Norwegian business in Russia : what does it take for Norwegian companies to succeed with their internationalization to Russia?

Abstract

The current study looks at what it takes for Norwegian companies to succeed with their internationalization to Russia. Through a qualitative multiple-case study, eighteen semistructured interviews, with relevant actors, were undertaken. The gathered information is analyzed in the light of internationalization theory, with some elements of cultural divergence and organization theories. By looking at cases of success, and a few examples of failures, approaches to handling of ownership-based, locational and internationalization aspects are discussed. The study concludes by pointing to how a company’s approach to handling the mentioned aspects determines whether it succeeds or fails in Russia.