Towards a renaissance in international business research? Big questions, grand challenges, and the future of IB scholarship

Peter J Buckley (), Jonathan P Doh () and Mirko H Benischke ()
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Peter J Buckley: University of Leeds
Jonathan P Doh: Villanova University
Mirko H Benischke: Erasmus University Rotterdam

Journal of International Business Studies, 2017, vol. 48, issue 9, No 2, 1045-1064

Abstract: Abstract In this article, we review critiques of international business (IB) research with a focus on whether IB scholarship tackles “big questions.” We identify three major areas where IB scholars have addressed important global phenomena, but find that they have had little influence outside of IB, and only limited effects on business or government policy. We propose a redirection of IB research towards “grand challenges” in global business and the use of interdisciplinary research methods, multilevel approaches, and phenomena-driven perspectives to address those questions. We argue that IB can play a more constructive and vital role by tackling expansive topics at the business–societal interface.

Keywords: evaluation of current theories; international business theory; MNEs and economic growth; institutional environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (83)

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DOI: 10.1057/s41267-017-0102-z

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