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Knowledge Attributes and Internationalization of E-service Firms: Literature Review and Conceptual Model

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Networks in International Business

Part of the book series: Contributions to Management Science ((MANAGEMENT SC.))

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Abstract

While previous international business studies have addressed e-commerce in the form of online retail shopping, there is a lack of research on how e-service firms enter international markets. Our study attempts to address this gap by systematically analyzing the relevant literature and developing a conceptual model that explains the internationalization of e-service firms. Specifically, we explore how their specific knowledge attributes affect the internationalization process and the choice of entry mode of e-service firms. Our conceptual framework distinguishes hard and soft service components of e-service firms by two types of knowledge characteristics—codifiable firm know-how and non-codifiable (intangible) firm know-how. We develop three propositions on the entry mode choice of e-service firms—low-control modes, network modes, and high-control modes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Business, Economics and Statistics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Alexandra Vayle & Maria Jell-Ojobor

  2. Department of Business and Management, LUISS Guido Carli University, Rome, Italy

    Alexandra Vayle & Maria Jell-Ojobor

Authors
  1. Alexandra Vayle
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  2. Maria Jell-Ojobor
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    George WJ Hendrikse

  2. University Rennes 1, CREM UMR CNRS 6211, Rennes, France

    GĂ©rard Cliquet

  3. Faculty of Business, Economics and Statistics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Ilir Hajdini

  4. Faculty Business, Economics and Statistics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Aveed Raha

  5. Faculty of Business, Economics and Statistics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Josef Windsperger

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Vayle, A., Jell-Ojobor, M. (2023). Knowledge Attributes and Internationalization of E-service Firms: Literature Review and Conceptual Model. In: Hendrikse, G.W., Cliquet, G., Hajdini, I., Raha, A., Windsperger, J. (eds) Networks in International Business. Contributions to Management Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18134-4_16

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