Challenges of Process Research in International Business

One of the main characteristics of process research is that it requires collecting and analyzing process data—information that captures how events and actions unfold over time. However, as Langley (1999) points out, this type of data is often messy, complicated, and qualitative. It doesn’t fit neatly into rows and columns like numbers in a spreadsheet. Instead, it involves stories, events, and timelines, making it harder to organize, measure, and analyze.

Why Process Research Is Harder in International Business

Studying processes in the context of international business (IB) comes with even more challenges due to the unique nature of the field. Here’s why:

Long Timeframes:

• Many international business activities happen over very long periods, sometimes years or even decades.
• For example, when a company expands internationally (the internationalization process), it doesn’t happen overnight. A company may explore new markets, experiment with entry strategies (e.g., partnerships, acquisitions, or building its own presence), and adjust its approach over many years.
• Researchers need to observe and collect data over these extended periods to fully capture the process of change, which is a massive commitment in terms of time and resources.

1. Geographical Spread:
   
   • International business often spans multiple countries, making it harder to gather all the necessary information.
   • For example, a company might have headquarters in one country, subsidiaries in five other countries, and operations in a dozen more. Collecting data from all these locations adds logistical complexity—different time zones, languages, cultural practices, and business environments.

Multiple Levels of Analysis:

1. Process research in IB isn’t just about observing one group of people. It often involves looking at multiple levels of the organization and external actors.
2. For example, researchers might need data from:
   • Headquarters (e.g., strategic decisions made by executives).
   • Subsidiaries (e.g., local teams adapting the strategy to fit their market).
   • External Stakeholders (e.g., partners, suppliers, or customers).
3. These actors often interact in complex ways, making it harder to track and analyze their roles in the overall process.

Broad Scope of Data:

• Because international business involves a mix of time (long periods), space (geographic spread), and levels (multiple actors), process data can be overwhelming to collect and analyze.
• Researchers need to piece together a wide variety of information, such as interviews, documents, meeting notes, performance data, and even observations, all while ensuring the data reflects the sequence of events accurately.

A Common Concern Among Researchers

Despite the importance of process research in IB, it’s relatively rare in the field. Many scholars have noted that most studies focus on variance theorizing (identifying cause-and-effect relationships between variables) rather than exploring the processes that lead to those outcomes. This creates a gap in understanding how and why things happen in IB over time.

For example:

• Variance studies might show that “trust between headquarters and subsidiaries leads to better performance.”
• But process research would uncover how trust develops, what challenges arise along the way, and how trust shapes decisions over time.

Inspiration from Existing Process Research

Although process research in IB is less common, there is a body of work that offers inspiration. Researchers have used process methods to overcome the challenges mentioned above and successfully study complex IB phenomena. To learn from these efforts check out studies published between 1999 and 2024 that cited foundational process research texts (like Langley, 1999, and Langley et al., 2013).

Their goal wasn’t to provide an exhaustive review or list every relevant study. Instead, they aimed to highlight a diverse set of examples that demonstrate different ways process research has been applied in IB. By doing this, they hope to showcase practical strategies for collecting, analyzing, and theorizing process data, even in the challenging context of international business.

Important Points

1. Process Research Is Complex:
   
   • It involves long timelines, large geographic scopes, and multiple levels of analysis, which makes data collection and analysis far more challenging compared to traditional methods.
2. Process Data Is Messy:
   
   • Unlike structured, quantitative data, process data often involves narratives, events, and activities that are hard to measure and organize.
3. International Business Adds Layers of Complexity:
   
   • The global nature of IB means researchers must account for cross-border differences, long-term changes, and interactions between many actors.
4. Existing Studies Can Guide Future Research:
   
   • By examining past examples of process research in IB, researchers can find inspiration and strategies for overcoming these challenges.

Process research in international business is essential for understanding how and why things happen over time in global organizations. While the challenges are significant—such as messy data, long timeframes, and geographical complexity—there is a growing body of work that demonstrates how these hurdles can be addressed. By building on these examples, researchers can contribute valuable insights into the dynamic and evolving nature of international business processes.