Internationalization of Italian companies. A cross-cultural perspective

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation , 2021 , 57 Pages , Grade: 70

Business economics - Miscellaneous

This research aims to analyse the influence of cultural dimensions on the internationalization of Italian firms.
While there has been much research on international business and cultural aspects, few researchers have taken into consideration the peculiarities of the Italian culture and their influence on internationalization.

To test the hypothesis that Italian firms are influenced by the cultural dimensions identified by the GLOBE study, by the cultural distance indexes, and, eventually, by specific economic indexes, we have selected two dependent variables that express the most relevant modes through which firms enter a foreign country, namely foreign direct investments and trades.

Through an in-depth assessment of secondary data mainly available online, we have ranked the countries according to the foreign direct investment and trade performances. Results have been compared with cultural scores inferred from GLOBE and with competitiveness indexes devised by Schwab (2019), UNDP (2020), and IMD (2019). A cultural distance comparison based on differences between Italy and other countries has been made.

The outcomes show the Italian industry’s systemic weakness derived from the current competitiveness reports and record significant cultural gaps in relation to the top performer countries. Italy’s low score in GLOBE’s dimensions like performance orientation, future orientation, individualism, and uncertainty avoidance together with relatively high power distance put the country quite far from the cultural scores exhibited by the top performers. The results prove undoubtedly that the weakness of Italian internationalization strategy requires a new set of reforms aiming to increase the competitiveness of the country, resolve the eternal dilemma between North and South, and educate the future managers propelling a new international mentality in place of the “parochial” one typically affecting Italian Small and Medium Enterprises.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• ABSTRACT
• LIST OF TABLES
• CHAPTER 1
  • 1.1. Introduction
  • 1.2. Research Aim, Research Questions, Objectives, and Hypothesis
• CHAPTER 2
  • 2.1. Literature Review
• CHAPTER 3
  • 3.1. Research Design and Methodology
  • 3.2. Limitations
  • 3.3. Ethical Considerations
• CHAPTER 4
  • 4.1. The Italian Industry
  • 4.2. The GLOBE Framework and Italy
    • 4.2.1. Uncertainty Avoidance
    • 4.2.2. Future Orientation
    • 4.2.3. Power Distance
    • 4.2.4. Institutional and In-group collectivism
    • 4.2.5. Human Orientation
    • 4.2.6. Performance Orientation
    • 4.2.7. Gender Egalitarianism
    • 4.2.8. Assertiveness
  • 4.3. The GLOBE Framework and Trade Analysis
  • 4.4. Cultural Distance indexes: KS and CA
• CHAPTER 5
  • 5.1 Analysis of the results
  • 5.2 Italian trends and challenges
• CHAPTER 6
  • 6.1 Conclusions
• REFERENCES

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This dissertation aims to analyze the influence of cultural dimensions on the internationalization of Italian firms. It investigates how specific cultural characteristics impact Italian companies' success in foreign markets.

• The role of culture in international business.
• The influence of cultural dimensions on Italian firms' internationalization strategies.
• Analysis of the GLOBE Framework and its application to the Italian context.
• Assessment of cultural distance and its impact on internationalization outcomes.
• Identification of challenges and opportunities for Italian companies in the global marketplace.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter 1 introduces the research topic, outlining the aim, research questions, objectives, and hypothesis. Chapter 2 provides a comprehensive literature review on international business, cultural aspects, and the impact of culture on internationalization strategies. Chapter 3 details the research design and methodology, including data sources, data analysis techniques, and ethical considerations. Chapter 4 delves into the Italian industry, examining the GLOBE Framework and its application to the Italian context, specifically focusing on cultural dimensions like uncertainty avoidance, future orientation, power distance, and others. This chapter also explores cultural distance indexes, specifically KS and CA, and their relevance to the study. Chapter 5 analyzes the results, highlighting the relationship between cultural factors, internationalization variables, and the performance of Italian companies. It examines Italian trends and challenges in the global marketplace.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This research focuses on the internationalization of Italian companies, exploring the impact of cultural dimensions on their success in foreign markets. Key themes include the GLOBE Framework, cultural distance, foreign direct investment, trade performance, and the challenges faced by Italian businesses in a globalized environment. The study utilizes cultural distance indexes like KS and CA, providing a comprehensive understanding of how cultural factors influence internationalization outcomes for Italian firms.

• Grade: 70
• Author: Ivano Pini (Author)
• Publication Year: 2021
• Pages: 57
• Catalog Number: V1117257
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346481856
• ISBN (Book): 9783346481863
• Language: English
• Tags: Cross-cultural management, Internationalization, Business Management, International Business, Cultural Management, Business