AIB 2012 Conference Proceedings - Academy of International ...

SUNDAY
Which firms in emerging economies lead the catch-up with world leaders The first step is to develop the intent
to acquire strategic assets that help closing the gap to the leader. To analyze which companies are most likely
to take this critical first step, we broaden the awareness-motivation-capability (AMC) framework of competitive
dynamics by distinguishing catch-up competition from immediate competition. We test the framework for firms
in a competitive catch-up position, a sample of 154 Chinese firms, and find that firms are more likely to develop
strategic intent to seek strategic assets abroad the more they are aware of foreign competition, motivated by
their governance structure, and have relevant financial and managerial capabilities. (For more information,
please contact: Lin Cui, Australian National University, Australia: lin.cui@anu.edu.au)
Selection of Learning Targets and Technological Catch-up of Asian Laggards
Yuzhe Miao, Kyung Hee University
Jaeyong Song, Seoul National University
This paper investigates how the learning mechanism of technological laggards influences their successes in
technological catch-up by highlighting the importance of selection of learning targets. We identify "successful
peers" as a vital reference group, and examine how learning from successful peers -- peer laggards who (1)
share similar traits with laggards and (2) have already achieved a certain degree of success in technological
catch-up -- helps laggards catch up. We find that laggards that consider successful peers as one of their
reference groups are more likely to succeed in catch-up, however the benefit of learning from successful peers
diminishes if laggards rely too much on successful peers for seeking knowledge. Our analysis also suggests that
learning from technologically proximal successful peers could increase the possibility of catch-up success. (For
more information, please contact: Yuzhe Miao, Kyung Hee University, Korea, South: yzmiao@gmail.com)
The Tortoise and the Hare: Catching up at Sub-industry Groups
Jie Xiong, EMLYON Business School
Philippe Monin, EMLYON Business School
The objective of this study is to elucidate the process of catching up in an industry exported to a host country
by foreign entrants. Drawing on a longitudinal historical analysis of a new-born industry in an emerging
economy, we examine catching up at the sub-industry group level. We identify three catching up patterns:
intra-group of domestic firms, intra-group of foreign firms and inter-group dynamics. We develop a-five-stage
model illustrating the industry evolution with catching up as the underling logic. Our analysis adds to catching
up literature by providing a new level of analysis: sub-industry group. It also extends the research of catching
up with theoretical insights from a low technology industry and opens up new possibilities for the research
domain. (For more information, please contact: Jie Xiong, EMLYON Business School, France: jie@em-lyon.com)
The Internationalization Process Model as a Perspective on Emerging Economy MNEs: The Dynamics of Catch-
Up Learning
Klaus Meyer, China Europe International Business School
Ornjira Thaijongrak, University of Bath
The rapid emergence of multinational enterprises (MNEs) from emerging economies calls for a re-assessment of
established theories of the MNE. In this perspective paper, we assess the usefulness of the internationalization
process model (IPM), also known as Uppsala model, to explain the recent strategies of emerging economy
MNEs. We argue that popular stages models derived from the IP model are not helpful, but the underlying
process of experiential learning driving steps of increased commitment is an important element in explaining the
evolution of these MNEs over time. We illustrate our arguments with six case studies of cross-border
acquisitions by Thai MNEs, and their antecedents. On this basis, we discuss how the IPM can inform future
research on emerging economy MNEs. Specifically, the IPM suggests focusing on the internal and external
AIB 2012 Conference Proceedings
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