Conference Agenda

The field of quantitative research has transitioned from classical regression models to research designs emphasizing causal interpretation. The credibility revolution has enhanced reliability in empirical economics by prioritizing research design quality and employing more experimental and quasi-experimental methods. The module introduces a potential outcome model and direct acyclic graphs to analyse the causal effects of policies in natural experiments and randomized control trials. It further discusses in detail recent developments in difference-in-difference and synthetic control methods. Staggered policy implementation and heterogenous impact is discussed. Finally, synthetic difference in difference, combining strengths of both methods is presented. The presentation of these methods is accompanied by practical demonstrations in R. Staggered difference-in-differences is illustrated through examples showcasing the heterogeneous impacts of preferential trade agreements and sanctions on trade flows. Synthetic control is demonstrated by evaluating the impact of Brexit on UK trade with the EU.

Professor Reuer will talk about the state of research and methodological issues in Alliance Governance and Design research. While he discusses the broader literature and recent developments on collaborative strategy, he will identify new theoretical perspectives and topics worthy of future research in International Business.

Endogeneity-related issues in empirical research continue to receive increasing academic attention, serving as pivotal benchmarks for quality in many academic journals. In this workshop, we'll delve into the complexities of endogeneity bias, exploring its sources such as the omission of variables, errors in variables, and simultaneous causality. Led by Dr. Ghasem Zaefarian, Associate Professor of Marketing at Leeds University Business School, this workshop will provide attendees with an overview of endogeneity bias and its potential sources. From outlining the nuances of the issue to discussing techniques like instrumental variables and instrument-free approaches, participants will gain insights into mitigating endogeneity bias in their research. Whether you're designing a new research project or analyzing data to uncover cause-and-effect relationships, this methodological workshop is designed to give you a head start with the tools needed to navigate endogeneity bias effectively.

An ever-increasing share of information is recorded as digital text. Until recently, however, text analysis relied on meticulous human examination, a method inherently limited in scalability when confronted with the vast corpora now at our disposal. The quantity of individual documents within widely-used databases, such as those containing newspaper articles and tweets from Twitter, has surged into the tens of millions or billions more. This burgeoning abundance of large-scale corpora has sparked a heightened enthusiasm for machine learning techniques for text analysis, a trajectory that is poised to persist and intensify with the continual expansion of textual data reservoirs. This workshop will introduce how to perform text analysis using machine learning tools. The main topics covered include: What Is Text Analysis? Text data preprocessing. An overview of text analysis techniques used in economics. Word (text) similarity analysis with an example of measuring aggregate-level Brexit uncertainty. Topic analysis with an example of measuring topic-level Brexit uncertainty. Sentiment analysis with an example of measuring public sentiment towards Brexit using Twitter data.

The configurational approach refers to an integrative analytical technique, involving mechanisms that simultaneously and jointly considers strategy, organizational and environmental characteristics (Wiklund and Shepherd, 2005). The configurational approach is useful when: (i) The antecedent factors are not clearly discernible due, in parts, to close linkages, mutual dependencies and interconnected processes amongst the factors (Meyer et. al, 1993) and (ii) The same antecedent factors may lead to conflicting outcomes or more confoundingly when equifinality results from a combination of different organizational configurations (Meyer, et. al). Of the several available tools, the set theoretical deduction based Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) method provides several distinctive advantages. First, QCA provides inferences on facts that we don’t know from those that we do know (Thomann and Maggetti, 2020), by establishing external and internal validities and a mode of reasoning (rationale). Second, QCA provides the modus operandi through the reliance on cases (Rihoux, 2013). QCA considers a small (n=20) to intermediate (n<200) set of cases to achieve generalization (external validity) through in-depth search within the cases (internal validation) and an inductive, iterative, and exploratory mode of reasoning (establishing the rationale). Third, because QCA is iterative, it can blend in-depth qualitative induction with quantitative deductions that can be generalized via statistical techniques. Simply put, QCA can help in clustering and analyzing the underlying causal configurations of a set of cases or a set of conditions. In this context, through this workshop, we introduce the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), an analytical technique originally developed by Charles Ragin, of the Department of Sociology, University of California (Irvine). QCA is broadly divided into the traditional or Crisp Set QCA (csQCA) and the more refined fsQCA. Crisp set QCA deals with dichotomous outcomes (e.g. inclusion/exclusion) while fsQCA also includes the various shades in-between much like the interval scales of a survey instrument. So, one may simplify (but not overtly) csQCA as akin to measuring through a nominal scale and then considering what is in and what is out. Likewise, fsQCA can be perceived as measuring using an ordinal scale (e.g. Likert), where one considers the various shades between in and out and then determining the level to be considered. Through this workshop we endeavor to obtain a working exposure to the configurational approach using the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis.

