Title: Contextualising the individual in international management research: black boxes, comfort zones and a future research agenda

Authors: Dana Minbaeva

Addresses: Department of Strategic Management and Globalization, Copenhagen Business School, Kilevej 14, 2.74, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark

Abstract: In this paper, I call for further contextualisation of the individual in international management research. In this 'opinion piece', my goal is to stimulate debate and elicit a thoughtful reaction. Accordingly, this paper aims to provoke and excite, rather than review and summarise. On the basis of my own work and the work of my colleagues, I critically reflect on arguments previously made in this line of research, and illustrate the nuances that become apparent when we (a) purposefully introduce individual heterogeneity into the research model and (b) use context heterogeneity as a source for theorising and avoid post hoc contextualisation.

Keywords: individuals; individual heterogeneity; context heterogeneity; contextualisation; MNCs; multinational corporations; multi-level; micro-foundation; international management research; black boxes; comfort zones.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2016.073990

European Journal of International Management, 2016 Vol.10 No.1, pp.95 - 104

Published online: 31 Dec 2015 *

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