Brand orientation in a culturally-diverse context: entrepreneurial insights gained from a structurationist perspective. (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vallaster, Christine; Czinkota, Michael
• Is Part Of: International journal of entrepreneurial venturing. Volume 8:Number 4(2016)
• Page Start: 355
• Page End: 377
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: brand orientation -- internationalisation -- market entry -- expansion -- geographical culture -- structuration theory -- action learning -- action research -- ALAR -- SMEs -- small and medium-sized enterprises -- entrepreneurship -- organisational structure -- culturally diverse environments -- entrepreneurial activities; Entrepreneurship -- Periodicals; Business enterprises -- Periodicals; 658.42105
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-5360

Abstract

Despite an increase of contributions towards brand orientation, contemporary theory widely lacks answers as to the 'extent' and 'the ways' in which organisational structure and geographical culture influence this process. In this paper, the perspective that individuals, organisations and societies have particular histories and cultures that affect the process of developing brand orientation is reinforced. We provide a conceptual discussion of structuration theory, applied to the brand orientation process in a culturally-diverse context. The structurationist perspective is supported, illustrated and elaborated by a case analysis, using the qualitative research approach of action learning/action research. We show that facilitating a brand orientation process in a culturally-diverse environment is a highly entrepreneurial activity: leaders of a company have to weave connections between company-external markets and their actors, between company-internal brand structures, processes as well as artefacts and employees through social interaction in an ongoing co-evolution.