Abstract
In our award-winning 2009 article, we further developed the model that we originally presented in 1977. We observed that firms form relationships and that those relationships become networks, and thus in the end the business macro environment consists of networks of relationships between firms. Those relationships have far-reaching consequences, especially in terms of opportunity recognition and development. Since 2009, we have applied the Uppsala model to a number of different IB issues, most notably the process of globalization, which we believe is best understood as a driver of the evolution of the multinational business enterprise (MBE). We suggest that our model can still be improved further by recognizing the general psychological characteristics of managers, for instance, what makes them tend to shy away from radical change and to prefer instead an incremental approach? What does this mean for internationalization? Generally, we think that the closer our assumptions are to reality, the better the resulting model.
French
Dans notre article primé en 2009, nous avons développé le modèle que nous avions initialement présenté en 1977. Nous avons observé que les entreprises forment des relations et que ces relations deviennent des réseaux de sorte que, en fin de compte, l’environnement macroéconomique des entreprises est constitué de réseaux de relations entre firmes. Ces relations ont des conséquences d’une grande portée, en particulier en termes d’opportunités de reconnaissance et de développement. Depuis 2009, nous avons appliqué le modèle d’Uppsala à un certain nombre de problématiques liées à l’IB, en particulier sur le processus de mondialisation que nous pensons être mieux compris comme un moteur de l’évolution de l’entreprise multinationale (MBE). Nous suggérons que notre modèle peut encore être amélioré en reconnaissant les caractéristiques psychologiques générales des dirigeants, par exemple, pourquoi ont-ils tendance à éviter les changements radicaux et à préférer plutôt une approche progressive? Qu’est-ce que cela signifie pour l’internationalisation? En général, nous pensons que plus nos hypothèses sont proches de la réalité, meilleur est le modèle qui en résulte.
Spanish
En nuestro galardonado artículo del 2009, desarrollamos aún más el modelo que presentamos originalmente en 1977. Observamos que las empresas forman relaciones y que esas relaciones se convierten en redes, y de este modo, al final el entorno macro empresarial consiste en redes de relaciones entre empresas. Esas relaciones tienen consecuencias de gran alcance, especialmente en términos de reconocimiento de oportunidad y desarrollo. Desde el 2009, hemos aplicado el modelo Uppsala a un número de diferentes aspectos de Negocios Internacionales, más notablemente el proceso de globalización, el cual creemos es entendido mejor como un habilatdor de la evolución del negocio empresarial multinacional. Sugerimos que nuestro módelo puede ser mejorado aún más al reconocer las caracteristicas psicológicas de los gerentes, por ejemplo, ¿qué los hace tender a rehuir de un cambio radical y preferir una aproximación incremental?, ¿qué significa esto para la internacionalización? Generalmente, pensamos que cúanto más cercanos esten nuestras suposiciones de la realidad, mejor será el modelo resultante.
Portuguese
Em nosso premiado artigo de 2009, desenvolvemos ainda mais o modelo que apresentamos originalmente em 1977. Observamos que empresas formam relacionamentos e que tais relacionamentos se tornam redes e, portanto, no final, o macro ambiente de negócios consiste em redes de relacionamentos entre empresas. Esses relacionamentos têm consequências de longo alcance, especialmente em termos de reconhecimento e desenvolvimento de oportunidades. Desde 2009, aplicamos o modelo de Uppsala a várias distintas questões de IB, mais notadamente ao processo de globalização, que acreditamos ser melhor entendido como um direcionador da evolução da empresa multinacional de negócios (MBE). Sugerimos que nosso modelo possa ser aprimorado ainda mais, reconhecendo as características psicológicas gerais de gerentes, por exemplo, o que os faz tender a evitar mudanças radicais e preferir uma abordagem incremental? O que isso significa para a internacionalização? Geralmente, pensamos que quanto mais próximas nossas suposições estão da realidade, melhor o modelo resultante.
Chinese
在我们2009年的获奖文章中, 我们进一步开发了在1977年最初提出的模型。我们观察到, 企业形成关系, 且这些关系成为网络, 因而最终商业的宏观环境由企业之间的关系网络组成。这些关系具有深远的影响, 特别是在机会的识别与开发方面。自2009年以来, 我们已将Uppsala模型应用于许多不同的IB问题, 尤其是全球化的进程, 我们认为最好将其理解为跨国商业企业(MBE)演进的驱动力。我们建议, 我们的模型仍可以通过认识经理人的一般心理特征来进一步改进, 例如, 是什么使得他们倾向于躲开根本性的变化, 而倾向于渐进式的方法?这对国际化意味着什么?一般来讲, 我们认为我们的假设离现实越近, 得到的模型就越好。
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Accepted by Alain Verbeke, Editor-in-Chief, 30 September 2019. This article was single-blind reviewed.
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Vahlne, JE., Johanson, J. The Uppsala model: Networks and micro-foundations. J Int Bus Stud 51, 4–10 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-019-00277-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-019-00277-x