Network (Over)embeddedness in International Business: A Systematic Review and Integrative Framework
- Author(s)
- Giulia Galizzi, Emmanuella Plakoyiannaki
- Abstract
Based on network literature, firms are embedded within a set of social and business networks which favor both repeated transactions and high level of interaction among network members. Such exchange has been termed network embeddedness, which represents the extent to which economic actors, such as firms, are entangled within social structures. Despite research on the role of network relationships on firms’ internationalization is gaining momentum, little is known about their potential downsides. Prior research has indeed emphasized how embedded ties can lead to more internationalization, overlooking the phenomenon of network over-embeddedness. The present systematic literature review presents an analysis of 75 empirical and conceptual articles published over the last 20 years, investigating the positive and negative influence of network embeddedness on internationalization activities. The current paper contributes to network and international business literature by providing a complete overview of the existing body of knowledge on the phenomenon at three level of analysis. It further develops an integrative framework summarizing the bright and dark sides of network embeddedness. Lastly, the present review offers future research avenues for international business scholars.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Marketing and International Business
- Publication date
- 2022
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 502016 SME-research, 502054 Entrepreneurship
- Keywords
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/network-overembeddedness-in-international-business-a-systematic-review-and-integrative-framework(045458fa-2879-4ec6-a113-088bf0848776).html