Special Issue: Advances in International Management Research

1. Introduction

Departing from barriers faced by firms in their international entrepreneurship strategies, the establishment of collaborative networks has proven to be a facilitating mechanism of these processes, having in recent years overcome the focus on the supply chain (i.e., buyer–seller relations) to instead integrate multigroup alliances based on competitive relationships (Buckley 2021; Islam and Chadee 2023). Although these inter-organizational relations allow the development of new synergic capacities, they also introduce problems of coordination and opportunism, which become more critical in situations of power asymmetry between partners, very common in the international sphere. To face these challenges, business needs and academic interests in designing governance mechanisms have facilitated the alignment of objectives between partners, allowing them to create shared value throughout the network.

A significant area of research in international business is the organization and coordination of value-creating activities across borders (Buckley 2021; Islam and Chadee 2023; McWilliam et al. 2020). In the past, many firms adopted a global strategy of dispersing their value chains to different locations, often outsourcing and offshoring some of their functions (Fortwengel and Kostova 2023; Zeng et al. 2023). This led to the concept of the ‘global factory’, where firms could access the best resources and capabilities worldwide ((Hoorani et al. 2023; Tung et al. 2023). However, considering the growing uncertainty and complexity, companies may need to reconsider their global value chain structure and embrace new forms of inter-firm collaboration, such as international strategic alliances (Tung et al. 2023). These alliances can assist companies in sharing risks, accessing complementary assets, and improving their innovation potential (Zeng et al. 2023).

In international business, the analysis of value creation processes has become an emerging topic of research in recent years (Buckley 2021; McWilliam et al. 2020). This is particularly evident in the literature on global value chains, which are dynamic and flexible networks of relationships (Buckley 2021; Zeng et al. 2023). Partners in these networks jointly create value through collaborative relationships by combining their different resources and capabilities (Buckley 2021).

2. An Overview of Published Articles

This Special Issue on “Advances in International Management Research” aims to bring together the most outstanding research and comprehensive coverage of all aspects related to the role of contractual and relational management mechanisms with respect to the creation of value by firms in international networks. In this sense, this Special Issue is formed by eight manuscripts pertaining to the field of research on international business management. Abeysekera’s work (contribution 1) outlines the aim and scope of the Special Issue, as well as the main themes and contributions of the articles that comprise it. The focus is on the analysis of the effects of contractual and relational management mechanisms on the generation of synergistic capabilities and risk management in international business collaboration networks. In this sense, Gonzalez et al. (contribution 5) study how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Spain manage risks arising from internationalisation to improve performance, through a case study that identifies the different risk management strategies used by Spanish SMEs. Moreover, Perez-Sigüenza et al. (contribution 8) analyse how entrepreneurs adapt or change international control and organizational structures based on their resources, capabilities, and the context of the situation from the perspective of resource-based theory and the contingency and effectuation framework.

Moreover, Manconi et al. (contribution 7) examine the role of business incubators (BIs) in the internationalisation of start-ups. BIs are considered a strategic resource that can facilitate access to international markets. An empirical study was conducted using data from 114 start-ups incubated in Spain. The study analysed the impact of the characteristics of BIs, support activities, and incubation outcomes on the intensity and scope of start-ups’ internationalisation. In addition, Čirjevskis (contribution 2) demonstrates that the dynamic political capabilities of collaborative partners in managing their institutional contexts are important drivers of collaborative synergies that can be valued by real options. The paper reviews the literature on the institutional context of collaborative corporate strategies, such as strategic alliances and sequential acquisitions, and proposes a conceptual framework for integrating dynamic policy capabilities and real options.

Lascu et al. (contribution 6) identifies the risks and weaknesses that affect the performance of companies providing vehicle after-sales services. The results of a comparative study based on a questionnaire conducted at the level of six companies operating in the vehicle after-sales sector in Morocco are presented, and recommendations for improving risk management and service quality are proposed.

Finally, Čirjevskis (contribution 3) examines the concepts and applications proposed during the initial stages of launching the fields of intellectual capital and knowledge management. The study analyses current and future trends in these fields, identifies the main challenges and opportunities for research and practice, and suggests some emerging lines of research. Moreover, David and Abeysekera (contribution 4) examine the concept of materiality, which originates in accounting and is applied in auditing, as a crucial tool for enhancing audit quality. They analyse the renewed interest in materiality research in Australia after the introduction of Exposure Draft No. 243 by the Australian Accounting Standards Board and discusses its implications for audit practice and research.

3. Conclusions

This collection of articles focuses on the development of international business management and covers a wide range of research methods. The articles demonstrate the richness of the research field. The studies include qualitative approaches based on in situ observation and interviews, quantitative studies using large datasets, and theoretical revisions.

This Special Issue comprises three articles that examine entrepreneurship and SMEs in the context of globalisation. These papers analyse how these actors create value by participating in globalised chains and how they manage the risks associated with their international partners. The papers adopt an academic perspective, aiming to provide rigorous and objective insights into the phenomena under study.

Furthermore, the significance of entrepreneurship, business incubators, and SMEs is crucial in most European economies. This Special Issue highlights the creation of value and standardisation of contractual and trust-based relationships between partners in internationalised and globalised chains. The governance of international networks, whether formal or informal, is fundamental to the advancement of the discipline of international business management. In recent years, the governance, control, and coordination of multidisciplinary teams, activities, and tasks outside the company have evolved from one-to-one to one-to-many and, finally, to all-to-all. Risk management, contract standardisation, and relational governance are crucial elements in this process of internationalisation towards the global value chain.

As a final note, I would also like to highlight the particularity that all the texts, with the exception of the review and auditor judgement, are based on case studies from European countries that are usually less represented in the mainstream literature. This novelty highlights the relevance and importance of this Special Issue, allowing the reader to find research focused on national contexts other than the usual ones, which allows for a more complete view of the research field of international management.