AIB 2012 Conference Proceedings - Academy of International ...

MONDAY
The importance of finance for exporting goods is well understood in the literature. Yet, despite the growing
magnitude and importance of services exports, the question whether service firms rely on external finance for
exporting remains unanswered by the existing literature. In this paper we address this overlooked area by
studying whether long and short term borrowing matters for the exporting decisions and the levels exported by
Indian service firms. (For more information, please contact: Sandra Lancheros, Aston Business School, United
Kingdom: spllancheros@hotmail.com)
Import Competition and Business Strategies of Indian Firms
B. Elango, Illinois State University
Chinmay Pattnaik, University of Sydney
This study seeks to empirically test the specific relationship between the various strategies employed by Indian
firms and the impact on performance under import competition using a panel dataset of about 3800 Indian
firms for the years 1996-2007. This study therefore will bring a greater understanding of how emerging market
firms successfully adapt to import competition. Study findings will contribute to the literature on this topic at
both the micro and macro levels. (For more information, please contact: B. Elango, Illinois State University,
USA: elango@ilstu.edu)
Session: 2.4.8 - Competitive
Track: 14 - Methods in IB Research
The Challenges of Mixed Methods in IB Research
Presented On: July 2, 2012 - 14:30-15:45
Chair: Catherine Welch, The University of Sydney
Mixing Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in International Business: A Research Journey
Vesna Sedoglavich, Australian National University
Researchers often face challenging tasks and serious problems in conceptualization and evaluation of constructs
that appear to be either vague and imprecise, or difficult to define. The absorptive capacity (AC) construct falls
into this category. Problems come from hidden assumptions and one-dimensional methodological approaches,
diminishing the validity of the construct and challenging its role and application in management. These
methodological dilemmas, their implications and the solutions are the focus of the present paper. The paper
discusses how solving the research problem may require thinking outside of the well-known methodological
traditions. The paper demonstrates how mixed methods could be utilized to develop a deeper understanding of
ambiguous constructs such as AC. (For more information, please contact: Vesna Sedoglavich, Australian
National University, Australia: vesna.sedoglavich@anu.edu.au)
Managing Fieldwork Challenges within a Professional Service Firm
William Stopford Harvey, University of Sydney
There has been a growth of work on qualitative methods in the last few decades, but one area that has been
explored in less detail is the methodological challenges of firm-specific studies. This paper focuses on the
difficulties faced when conducting a firm-specific study in multiple countries on a global professional service
firm. I begin by providing some context to the background and design of the research project. I then discuss
the content of preliminary meetings with gatekeepers as well as the agreement of the non-disclosure
agreement. I subsequently analyse some of the challenges I faced during the fieldwork, including feedback
from meetings, gaining control of contacts, hierarchical difficulties as a junior researcher, and attempts with
AIB 2012 Conference Proceedings
Page 171