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Banks and building societies are increasingly concerned to sell insurance and investment products within their branch networks. Reports on the different ways in which this process is managed within three major UK financial services institutions. Examines how the different forms of integration create distinctive problems for management. Argues that management has to balance the requirements for integration with the need to develop a change process which minimizes conflict and encourages co‐operation between different groups within the companies. Integration is seen as a long‐term change process which institutions need to manage in ways that fit their own existing cultures and structures. Such a change process can be most effective where it develops from a strong customer orientation so marketing has a central role to play.

The paper argues that the form, structure and ideologies of elites are embedded in particular forms of capitalism. Whilst elites in these different societies are engaged in a common task of ensuring that their position is sustained and protected in the light of economic and political uncertainties, the way in which they are able to do this is shaped by the particular forms of legitimation, coordination and cohesion that are embedded in particular institutional trajectories, path dependencies and complementarities. However, the paper emphasizes that these institutional structures are dependent on particular international economic orders and when these change either over the short or the long term, elites often find themselves struggling to maintain their position without significant changes. The paper examines firstly how the long-term change from Keynesianism to neo-liberalism in the international economic order led to changes in the terrain on which elites in different countries formed and exercised power and secondly how the immediate and drastic short-term changes in the global economy arising from the financial crisis has impacted on elites.

This paper aims to discuss the context- and power-sensitive approach to the study of multinationals that has emerged in the last decade, argues for the need to supplement it by a clearer focus on the wider geopolitical context in which multinationals operate and outlines the implications for the development of IB research in this area.

The paper provides a summary overview of context- and power-sensitive studies of multinationals before proposing a research agenda for the next decade. In particular, it argues for the need to combine the institutionalist angle taken by context/power analyses with post-colonial theory as a means of bringing geopolitics into the study of multinationals, a task that CPoIB is well positioned to accomplish.

The paper identifies a lack of “criticality” in context/power research and, in particular, a lack of attention to the neo-imperial character of multinationals with specific regards to their management and organisation.

The implications of this paper are that the nature of contemporary multinationals is further illuminated, especially their role in (re-)producing (neo-)imperial relations in a supposedly post-colonial world. Further, the paper suggests an agenda for future research on the relationship between imperialism and multinationals.

The value of the paper is in drawing together more closely the study of multinationals as organizational structures and political systems with the history of imperialism and contemporary post-colonial theorising.

Reviews recent developments in new accounting research (NAR). Gives particular attention to recent empirical research within this perspective and uses the metaphor of (in)visibility to explore the distinctive nature of accounting as a set of social practices. Argues that much recent research seeks to make visible the conditions and consequences of accounting practices and the ways in which accounting(s) contribute(s) to the processes of social and organizational (re)production. In spite of this critical approach, however, NAR has very limited engagement with policy issues and debates. While recognizing the institutional pressures that tend to confine debate, urges proponents of NAR to consider how to communicate the significance of their work beyond the confines of the academic community.

This paper aims to explore internationalisation strategies of service firms in sectors where markets become increasingly globalised while resource environments still remain distinctively shaped by national institutions.

A theoretical framework is proposed that suggests that the more firms expand their business activities across borders by building up offices abroad or merging with firms from other countries, the more likely they are to embrace recombinant strategies to blend elements of different societal legacies. Subsequently, a comparative case study of internationalisation strategies, governance modes and organisational forms of European and US law firms is presented to illustrate the value of the framework, followed by the analysis of a novel data set on multi‐jurisdictional qualifications of partners in these international law firms.

By virtue of their integrative organisational model and mobilisation of versatile legal competences, large pan‐European law firms are challenging the dominance of US law firms in international legal markets, while the latter in response are revising their own previous export‐oriented internationalisation strategy.

The present study provides a starting point for further research on internationalisation in service industries.

The framework is useful to expand effect societal analysis to dynamic international environments.

In this paper, we analyse how the national variety in professional organisation is affected by the current period of globalisation by reference to key features of the business law firm in the US, the UK and Germany. Our argument is that changes in law firms from these different countries are indeed intertwined with each other through a gradual process of legal globalisation but that they are not necessarily converging on a dominant US model. Rather we find evidence that new hybrid types of firms are arising in Europe out of a re-combination of elements of different national models.

Journals in business logistics, operations management, supply chain management, and business strategy have initiated ongoing calls for Big Data research and its impact on research and practice. Currently, no extant research has defined the concept fully. The purpose of this paper is to develop an industry grounded definition of Big Data by canvassing supply chain managers across six nations. The supply chain setting defines Big Data as inclusive of four dimensions: volume, velocity, variety, and veracity. The study further extracts multiple concepts that are important to the future of supply chain relationship strategy and performance. These outcomes provide a starting point and extend a call for theoretically grounded and paradigm-breaking research on managing business-to-business relationships in the age of Big Data.

A native categories qualitative method commonly employed in sociology allows each executive respondent to provide rich, specific data. This approach reduces interviewer bias while examining 27 companies across six industrialized and industrializing nations. This is the first study in supply chain management and logistics (SCMLs) to use the native category approach.

This study defines Big Data by developing four supporting dimensions that inform and ground future SCMLs research; details ten key success factors/issues; and discusses extensive opportunities for future research.

This study provides a central grounding of the term, dimensions, and issues related to Big Data in supply chain research.

Supply chain managers are provided with a peer-specific definition and unified dimensions of Big Data. The authors detail key success factors for strategic consideration. Finally, this study notes differences in relational priorities concerning these success factors across different markets, and points to future complexity in managing supply chain and logistics relationships.

There is currently no central grounding of the term, dimensions, and issues related to Big Data in supply chain research. For the first time, the authors address subjects related to how supply chain partners employ Big Data across the supply chain, uncover Big Data’s potential to influence supply chain performance, and detail the obstacles to developing Big Data’s potential. In addition, the study introduces the native category qualitative interview approach to SCMLs researchers.

Reporting on ongoing research within a major life insurance company, the difficulties in managing a salesforce are examined. Contradictions and strains created by the mode of management, particularly affecting the salesforce and customers, are explored. It is argued that a “professionalisation of selling”, brought about by a combination of strategic human resource management and government legislation (in the form of the Financial Services Act) will considerably improve the conduct and quality of selling in the future.

Reviews the current transition in French retail banking from oligopolistic power and strict state control towards a greater marketing orientation and competitive challenges. Drawing on research including interviews with French marketing practitioners, identifies a number of trends in marketing practice – the expansion and targeting of products and distribution channels, packaging products and “personalizing” services. Illustrates the centrality of market segmentation to these practices by the use of a case study company, Credit Agricole. Focusing on the organization′s use of a psychographic study on European lifestyles, shows segmentation to be a core strategic tool in a changing society and competitive marketplace. Concludes by noting the parallels between developments in France and elsewhere, but also highlighting the application of marketing in particular economic and cultural contexts. In addition, identifies some possible dangers with targeting and “courting” particular consumer segments with a “personalized” service.