Prerequisites of publishing include the identification of relevant and interesting research questions, the adequate delineation and framing of research problems, and the quality of the research design and execution. The ability to identify and analyse relevant literature underpins each stage of the research process. However, the exponential growth of publications within and outside of business and management studies can be overwhelming. Researchers need effective and efficient tools to identify, analyse, and synthesize relevant literature. This workshop offers an introduction to tools and techniques that can help researchers make sense of large bodies of literature and design search strategies that lead to manageable samples. With the proliferation of literature reviews in academic journals, the expectation of what qualifies as a meaningful literature review is constantly changing. The workshop will walk participants through some guidelines to help them keep up with the changing demands. During the workshop we will work with different software tools (e.g., EndNote, NVivo, and VosViewer) that can aid the search and analysis process as well as enhance creativity in the initial design process. The workshop will focus on the following main topics: Research idea generation and question development. Early theorizing and research project building (VosViewer, NVivo and Endnote software) Consolidation of research streams, identification of opportunities for further research and interesting research avenues.

Would you like to explore research and teaching ideas on sustainability and IB? Are you looking for co-authors for a new project? Do you have an idea for a paper but not sure how to take it forward? If the answer to any these questions is “yes”, then this workshop is for you. Following our successful knowledge sharing roundtable online discussions, this workshop is intended to create a friendly and open space for like-minded colleagues to interact and network with each other by sharing their research ideas, questions, challenges, and/or findings. The workshop embraces open research that is organised around ‘work packages’. During this workshop, you will work within small teams on a work package and develop a tangible output. The format of the output can range from a publication project, a SI call for papers, an application to a funding call (e.g., the AIB Research Funding Grants program), to the creation of a focused symposium.

The Workshop on ‘How to Develop Articles for Publication in International Business’ (90 mins) will address academic research in international business, leading to publication in top journals. The workshop will address identifying research topics, the role of theory and theory development, creating the research paper, and publishing in journals. Publishable research should aim to develop new knowledge, with a focus on making substantive contributions to the field. Research should be framed within relevant, extant theory, and simultaneously aim to advance existing theory or otherwise develop new theory. The workshop will be taught by Professor Gary Knight, who has substantial experience conducting research and publishing in top journals, in international business.

Peer review is an integral part of publishing in leading journals. It plays a critical role in offering scholars with constructive and developmental feedback to improve their work and eventually publish. It is also a great service to our academic community and a professional developmental activity. Peer reviewing entails diligent work, subject matter expertise in the field and a serious professional commitment. This workshop aims to help develop doctoral students and junior faculty to become effective and efficient reviewers by understanding what, why and do’s and don’ts of reviewing for leading IB journals. The focus of the meeting will be to share information in an interactive mode via examples regarding the review process, good and weak review, and reviews from the perspective of an author, editor and reviewer. Participating in this workshop will also help prospective authors to refine their own submissions to leading IB journals.

-Journal of International Business Studies: Prof Pawan Budhwar, Aston University, United Kingdom, p.s.budhwar@aston.ac.uk -Journal of International Business Policy: Prof Ari Van Assche, HEC Montréal, Canada, ari.van-assche@hec.ca; Prof Hinrich Voss, University of Bristol, United Kingdom, hinrich.voss@bristol.ac.uk -Journal of World Business: Prof Ulf Andersson, Mälardalen University, Sweden, ulf.r.andersson@mdu.se -International Business Review: Prof Roger Strange, The University of Sussex, United Kingdom, R.N.Strange@sussex.ac.uk -Critical Perspectives on International Business: Prof Rudolf Sinkovics, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, rudolf.sinkovics@glasgow.ac.uk -International Marketing Review, Prof Olli Kuivalainen, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland, Olli.Kuivalainen@lut.fi -European Management Journal, Dr Noemi Sinkovics, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, noemi.sinkovics@glasgow.ac.uk

This workshop will help you to analyse where your strengths and experiences are and where you have gaps in your knowledge of development needs. Participants will each work on a personal development plan which they can take away and use as part of their career development. The session is led by an experienced coach and mentor in HE, and will use tools which have been successful in the past in directing ECRs and more junior academics to think about what sort of academic role is best for them and what institution fits with their values. While the focus will be on a holistic career, participants may want to concentrate on their research trajectory.

