Title: Institutions, resources and firm strategies: a comparative analysis of entrepreneurial firms in three transitional economies

Authors: Garry D. Bruton; Chung-Ming Lau; Krzysztof Obloj

Addresses: Neeley School of Business, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas 76129, USA ' Department of Management, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong ' School of Management, Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Business Strategy, Kozminski University, Warsaw, Poland

Abstract: This study contrasts the impacts of institutions on entrepreneurial high technology firms in three transitional economies that share many institutional similarities but have taken different paths to economic reform: China, Poland and Russia. The study explores the impact of institutions on core aspects of the firm including strategic orientation, top management dynamics and firm strategy. We argue that different institutional environments that result from different development paths produce different strategic mindsets and generate different strategic actions. The findings have significant implications for institutional effects on transitional economies, which are discussed in light of future research on entrepreneurial firms.

Keywords: strategic orientation; high-tech firms; entrepreneurial firms; comparative analysis; institutions; international management; resources; transitional economies; entrepreneurship; entrepreneurs; high technology; China; Poland; Russia; firm strategies; top management dynamics; economic reform.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2014.064905

European Journal of International Management, 2014 Vol.8 No.6, pp.697 - 720

Received: 07 Mar 2013
Accepted: 13 Jul 2013
Published online: 21 Oct 2014 *

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