Internalization Theory as the General Theory of International Strategic Management: Jean-François Hennart’s Contributions

Abstract

We discuss Professor Jean-François Hennart’s key contributions to international strategic management theory, with a special focus on his integrative, 2009 Journal of International Business Studies article, ‘Down with MNE-centric theories! Market entry and expansion as the bundling of MNE and local assets’. In Hennart’s (2009) model, complementary assets co-determine the MNE’s initial entry mode choice and the subsequent evolution of the MNE foreign operations’ governance. Hennart (2009) describes this perspective on MNE governance as one based on asset bundling. We focus on the paper’s conceptual insights and discuss how Hennart’s model of foreign market entry informs managerial practice in the realm of international strategy.

Citation

Verbeke, A. and Hillemann, J. (2013), "Internalization Theory as the General Theory of International Strategic Management: Jean-François Hennart’s Contributions", Devinney, T.M., Pedersen, T. and Tihanyi, L. (Ed.) Philosophy of Science and Meta-Knowledge in International Business and Management (Advances in International Management, Vol. 26), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 35-52. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1571-5027(2013)0000026007