This teaching cafe aims to share experiences, strategies, and innovative approaches to foster an inclusive academic environment where diversity is celebrated, and equality is the foundation. As international business scholars, we understand the crucial role education plays in shaping future leaders and the business landscape. This session is designed to be an exchange different experiences on how we can address EDI in the classroom not only nurturing our students' academic growth but also equipping them with the critical analysis skills necessary to champion EDI in their professional journeys.

Professor Gary Knight will discuss new disruptive trends in the global environment and their impact on international business (IB). Key trends include shifting demographics and international migration, transformation of the global economic environment, revolutionary technological advances, and the deteriorating natural environment and sustainability. The trends are disruptive in various ways, but they also provide countless opportunities for IB practice and research. Professor Knight will examine these new developments and the threats and opportunities that they pose. He will identify key areas for scholarly research. He will also highlight steps that firms and other organizations can take in order to survive and thrive under emergent disruptions in the global environments.

• What is the current state of knowledge about the R&D activities of MNEs? • How are these activities likely to change in the future? • How are technological and geopolitical developments in the world economy driving product, process, and business model innovations? • How are these developments impacting both the geographical configuration of GVCs and their organization? • How can government policies encourage innovation and promote the domestic capture of the rents therefrom? Overview of the main issues addressed by the panel Innovation underpins firms’ competitiveness and sustainable performance. For multinational enterprises (MNEs) which compete in global markets, innovation has long been recognized (see, for example, Vernon 1966) as essential not just to growth and success but fundamentally to survival (Papanastassiou et al., 2020). Innovations may be developed in-house and/or acquired externally through different forms of knowledge sourcing such as acquisitions, strategic alliances, and R&D cooperation (Kafouros et al., 2022). MNEs are not only the seedbed for many innovations through their R&D activities at home and abroad, but they also facilitate the diffusion of new innovations across national borders. MNEs are thus important conduits for cross-border knowledge transfer, from the headquarters to overseas affiliates, from overseas affiliates to the headquarters, and/or between affiliates. Organizations like the MNEs have been characterised by the effort to continuously look inward and outward for new knowledge in the attempt to develop new idea and artifacts. MNEs consist of geographically dispersed organizational units that reconfigure themselves to allow more distant and peripheral knowledge search. Research shows that that this ability depends not only on idiosyncrasies specific to the MNE, but also on exogenous forces associated with international variations in appropriability regimes and industry-specific technological opportunities (Kafouros et al., 2012; Dachs et al., 2023). Scholars have stressed the crucial role of globalizing R&D for MNEs aiming to access new technologies (Penner-Hahn and Shaver, 2005) and researched the conditions that induce MNEs to globalise their R&D, and emphasise the role of technological capabilities of the lab and external embeddedness in the local scientific and engineering communities (Song et al., 2011). Geographic dispersion is found to enhance the effects of a firm’s own R&D on its performance (Kafouros et al., 2018). A closer examination of this research area reveals a notable trend in the internationalization of R&D activities, shifting from more developed North to encompass the emerging South (Zhao, Tan, Papanastassiou, Harzing, 2019). This shift was primarily driven by the growing need for advanced-economy MNEs to monitor and understand emerging global trends. This necessity led to a shift towards sourcing knowledge inputs from diverse channels, further propelled by the rising costs of R&D and a shortage of R&D professionals in industrialized nations. Consequently, there has been a strategic (re)alignment in global innovation efforts, emphasizing the maximization of locally developed knowledge while also capturing and synthesizing locally available knowledge, both in North and South (Dodourova, Zhao & Harzing, 2021). Additionally, Southern markets and institutions have witnessed substantial improvements. The convergence of these factors, combined with advancements in information technologies for knowledge management, has led to a shift in the center of gravity for innovation towards the South. This shift has resulted in the establishment of more sustainable competitive advantages by aligning global knowledge networks within and outside the MNEs (Mavroudi, Kafouros, Jia & Hong, 2023). However, this trend is increasingly being disrupted by significant changes in the global economy. One of these disruptions is the rapid technological catch-up and indigenous innovation by EMNEs, partly accelerated by the ‘Tech Cold War’. Specifically, FDI flows from these emerging economies have emerged as a dominant force reshaping the global innovation landscape (Zhao et al., 2020). The rapid rise of EMNEs has spurred comprehensive investigations into various aspects, including the sources and patterns of knowledge flows, as well as the intricate processes of knowledge management and related outcomes (Elia, Kafouros & Buckley, 2020). One area of research has highlighted the innovation impact of EMNEs’ OFDI, particularly when directed towards advanced economies (e.g., Thakur-Wernz, et al., 2019; Wu & Park, 2019).

