNE-forskning påvirket IB og relaterede felter? Hvad motiverer deres internationalisering og afgør succes eller fiasko? Hvordan kobles mMNE-feltet til andre IB-områder? Og hvilke grundantagelser præger mMNE-forskningen? Studiet finder, at mMNEs indtil videre kun har haft begrænset indflydelse på IB, blandt andet fordi tidligere arbejde om beslægtede felter – Born Globals (BG) og International New Ventures (INV) – har overskygget og udvisket forskellene mellem dem. Vi identificerer fem grundantagelser i mMNE-feltet, som alle har tætte bånd til Internationalisering, Netværksteori og Internationalt Entreprenørskab. Koblingerne mellem mMNE-forskning og andre IB-områder er primært énvejskoblinger: mMNE-studier trækker på IB-rammer, mens IB sjældent integrerer mMNE-indsigter. Der er fortsat markante forskningshuller, og vi anbefaler, at IB-forskningen tydeligere adskiller mMNEs fra BGs og INVs for at fremme gensidig læring mellem felterne. Vi skitserer forslag til fremtidig forskning og advarer om, at mMNE-området kan gentage problemerne fra BG-forskningen – for stor variation i felter, teorier, rammer og definitioner – selv om feltet stadig er i en tidlig fase. Mere forskning er nødvendig for at bekræfte denne risiko og, hvis den viser sig reel, justere kursen.
This study examines how micromultinational enterprises (mMNEs)—small firms with operations in multiple countries—are shaping mainstream International Business (IB) research. Using a systematic literature review, we analyze key mMNE studies to map their theories, methods, research gaps, and findings. We address questions such as: How has mMNE research influenced IB and related fields? What motivates their internationalization and determines success or failure? How does the mMNE field connect to other IB areas? And what root assumptions underpin mMNE research? The study finds that mMNEs have, so far, made only a modest impact on IB, partly because earlier work on related streams—Born Globals (BGs) and International New Ventures (INVs)—has overshadowed and blurred distinctions among them. We identify five core assumptions in the mMNE field, closely linked to Internationalization, Network Theory, and International Entrepreneurship. Connections between mMNE research and other IB areas are mainly one-directional: mMNE studies draw on IB frameworks, while IB has rarely integrated insights from mMNEs. Significant gaps remain, and we recommend that IB scholars more clearly differentiate mMNEs from BGs and INVs to enable mutual learning across fields. We outline propositions for future research and caution that the mMNE area may repeat issues seen in BG research—excessive variety in concepts, theories, frameworks, and definitions—despite being at an early stage. Further research is needed to verify this risk and, if confirmed, to redirect the field.
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