International Retailers’ Performance in Host Countries (eBook)

Dr. Lukas Morbe worked as research assistant at the Chair for Marketing and Retailing at Trier University, where he received his doctoral degree.

Foreword 6
Acknowledgements 8
Content 10
Figures 14
Tables 15
Abbreviations 17
A. Introduction 22
1. Focus and Relevance 22
2. Research Gaps and Literature Review 26
2.1. Overview 26
2.2. International Market Selection and Internationalization Patterns 27
2.3. International Strategies and Firm-specific Advantages 31
2.4. Coordination 33
2.5. Adaptation and Standardization Decisions 35
2.6. Consumer Perceptions and Expectations 38
2.7. International Retailers’ Performance 42
2.8. General Research Objectives 46
3. Structure and Contribution of the Studies 48
3.1. International Strategy’s Effects on Retailers’ Local Implementation and Performance 48
3.2. An Inter- and Intra-format Perspective on Transfer and Perception of Retail Formats 50
3.3. Country Environment, Retailers’ Resources and Local Performance: A Cross-classified Multi-level Approach 52
4. Further Remarks 54
B. Study 1: International Strategy’s Effects on Retailers’ Local Implementation and Performance 56
1. Introduction 56
2. Conceptual Framework and Hypotheses 59
2.1. Conceptual Framework 59
2.2. Hypotheses on I/R’s Direct Performance Implications 61
2.3. Hypotheses on I/R’s Indirect Performance Implications 62
2.3.1. I/R-Standardization-Performance Paths 62
2.3.2. I/R-Centralization-Performance Paths 63
3. Empirical Study 64
3.1. Sample 64
3.2. Measurements 66
3.3. Method 69
3.4. Results 71
4. Discussion and Implications 74
4.1. Research Implications 75
4.2. Managerial Implications 78
5. Limitations and Further Research 78
C. Study 2: An Inter- and Intra-format Perspective on Transfer and Perception of Retail Formats 80
1. Introduction 80
2. Conceptual Framework and Hypotheses 82
2.1. Inter-format Perspective 83
2.2. Intra-format Perspective 84
2.3. RBE and Loyalty 86
3. Empirical Study 86
3.1. Context and Sample 86
3.2. Measurement 88
3.3. Method 89
3.4. Results 91
4. Discussion and Implications 95
4.1. Research Implications 95
4.2. Managerial Implications 97
5. Limitations and Further Research 98
D. Study 3: Country Environment, Retailers’ Resources and Local Performance: A Cross-classified Multi-level Approach 100
1. Introduction 100
2. Antecedents of International Retailers’ Local Performance 102
2.1. International Firms’ Performance 102
2.2. Relevance of Local Performance 103
2.3. Role of Different Environmental Levels in the Grocery Retail Context 104
3. Hypotheses Development 106
3.1. Country-specific Environment 106
3.2. Store Format-specific Environment 107
3.3. International Retail Firms’ Resources 107
4. Empirical Study 111
4.1. Sample and Data 111
4.2. Measurement 112
4.3. Method 115
4.4. Results 121
5. Discussion and Implications 123
5.1. Research Implications 123
5.2. Managerial Implications 127
6. Limitations and Further Research 128
E. Final Remarks 130
1. Discussion and Implications 130
1.1. Core Results 130
1.2. Theoretical Implications 134
1.3. Practical Implications 137
2. Further Research 140
References 144
Appendix 169
1. Study 1: International Strategy’s Effects on Retailers’ Local Implementation and Performance 169
1.1. Alternative Model for Distant Countries 169
1.2. Alternative Models Excluding Swiss and Austrian Firms 170
2. Study 2: An Inter- and Intra-format Perspective on Transfer and Perception of Retail Formats 171
2.1. Sample Selection 171
2.2. Measurement 172
2.3. Reliability and Validity Testing 173
2.4. Weighting Adjustment as Test for Non-response Bias 174
2.5. Common Method Variance Testing 175
2.6. Measurement Invariance Testing 177
2.7. Rival Models 178
3. Study 3: Country Environment, Retailers’ Resources and Local Performance: A Cross-classified Multi-level Approach 180
3.1. Robustness Check without Approximated Culture Data 180
3.2. Alternative Model including Cultural Distance 181
3.3. Alternative Model including Inter-format Competition 182
3.4. Alternative Model including International Experience 183
3.5. Alternative Model including Scope of International Operations 184
3.6. Alternative Model including Format Dummies 185