International entrepreneurship represents a very lively research field and community of scholars. It is positioned at the crossroads between international business and entrepreneurship and contributes to the former providing a complementary perspective on the internationalization phenomenon. The year 2024 marks an important anniversary for this relatively young topic: 30 years since the publication of Oviatt & McDugall (1994) and 20 years since the publication of Knight & Cavusgil (2004), both on JIBS and both receiving the JIBS decade article award. In this panel, we ask what is the present and the future of a field which attracts many young scholars and is quite popular at international business conferences and journals? What is the state of this discipline today, disciplines which received so much attention from scholars and contributions as well as criticism? And what is its future? In many works, International Entrepreneurship is depicted as an outcome of globalization processes: what is its future in a world which is turning less global and more prone to multiple international shocks? In the past, International Entrepreneurship has adopted its research approaches and methods from the two disciplines in which it has been rooted. Is that sufficient for capturing IE-related phenomena in the future, or should we look beyond disciplinary borders and seek additions to our methodological toolbox? The panel will try to address these issues from different angles, encompassing research approaches and theoretical lenses.

The Professional Development Workshop (PDW) is a follow up of an AIB Impact Event, entitled “An Agenda for Sustainable International Business”, organised by the Mainstreaming Impact in International Business (MIIB) Initiative of the AIB and the AIB UKI Chapter. The Event attracted a great deal of interests and stimulated further discussions in various institutions and organisations. As a result, a Sustainable International Business Poster Competition was launched as an action for the Agenda. Supported by a range of AIB components, including MIIB, AIB UKI, AIB LAC, T&E SIG, Sustainability SIG, Digitisation SIG, and WAIB, the Competition aims to address the world’s critical sustainability challenges by pooling resources of engaged International Business (IB) scholarship in research and teaching to help organisations engaged with IB activities to add (net positive) value to society. The Competition is operationalised in a way to empower students, educators, and businesses. The PDW has the following objectives: (1) to share experiences gained so far by participating educators, students and non-academic stakeholders; (2) to engage with audience and explore best practices, and (3) to introduce resources developed by the Sustainable International Business Partnership (SIBP) which are used by global students participating in the Competition.

Sponsored by the International Business department, Leeds University Business School

Geopolitics has been a crucial driver of globalization and growth throughout history, a fact that has often been overlooked by international business scholars who have traditionally viewed globalization as an open opportunity for all capable firms and supportive governments. However, historical patterns show that modern globalization has thrived under unequal power regimes, with the dominance of Britain and later the United States, which facilitated global economic integration through initiatives like the Marshall Plan and support for countries like South Korea to counterbalance influences from Russia and China. This historical context highlights that opportunities for globalization and growth have been unevenly distributed, often favoring geopolitical allies of dominant powers. Recent empirical studies suggest that sustained growth is less about liberal trade policies and more about how states align their policies with the interests of multinational enterprises (MNEs), with the domestic political economy being significantly shaped by geopolitics. The paper discusses the implications of these dynamics for developing countries choosing geopolitical alliances, the impact of techno-nationalism, and the challenges posed by China's rise as a new global power. This backdrop sets the stage for a panel discussion among leading scholars to explore the evolving relationship between geopolitics and international business.

