Global Value Chains, Business Networks, Strategy, and International Business: Convergences

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this paper is to clarify the distinction between Global Value Chains and selected strands of the business literature: business networks, strategy, and international business. These four research areas have starting questions that are often different and the audiences they address also differ. There have been attempts to establish links across these theories, but these are exceptions rather than the rule. Design/methodology/approach The basic principles and concepts of the four areas are identified. The results are used to develop a summary matrix of the approaches. The methodological path is inductive and inferential, as the task involves searching for similarities, complementarities, and overlaps across the four social science disciplines. Findings The literature of the studied fields overlaps on the issues they are trying to understand, even if they do not use identical terminology. The four areas advocate the same principle in understanding the organizational field: complexity. Firms are triggered to enter into exchange with other companies. Originality/value The theoretical contribution of this article is based on the idea that although the four research fields - GVC, Business Networks, Strategy, and International Business - advance independently from each other, common origins can be observed, allowing for a set of common propositions.摘要 研究目的 本文旨在厘清全球价值链（Global Value Chains）与商业领域三类核心文献分支——商业网络（Business Networks）、战略以及国际商务之间的界限。四大研究领域的初始研究问题各不相同，其服务的受众群体亦存在差异。此前虽有学者尝试搭建各理论间的关联，但此类尝试仍属特例，并未成为主流范式。 研究设计与方法 本研究首先明确四大领域的核心原则与概念，据此构建四类研究范式的总结性对比矩阵。本研究采用归纳与推演结合的路径，因任务需在四大社会科学学科中探寻共性、互补性与重叠之处。 研究发现 本次研究涉及的四大领域文献，即便所用术语不尽相同，但其核心研究议题存在重叠。四大领域在理解组织场域的核心原则上达成共识：复杂性。企业开展跨主体交易的动因正是源于此。 研究贡献与价值 本文的理论贡献基于以下观点：尽管全球价值链、商业网络、战略与国际商务四大研究领域各自独立发展，但仍可追溯其共同起源，由此可推导出一系列共通的研究命题。