ABSTRACT

This paper exploits novel data on Italian manufacturing firms to investigate how mimetic isomorphism influences offshore outsourcing and backshoring decisions among micro and small enterprises (MSEs). The results show that offshore outsourcing by peers located in the same home region positively affects the likelihood that an MSE will engage in the same global sourcing strategy. When these dynamics emerge, firms are more likely to engage in long-lasting foreign subcontracting relationships. Mimetic isomorphism is only detected during the early stages of the internationalization process, while backshoring practices appear to be the result of more independent decisions.

摘要

本文利用有关意大利制造公司的新数据来研究模仿同构如何影响微型和小型企业 (MSE) 的离岸外包和回岸决策。结果表明，位于同一家乡地区的同行进行离岸外包对 MSE 参与相同全球采购战略的可能性产生积极影响。当这些动态出现时，公司更有可能参与长期的外国分包关系。模仿同构仅在国际化过程的早期阶段被发现，而回溯实践似乎是更独立决策的结果。