A multi-level analysis for examining the diffusion of intrapreneurship strategies for growth and global competetive advantage

The aim of my research is to conduct a multi-level analysis of the diffusion of entrepreneurial and innovative strategies of companies to grow and gain competitive advantage in domestic and foreign markets. Inspired by Dess, et al.'s (2003) notable paper, one of the main propositions of this research project is that the relationship between entrepreneurship, capabilities renewal and internationalisation is an important one and highly topical. This is further supported by the growing number of special issues on this subject, including a recent Special Issue in the Journal of International Business Studies (2017) on the subject of dynamic capabilities. The importance of venture creation and the emergence of new business and/or product ideas for International Strategy have been captured in different concepts such as technology (Cavusgil & Knight, 2015), knowledge (Dhanaraj, et al., 2004) and innovation (Andersson, et al., 2016). My research will specifically focus on innovation both as a process and an outcome, studying the various required components for successful innovative project, as well as the effects and compositions of innovation networks amongst firms and other parties (universities, public research labs etc). In today's global and uncertain environment, innovation represents an important factor for a firm's survival, which is irrespective of its size, age and industry. Therefore, my research aims to look at a variety of organisations, ranging from regionally-operating SME's to globally-present MNC's.
I am aware of the fact that the scope of my proposed PhD study depends on the availability of data. Therefore, I will employ mixed methods, including statistical analysis of secondary data, as well as qualitative case studies. In fact, a case study on the innovation-aimed activities within an organisation would be the ideal research methodology. However, aware of the difficulties in gaining access to internal company data, I remain flexible by starting with a statistical analysis of a data set to better understand certain relationships and outcomes of firm's innovation activities. Overall, I am confident that mixed methods will allow me to gather and analyse the required data, and to answer my intended research questions.
My research aims to uncover some important implications for theory, especially in IB strategy and innovation. Companies can generate entrepreneurial rent through risk taking and entrepreneurial ambitions in a complex environment that is full of uncertainty (Mahoney & Pandian, 1992). This applies to today's business landscape more than ever, where the largest taxi company (Uber) does not own a single taxi and the largest hospitality service (AirBnB) does not own a single hotel. These two examples certainly highlight the shift from the importance of tangible assets to the increasing importance of in-tangible ones, including technical knowledge and branding. This in turn illustrates the decreasing barriers of entry to a growing number of industries due to the wide diffusion of technological knowledge utilised by innovative start-ups to disrupt their respective sectors, without having to struggle with the initial investment in tangible assets. Therefore, engaging in entrepreneurial and innovative activities is vital for established organisations (whether small or large), if they want to sustain their competitive advantages. Overall, my research will provide clarity on the complex and intriguing interplay between entrepreneurship, innovation and international business strategy.