1. Journal of International Business Studies 2. Journal of International Business Policy 3. International Business Review 4. Journal of World Business 5. International Marketing Review 6. Journal of Industrial and Business Economics 7. Critical Perspectives on International Business 8. Data in Brief 9. Transnational Corporations

Increasing international student mobility has led to the prevalence of multicultural classrooms in business and management education. In a multicultural classroom, where students come from different cultural backgrounds and may have different expectations, preferences and experiences, formative feedback can pose some challenges. Among other things, this concerns the content, the channels and the communication of feedback, and student responses to and engagement with feedback. In this Teaching Café, we will share experiences and discuss how we as educators can address the challenges of providing formative feedback in a multicultural classroom. It will be organized around two brief interventions by the facilitators, which will (i) introduce the recommendations of the current state of pedagogical research and (ii) summarise the first findings of the empirical research on the topic. The central part of the Teaching Café will discuss ideas and practical solutions to overcome the challenges associated with formative feedback in a multicultural classroom.

Multinationals face “The Rise of the National” - a return to policies advocated by Friedrich List (1841) (Tariffs represent investment in future Technology. National Systems of Innovation) and the introduction of Industrial Policies (including “Green” policies, and in the USA the Chips Act, Pure List, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)) . In response, multinationals are devising resilience strategies in the era of “slowbalisation”. This presentation examines these strategies using a time profile to cover - Immediate Imperatives Short- Term Strategies Long –Term Strategies Long Long-Term Strategies (N.B. Globalization not in reverse – slower growth in some areas. In others e.g., data transfers, globalization is accelerating.) MNE strategies must respond to policy changes and other challenges. Success will be dependent on flexibility and the capacity to innovate. Perhaps these characteristics are the ultimate long run “firm specific advantages.”

This panel will explain both the anatomy of ethics within the AIB and the operation of ethical processes. As AIB members, many of you will know that the Academy has three codes of ethics: the Member Code of Ethics, Leadership Code of Ethics and the Journals Code of Ethics covering its three journals. Our panel will kick off with an explanation of the nature of these three codes (to be found at: https://www.aib.world/about/policies/). We will also explain how AIB generates, revises and updates, its ethical rules and how it implements and enforces them. One thing that we all learn is that it is surprisingly easy, if not to transgress, then to come perilously close to transgressing. Understanding the pitfalls that are out there is particularly important today, given digitalisation and – dare we say it – the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Our panellists are right at the heart of the ethical dimension to the AIB. Rosalie Tung, as Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of the Journal of International Business Studies (JIBS) is alerted to possible violations of the Journal’s Code of Ethics. Ari Van Assche has a parallel brief as EIC of the Journal of International Business Policy (JIBP), and Gary Knight, as President-Elect is knowledgeable of the ethical processes within the AIB, across each of the ethical codes, and how AIB handles ethical cases. Our panel will look at the relevant history of AIB’s codes, consider those types of instances that arise most frequently and that we all need to guard against, as AIB members, if we are AIB leaders (and who qualifies as a leader is broader than you might think) and when we submit to the journals. Examples of violations will highlight the salience of the codes today including potential breaches when making conference submissions, as well as to the journals. Beyond this, one increasingly sensitive area is manuscripts that introduce one’s political/ideological biases and opinions, other than evidenced-based findings. Our journals and our organization aim to adopt a politically/ideologically neutral stance.

In recent times, various academic fields, natural sciences, psychology and economics, have experienced scandals and negative publicity after several high-profile academic articles had to be retracted. One of the reasons was that their findings were not replicable. The implications of these events extend beyond academia, potentially eroding public trust and confidence in scientific discoveries. This panel will discuss: a) whether the field of International Business Research is immune to such developments, b) how the issue of replicability might affect future research in International Business, c) what steps IB journals take to tackle the issue and d) what are the lessons from other academic fields. Please join this panel in its attempt to address the questions raised above with an aim to contribute to the dialogue within the International Business academic community about the topic of replicability.

This is 12th edition from the series of panels organized by the Commonwealth Research Network on International Business (CRN-IB) at the AIB UK & Ireland conference. With the support of the AIB and leading academics from around the globe, the CRN-IB was established at a special session during the Annual European International Business Conference in Brighton in 2012. It aims to bring together and strengthen relationships and dialogue between academic, businesses and policymaking bodies working on and in Commonwealth countries.