The Illusion of Political Power: Evidence from a Failed FDI in a Developing Market

Abstract

Purpose – By means of this case study, we aim to learn from failure and provide an explanatory approach why the promising prospects in a developing country could not be exploited and strategic actions failed.

Design/methodology/approach – Based on literature within the areas of uncertainty, entrepreneurial activity and political strategy, we provide an event-based case analysis and develop an explanatory model as to why the foreign direct investment (FDI) failed.

Findings – Results provide insights on the effectiveness of political strategies and point to the relevance of entrepreneurial overconfidence as a diminishing cognitive process leading to a misinterpretation of both internal and external conditions.

Originality/value – The exploratory study provides in-depth insights on a failed business and presents an explanatory approach for the business’ collapse.

Citation

Heidenreich, S. and Puck, J.F. (2012), "The Illusion of Political Power: Evidence from a Failed FDI in a Developing Market", Van Tulder, R., Verbeke, A. and Voinea, L. (Ed.) New Policy Challenges for European Multinationals (Progress in International Business Research, Vol. 7), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 203-229. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1745-8862(2012)0000007012