Hardback
The Internationalisation Strategies of Small-Country Firms
The Australian Experience of Globalisation
9781845422127 Edward Elgar Publishing
The international business literature often struggles to depict a universal experience of internationalisation from the perspective of large countries. This book seeks to enrich the literature by providing a nuanced overview of the little-known Australian experience, being an atypical case of a small- to medium-sized economy which liberalised rapidly from the 1980s outside any trading bloc.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
More Information
The international business literature often struggles to depict a universal experience of internationalisation from the perspective of large countries. This book seeks to enrich the literature by providing a nuanced overview of the little-known Australian experience, being an atypical case of a small- to medium-sized economy which liberalised rapidly from the 1980s outside any trading bloc.
Six data-rich survey chapters explore Australia''s mixed success in founding its own multinationals. The experience of Australian firms is set in historical and comparative perspective, including interactions with inward and specifically American FDI. Five industry studies next consider why firms in retail, wine and professional services were more successful than in financial services and shipping. Nine detailed case studies of firms then identify the elements of administrative heritage, strategy and learning that have been the key to success or failure. The book concludes by outlining what can be learned from Australia’s example and presenting implications for future research.
The Internationalisation Strategies of Small-Country Firms will appeal to scholars, researchers and postgraduate students in international business and international economics.
Six data-rich survey chapters explore Australia''s mixed success in founding its own multinationals. The experience of Australian firms is set in historical and comparative perspective, including interactions with inward and specifically American FDI. Five industry studies next consider why firms in retail, wine and professional services were more successful than in financial services and shipping. Nine detailed case studies of firms then identify the elements of administrative heritage, strategy and learning that have been the key to success or failure. The book concludes by outlining what can be learned from Australia’s example and presenting implications for future research.
The Internationalisation Strategies of Small-Country Firms will appeal to scholars, researchers and postgraduate students in international business and international economics.
Critical Acclaim
‘The Internationalisation Strategies of Small-Country Firms is not only aimed at scholars, researchers and students, but is also very useful for business people, practitioners, international government policy-makers, managers and investors.’
– Domingo Ribeiro Soriano, Management Decision
‘The Dick and Merrett volume is valuable because it considers the experience of firms and industries within a small to medium-sized developed economy that has high levels of per capita GDP, open policy settings, and a highly urbanised population, but is geographically isolated. . . This study deserves the close attention of those interested in international business, business and economic history, and management subjects. Executives and policy makers will also gain worthwhile insights.’
– Gordon Boyce, Management Decision
‘This research project combines contemporary and historical analysis to trace the evolution of Australian multinationals. It provides unique insights into how firms from a small economy achieved global competitiveness in their niche markets, while examining the barriers that inhibited others. The evidence is presented in comparative, industry and firm-case studies, and tells the story of international business made in Australia. The longitudinal and multi-level analysis in this research provides new insights that challenge the predominance of cross-sectional analytical framework dominating strategic management. Any scholars sincerely interested how companies from small countries can succeed on the global stage ought to read this book.’
– Klaus E. Meyer, University of Reading Business School, UK
– Domingo Ribeiro Soriano, Management Decision
‘The Dick and Merrett volume is valuable because it considers the experience of firms and industries within a small to medium-sized developed economy that has high levels of per capita GDP, open policy settings, and a highly urbanised population, but is geographically isolated. . . This study deserves the close attention of those interested in international business, business and economic history, and management subjects. Executives and policy makers will also gain worthwhile insights.’
– Gordon Boyce, Management Decision
‘This research project combines contemporary and historical analysis to trace the evolution of Australian multinationals. It provides unique insights into how firms from a small economy achieved global competitiveness in their niche markets, while examining the barriers that inhibited others. The evidence is presented in comparative, industry and firm-case studies, and tells the story of international business made in Australia. The longitudinal and multi-level analysis in this research provides new insights that challenge the predominance of cross-sectional analytical framework dominating strategic management. Any scholars sincerely interested how companies from small countries can succeed on the global stage ought to read this book.’
– Klaus E. Meyer, University of Reading Business School, UK
Contributors
Contributors: R. Benjamin, H. Dick, P. Evans, A.-W. Harzing, G. Lewis, D. Merrett, S. Newitt, N. Noorderhaven, T. Osegowitsch, A. Sammartino, R. Stewardson, F. Van Ruth, R. Walters, T. Zalan
Contents
Contents:
PART I: PERSPECTIVES
1. Introduction
Howard Dick and David Merrett
2. Australian Multinationals in Historical Perspective: ‘Do You Come From a Land Down Under?’
David Merrett
3. The Administrative Heritage
Tatiana Zalan and Geoffrey Lewis
4. Large Australian Firms: Empirical Evidence on Internationalisation
Tatiana Zalan
5. Australian and New Zealand Subsidiaries: Victims of Geographic Isolation?
Anne-Wil Harzing and Niels Noorderhaven
6. US Multinationals and the Internationalisation of Australian Industry
Robert Walters
PART II: INDUSTRY DYNAMICS
7. Financial Services: Banking and Insurance
Rodney Benjamin and David Merrett
8. Shipping
Howard Dick
9. Retail
André Sammartino
10. The Wine Industry
Geoffrey Lewis and Tatiana Zalan
11. Engineering Services
Thomas Osegowitsch
PART III: FIRM CASES
12. Burns Philp
Howard Dick and Paul Evans
13. ‘Aspro’ and ‘Kiwi’
David Merrett
14. BHP Billiton
Robin Stewardson
15. Foster’s Group
Tatiana Zalan and Geoffrey Lewis
16. Coca-Cola Amatil
Thomas Osegowitsch
17. Pacific Dunlop
Geoffrey Lewis and Tatiana Zalan
18. The TNT Group
Howard Dick
19. The Westfield Group
André Sammartino and Frances Van Ruth
20. Macquarie Bank
David Merrett and Shey Newitt
21. Conclusion
Howard Dick, David Merrett and Tatiana Zalan
Bibliography
Index
PART I: PERSPECTIVES
1. Introduction
Howard Dick and David Merrett
2. Australian Multinationals in Historical Perspective: ‘Do You Come From a Land Down Under?’
David Merrett
3. The Administrative Heritage
Tatiana Zalan and Geoffrey Lewis
4. Large Australian Firms: Empirical Evidence on Internationalisation
Tatiana Zalan
5. Australian and New Zealand Subsidiaries: Victims of Geographic Isolation?
Anne-Wil Harzing and Niels Noorderhaven
6. US Multinationals and the Internationalisation of Australian Industry
Robert Walters
PART II: INDUSTRY DYNAMICS
7. Financial Services: Banking and Insurance
Rodney Benjamin and David Merrett
8. Shipping
Howard Dick
9. Retail
André Sammartino
10. The Wine Industry
Geoffrey Lewis and Tatiana Zalan
11. Engineering Services
Thomas Osegowitsch
PART III: FIRM CASES
12. Burns Philp
Howard Dick and Paul Evans
13. ‘Aspro’ and ‘Kiwi’
David Merrett
14. BHP Billiton
Robin Stewardson
15. Foster’s Group
Tatiana Zalan and Geoffrey Lewis
16. Coca-Cola Amatil
Thomas Osegowitsch
17. Pacific Dunlop
Geoffrey Lewis and Tatiana Zalan
18. The TNT Group
Howard Dick
19. The Westfield Group
André Sammartino and Frances Van Ruth
20. Macquarie Bank
David Merrett and Shey Newitt
21. Conclusion
Howard Dick, David Merrett and Tatiana Zalan
Bibliography
Index
