Knowledge connectivity in an adverse context – global value chains and Pakistani offshore service providers

Sinkovics, Noemi; Choksy, Umair Shafi; Sinkovics, Rudolf R.; Mudambi, Ram

Abstract

This paper contributes to theory building efforts around the concept of knowledge connectivity and its relevance in buyer-supplier relationships in global value chains. We use the Pakistani IT industry as our study context. Pakistan suffered a significant adverse perception bias following terror attacks in 2008-09. We based our illustration on the experiences of 12 Pakistani offshore service providers (OSPs) who succeeded in offsetting the negative implications of the country’s adverse political environment. The case firms link into two distinct value chain configurations. In each configuration, we observe a distinct course of strategic action, which we term step-up and break-out, respectively. While these observations emerged from the Pakistani context, the implications of the resulting dynamic framework for theory and practice go beyond this particular adverse country setting.

Citation

Sinkovics, N., Choksy, U. S., Sinkovics, R. R., & Mudambi, R. (2019). Knowledge connectivity in an adverse context – global value chains and Pakistani offshore service providers. Management International Review, 59(1), 131-170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11575-018-0372-0

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 28, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Feb 11, 2019
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Sep 11, 2024
• Journal: Management International Review
• Print ISSN: 0938-8249
• Electronic ISSN: 1861-8901
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 59
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 131-170
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11575-018-0372-0
• Keywords: Global value chain, connectivity, adverse context, practices, supplier strategies, global sourcing, economic geography, comfort zone, catch-up, GVC
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2773196