The Influence of product-specific determinants on software firms’ international entry mode choices

Winkler, Jessica; Dibbern, Jens; Heinzl, Armin (2009). The Influence of product-specific determinants on software firms’ international entry mode choices (Working papers in general management and information systems 02/2009). Mannheim: University of Mannheim, Department of General Management and Information Systems

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In an environment of globalization of software and IT services, providing software solutions in international markets has become a strategic necessity for many software firms. When setting up international business operations, software firms need to make a fundamental choice on the distribution arrangements for software and related services in foreign markets. Particularly, such arrangements may either involve contracting with local partners to distribute products and services or extending the firm abroad by establishing wholly-owned subsidiaries or deploying employees. This study focuses on analyzing such boundary choices of software product firms in international markets. Taking a knowledge-based perspective, a research model is developed that outlines the influence of software product and service characteristics on software firms’ international entry mode choices. The research model is tested using PLS based on survey data from internationally operating software firms. The study findings support the knowledge-based reasoning that unique knowledge inherent in a software product that may be required during the sales process can be more easily transferred within firm boundaries. Particularly, the results point out the need for software firms to enter foreign markets through company-owned channels (i.e., wholly-owned subsidiaries or employee deployment) if the business processes and the functionality reflected in software product are highly specific. Likewise, company-owned channels are chosen if a high share of complementary services (e.g., implementation, consulting, training, maintenance, and support) is provided along with the introduction of a software product in a foreign market. In contrast, if significant country-specific adaptations of software products need to be performed, in particular language localization, the required knowledge is most effectively integrated through cooperation with local sales partners.

Item Type:

Working Paper

Division/Institute:

03 Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences > Department of Business Management > Institute of Information Systems
03 Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences > Department of Business Management > Institute of Information Systems > Information Engineering
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Haematology, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Medicine and Hospital Pharmacy (DOLS) > Clinic of Medical Oncology

UniBE Contributor:

Dibbern, Jens, Heinzl, Armin Horst

Subjects:

000 Computer science, knowledge & systems
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 330 Economics
600 Technology > 650 Management & public relations
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

Series:

Working papers in general management and information systems

Publisher:

University of Mannheim, Department of General Management and Information Systems

Language:

English

Submitter:

Gowthaman Udayakumar

Date Deposited:

03 Dec 2019 10:51

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:33

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.135881

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/135881

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