What Makes International Business Unique and Important as a Field? The Three Cs of IB

Abstract

We propose a framework for what makes international business important and relevant as a field, based on three attributes that are critical in our research and teaching: context, connection, and complexity. Context refers to examining firms in their environment and not in a vacuum. Connection captures how the field bridges disciplines, nations, and analytical levels. Complexity denotes the systemic nature of the field. We apply this framework to the multinational enterprise and discuss applied insights for various key stakeholders.