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Developing brand identities for international new ventures under uncertainty: Decision-making logics and psychic distance

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  • Kusi, Samuel Yaw
  • Gabrielsson, Peter
  • Kontkanen, Minnie

Abstract

While many models describe efforts to build brand identity, none specifies the brand identity development for small firms facing uncertainty, such as rapidly internationalizing international new ventures. By examining four such case firms informed by interviews and archival data spanning five years, this study identifies three brand identity development states: unbranded, sporadically branded, and focused branded international new ventures. Brand values, brand personality, and brand relationships are critical brand identity dimensions that manifest in the three states. A related model and propositions help explicate how uncertainty owing to psychic distance moderates the impact of decision-making logics on brand identity development. We show how the role of decision-making logic affects the prominence given to different dimensions of brand identity in the developmental states. Moreover, we reveal the associated change and state mechanism allowing for the rapid advancement of brand identity states in international new ventures.

Suggested Citation

  • Kusi, Samuel Yaw & Gabrielsson, Peter & Kontkanen, Minnie, 2021. "Developing brand identities for international new ventures under uncertainty: Decision-making logics and psychic distance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(6).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:30:y:2021:i:6:s0969593121000743
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2021.101867
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    Cited by:

    1. Kusi, Samuel Yaw & Gabrielsson, Peter & Baumgarth, Carsten, 2022. "How classical and entrepreneurial brand management increases the performance of internationalising SMEs?," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(5).
    2. Betty Feng, Jing & Liu, Steven Y.H. & Anne Liu, Leigh, 2023. "Cognitive antecedents of EMNEs’ dynamic capabilities: A case study of global identity at Lenovo," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).

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