Members of the department publish in world-leading journals such as Academy of Management Review, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of World Business, Journal of Management, Research Policy. Our publications are highly cited, and our researchers successfully gain funding for a wide range of research and impact projects. We translate our insights into our teaching through our postgraduate programmes and undergraduate modules that combine excellent research with real-life business experience and innovative teaching methods.
Research undertaken in SIB covers four broadly defined areas:
Organisations and Sustainable Development in the World Economy
Our research addresses some of the global challenges in terms of achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in the international economy, such as the role of MNCs in the transition towards more sustainable strategies through capability development for international business and entrepreneurial co-creation opportunities. This involves strategic change to adapt to the UN SDGs, for example zero-waste policies and circular economies, climate change, clean air and green energy. We focus on the role of organisations and technology in solving societal problems and facilitating positive change, but also address corporate social (ir-)responsibility, misconduct and organizational corruption. Our research examines issues ranging from base-of-pyramid business approaches and the role of business in poverty reduction to the wider political, economic and social issues in cities and regions across the world, critically reflecting on the role of the natural and built environment.
Associated people and projects
SIB members researching in this area include:
Associated Research Projects
Innovation and Collaboration in Global Value Chains and Multinational Strategies
Academics in the Strategy and International Business Department focus on management innovations and collaborative strategies in the global economy, including international strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions, global value chains and lean production, outsourcing and reshoring. Our global strategy research addresses issues such as strategic agility and resilience, corporate governance, global innovation networks, with a particular focus on emerging economies and emerging MNCs. We consider issues in global business from an interdisciplinary lens, critically investigating current issues such as political activities of multinationals or the impact of digital strategy and AI-applications on organizations and industries.
Associated people and projects
SIB members researching in this area include:
Associated Research Projects
SMEs and International Entrepreneurship
International expansion is increasingly undertaken by Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and our researchers are internationally recognised for their work on how SMEs make decisions and develop their networks when internationalizing, as well as how they develop business models and international new ventures. Staff also address the specific challenges faced migrant entrepreneurs and other types of diaspora networks as well as returnee entrepreneurship – a major driver of economic development in emerging economies.
SIB members researching in this area include:
Living in a World of Global Organizations
Academics in the Department are experts in international negotiations and the role of language and culture in multinationals. Multi-linguality and cross-cultural management can be challenging to manage for international organizations. Our researchers also continuously develop and approve research methods to better appreciate the changing global environment, including, cross-country surveys, qualitative multilingual and secondary qualitative research. These insights contribute to our teaching practice and are further developed through purposeful educational research, focusing on the internationalisation of higher education, the impact of digital technology on student learning and the role of executive education.
SIB members researching in this area include:
Interested in a PhD in Strategy and International Business?
The Department of Strategy and International Business welcomes applications from students intending to research strategy and international business in different contexts and drawing upon a range of theories and methodological approaches. Applicants are advised to consult the staff profiles in the department to identify a possible supervisor, and to consult our dedicated research profile.
View details of our PhD in Strategy and International Business. For general information on applying for a PhD at Birmingham Business School, please visit the school doctoral research pages.
Latest departmental research publications
Bryson, JR 2025, Human Resource Management and Retail Employment. in C Gallouj & F Gallouj (eds), Elgar Encyclopaedia of Retailing. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd., Cheltenham.
Salciuviene, L 2024, A digital teaching course and a case study: Sustainable and circular consumption. UDEMY. <https://www.udemy.com/course/sustainable-and-circular-consumption/>
Gyensare, MA, Miri, D, Zahoor, N & Alajaty, M 2024, 'Aspiring to go abroad: How and when international entrepreneurial aspiration fuel emerging markets entrepreneurial ventures’ internationalisation speed', Journal of International Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intman.2024.101130
Decker, S 2024, Business History. in C Korieh (ed.), Oxford Bibliographies in African Studies. Oxford University Press, New York. https://doi.org/10.1093/OBO/9780199846733-0239
Harris, J, Ramirez, P, Arnold, F & Redgrave, P 2024, 'Can communities be mobilised to build capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic? A qualitative process evaluation', BMJ open, vol. 14, no. 4, e078671. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078671
Adomako, S & Nguyen, NP 2024, 'Collaborative entrepreneurship and social innovation performance: Effects of institutional support and social legitimacy', Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2900
Mostafiz, MI, Ahmed, FU, Tardios, J, Hughes, P & Tarba, SY 2024, 'Configuring international entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic internationalization capability to predict international performance', International Business Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2024.102275
Ameen, N, Tarba, S, Cheah, JH, Xia, S & Sharma, GD 2024, 'Coupling Artificial Intelligence Capability and Strategic Agility for Enhanced Product and Service Creativity', British Journal of Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.12797
Xia, T & Liu, X 2024, 'Cross‐National Knowledge Distance and Host Country Innovation—The Mediating Roles of Local Talents and Third‐Country Exporting', Thunderbird International Business Review. https://doi.org/10.1002/tie.22414
Manu, EK, Chen, GS & Adomako, S 2024, 'Do environmental regulations and technological innovation enhance environmental well‐being in sub‐Saharan Africa?', Business Strategy and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3772
Wang, X, Yao, Z, Ma, C & Wang, C 2024, 'Does digital economy policy benefit green innovation? Evidence from heavily polluting industries in China', Industry and Innovation. https://doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2024.2304745
Qu, Y, Wang, C, Wei, Y, Wu, L & Zheng, N 2024, 'Does Eco-Innovation of Emerging Market Firms Benefit from Knowledge Spillovers of MNC in a Multi-dimensional Task Environment?', Management International Review, vol. 64, no. 3, pp. 527-565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11575-024-00546-4
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