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The ‘Casino Model’ of internationalization: An alternative Uppsala paradigm

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Abstract

Forty years after the publication of the original Uppsala Model, we revisit the empirical observations that inspired its conceptual development. The empirical evidence, we suggest, invites the formulation of an alternative and complementary model of the internationalization process of the firm, one that we have named the ‘Casino Model’ of internationalization. The Casino Model uncovers a number of new research issues pertaining to internationalization and to the nature of strategic decision-making under conditions of environmental uncertainty and partial ignorance.

Résumé

Quarante ans après la publication du modèle original d’Uppsala, nous revisitons les observations empiriques qui ont inspiré son développement conceptuel. Nous considérons que les données empiriques invitent à la formulation d’un modèle alternatif et complémentaire sur le processus d’internationalisation de la firme ; modèle que nous avons dénommé le modèle Casino d’internationalisation. Le modèle Casino révèle un certain nombre de nouvelles questions de recherche se rapportant à l’internationalisation et à la nature de la prise de décision stratégique dans des conditions d’incertitude environnementale et d’ignorance partielle.

Resumen

Cuarenta años después de la publicación del modelo original Uppsala, revisamos las observaciones empíricas que inspiraron su desarrollo conceptual. Sugerimos, que la evidencia invita a la formulación de un modelo alternativo y complementario del proceso de internacionalización de la empresa, uno que hemos llamado el “Modelo Casino” de internacionalización. El Modelo Casino destapa una serie de nuevos temas de investigación concernientes a la internacionalización y la naturaleza de la toma de decisiones estratégicas bajo condiciones de incertidumbre ambiental y de ignorancia parcial.

Resumo

Quarenta anos após a publicação do modelo Uppsala original, revisamos as observações empíricas que inspiraram seu desenvolvimento conceitual. A evidência empírica, sugerimos, convida à formulação de um modelo alternativo e complementar do processo de internacionalização da empresa, que denominamos o “Modelo Casino” de internacionalização. O modelo Casino revela uma série de novas questões de pesquisa relativas à internacionalização e à natureza da tomada de decisão estratégica em condições de incerteza ambiental e ignorância parcial.

概要

在乌普萨拉模型原始文本发表四十年后,我们重新审视了启发其概念发展的实证观察。实证证据,我们建议,要求我们提出一个公司国际化进程的替代和补充模式,我们将其命名为国际化的“赌场模型”。赌场模式揭示了一些与国际化和在环境不确定和部分无知的条件下战略决策性质有关的新的研究议题。

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Acknowledgements

We thank Carlota Colaço, whose Master Thesis sparked the ideas we have tried to articulate here, Jan-Erik Vahlne for sharing his memories, and Alain Verbeke for constructive criticism and unfailing attention to detail. Philip Kappen gratefully acknowledges financial support from Handelsbanken’s Research Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of International Economics and Management, Copenhagen Business School, Porcelaenshaven 24B, DK-2000, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    Lars Håkanson

  2. Department of Business Studies, Uppsala University, Box 513, SE-751 20, Uppsala, Sweden

    Philip Kappen

Authors
  1. Lars Håkanson
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  2. Philip Kappen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lars Håkanson.

Additional information

Accepted by Alain Verbeke, Editor-in-Chief, 2 September 2017. This article has been with the authors for one revision and was single-blind reviewed.

Appendix

Appendix

Table A1 Cox Proportional hazard models
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Håkanson, L., Kappen, P. The ‘Casino Model’ of internationalization: An alternative Uppsala paradigm. J Int Bus Stud 48, 1103–1113 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-017-0113-9

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