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New Insights into the Internationalization of Producer Services: Organizational Strategies and Spatial Economies for Global Headhunting Firms

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  • James R Faulconbridge

    (Department of Geography, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, England)

  • Sarah J E Hall
  • Jonathan V Beaverstock

Abstract

This paper uses the exemplar of global headhunting firms to provide new insights into the intricacies of internationalization and related ‘spatial economies’ of producer services in the world economy. In particular, we unpack the complex relationships between the organizational rationale for, the selected mode of, and future benefits gained by internationalization, as headhunting firms seek and create new geographical markets. We achieve this through an analysis of headhunting firm-specific case study data that detail the evolving way such firms organize their differential strategic growth (organic, merger and acquisition, and alliances/network) and forms (wholly owned, networked, or hybrid). We also highlight how, as elite labour market intermediaries, headhunted are important, yet understudied, actors within the (re)production of a ‘softer’, ‘knowledgeable’ capitalism. Our argument, exemplified through detailed mapping of the changing geographies of headhunting firms between 1992 and 2005, demonstrates the need for complex and blurred typologies of internationalization and similarly complex internationalization theory.

Suggested Citation

  • James R Faulconbridge & Sarah J E Hall & Jonathan V Beaverstock, 2008. "New Insights into the Internationalization of Producer Services: Organizational Strategies and Spatial Economies for Global Headhunting Firms," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 40(1), pages 210-234, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:40:y:2008:i:1:p:210-234
    DOI: 10.1068/a3924
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Stephanie Jones, 1989. "The Emergence and Growth of the Headhunting Business," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: The Headhunting Business, chapter 1, pages 6-49, Palgrave Macmillan.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zachary P. Neal & Ben Derudder & Peter J. Taylor, 2019. "Should I Stay or Should I Go: Predicting Advanced Producer Services Firm Expansion and Contraction," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 42(2), pages 207-229, March.
    2. Miaoxi Zhao & Xingjian Liu & Ben Derudder & Ye Zhong & Wei Shen, 2015. "Mapping producer services networks in mainland Chinese cities," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 52(16), pages 3018-3034, December.
    3. Neil M Coe & Jennifer Johns & Kevin Ward, 2008. "Flexibility in Action: The Temporary Staffing Industry in the Czech Republic and Poland," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 40(6), pages 1391-1415, June.
    4. Kujath, Hans Joachim & Pasternack, Peer & Radinger-Peer, Verena, 2020. "Governance-Formen des regionalen Wissenstransfers," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Postlep, Rolf-Dieter & Blume, Lorenz & Hülz, Martina (ed.), Hochschulen und ihr Beitrag für eine nachhaltige Regionalentwicklung, volume 11, pages 76-118, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    5. Gabriele Giorgi & Luigi Isaia Lecca & Antonio Ariza-Montes & Chiara Di Massimo & Marcello Campagna & Georgia Libera Finstad & Giulio Arcangeli & Nicola Mucci, 2020. "The Dark and the Light Side of the Expatriate’s Cross-Cultural Adjustment: A Novel Framework Including Perceived Organizational Support, Work Related Stress and Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-15, April.
    6. James R. Faulconbridge, 2009. "The Regulation of Design in Global Architecture Firms: Embedding and Emplacing Buildings," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 46(12), pages 2537-2554, November.
    7. Ben Derudder & Christof Parnreiter, 2014. "Introduction: The Interlocking Network Model for Studying Urban Networks: Outline, Potential, Critiques, and Ways Forward," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 105(4), pages 373-386, September.
    8. Peter J. Taylor & Ben Derudder & James Faulconbridge & Michael Hoyler & Pengfei Ni, 2014. "Advanced Producer Service Firms as Strategic Networks, Global Cities as Strategic Places," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 90(3), pages 267-291, July.
    9. Marieke Krijnen & David Bassens & Michiel van Meeteren, 2017. "Manning circuits of value: Lebanese professionals and expatriate world-city formation in Beirut," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 49(12), pages 2878-2896, December.

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