Anna Jonsson

Ph.D.

Research interests

My research mainly focuses on two research areas; Internationalization theory and theories on knowledge sharing. Focus for my dissertation was how knowledge is shared within IKEA when entering new markets. There is a growing interest both among academics and practitioners for issues related to knowledge sharing especially in the endeavours of internationalization and increasing competition. By sharing knowledge both internally and externally increases the opportunities for both being innovative by exploring new opportunities and being cost-efficient by exploiting proven solutions to other parts of the organization.

Recently I conducted an ethnographic study focusing on how knowledge is shared in practice within a professional service firm. I’m also involved in a number of research collaborations focusing on knowledge sharing and the MNC. A joint research project, with focus on retail firms, between Stockholm School of Economics and School of Economics and Management, Lund University, will be carried out during a period of three years with start during late Spring 2010.

Key words: experiential knowledge, global strategy, knowledge sharing, leadership, internationalization, retail, professional service firms.

Dissertation

Knowledge sharing across borders – a study in the IKEA world

To enter new markets is not easy. The most obvious challenge, at least judging from the majority of literature on internationalization, is to understand the new market thus taking a market(ing) perspective. External aspects of internationalization are often emphasized when discussing why some firms fail when entering new markets,while internal aspects, focusing on the organization, often receive less attention. In order to better understand the internationalization process it is crucial to examine how firms learn from their experiences from entering international markets. “Knowledge sharing across borders - a study in the IKEA world” aims to develop our understanding of internationalization by focusing on knowledge sharing in terms of knowledge types and flows in international firms when entering new markets. Special emphasis is put on the interaction between different levels and functions within an international retail firm. The focus is on IKEA’s experiences from entering Russia, China and Japan but also on how and why knowledge sharing is important for the international expansion of IKEA.

Awards

Awarded with the Jan Wallander scholarship, Handelsbankens research foundation, 16 May 2008

Winner of the 2007 Booz Allen Hamilton/SMS PhD Fellowship for her paper “The Learning Paradox: An Observation Of Knowledge Sharing At IKEA Japan”.

Scholarship/Research project

Importing Swedish retail companies: predictors of performance. Responsible; Professor Deo Sharma. Project team; Deo Sharma, Daniel Tolstoy and Anna Jonsson. Ragnar Söderbergs Stiftelse.

Journal articles

Jonsson, A. & Foss, N. J. (forthcoming) International expansion through flexible replication: Learning from the internationalization experience of IKEA. Journal of International Business Studies, Online publication: September 8, 2011; doi:10.1057/jibs.2011.32

Jonsson, A. (2010) “How to maintain a process perspective on retail internationalization.” European Retail Research, Vol 24(1): 27-50.

Jonsson, A. (2008) A transnational perspective on knowledge sharing: Lessons learnt from IKEAs entry into Russia, China and Japan. The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer research, Vol 18(1): 17-44.

Jonsson, A. & Kalling T. (2007) “Challenges to knowledge sharing across national and intra-organizational boundaries: Case studies of IKEA and SCA Packaging”. Knowledge Management Research and Practice, Vol 5(3):161-172.

Jonsson, A. & Elg, U. (2006) “Knowledge and knowledge sharing in retail internationalization: IKEAs entry into Russia”. The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer research special issue. Vol 16 (2), 239-256.

Working papers

Jonsson, A. (2007k) “Knowledge sharing at micro level: A participant observation at IKEA in Japan”. The Institute of Economic Research Working Paper Series, 2007:2.

Jonsson, A & Kalling, T. (2006c) “Challenges to knowledge sharing across national and intra-organizational boundaries: A comparison of IKEA and SCA Packaging”. The Institute of Economic Research Working Paper Series, 2006:8.

Chapter in books

Jonsson, A. (2009) “Bringing In Knowing In Practice – The Paradox of Sharing and Using Best Practices Within The IKEA World. In Jordan, S. & Mitterhofer, H. (2009:30-49). Beyond Knowledge Management.

Elg, U, Jonsson, A & Tarnovskaya, V. (2006) “IKEA: Entering Russia” in Ghauri, P. Cateora, P. “International Marketing” (2006:599-603) McGraw Hill Education. Second edition.

Conference papers

Jonsson, A., Sharma, D. & Tolstoy, D. (2011b) Importing Swedish retail companies: the relationship between a global purchasing capability and performance. Paper accepted for the EIBA conference, Bukarest, Romania, 8-10 December

Jonsson, A, Sharma, D & Tolstoy, D. (2011a) The impact of global purchasing on the performance of importing Swedish retail firms. Paper accepted for the Extenda Workshop on Internationalization in Business, Cadiz, Spain, 29-20 September.

Jonsson, A. (2010b) Individual motivation to share and use knowledge amongst specialists:An ethnographic study in a professional service organization. Accepted conference paper for the Conference on Knowledge in Organizations, Monte Verità, Switzerland, 30 May- 3 June.

Jonsson, A (2010a) Sharing knowledge amongst specialists: An ethnographic study in a professional service organization. Accepted and presented paper for the EGOS conference, Lisboa, Portugal, 1-3 July.

Jonsson, A & Foss, N. (2010a) Tracking a moving arrow core: Replication as strategy in IKEA. Accepted and presented paper for the Fourth International Conference on Organizational Routines, Nice, France, 11-12 June.

Jonsson, A & Foss, N (2010b) Tracking a moving arrow core: Replication as strategy in IKEA. Accepted and presented paper for the Academy of International Business, Brazil , 25-29 June.

Jonsson, A. & Foss, N, (2010c) Tracking a moving arrow core: Replication as strategy in IKEA. Accepted and presented paper for the Academy of Management Conference, Montreal, Canada, 6-10 August.

Jonsson, A. (2009b) Knowledge sharing in the everyday work: A case study of IKEA and the impact of corporate values. Accepted conference paper for the NFF conference, Finland 2009.

Jonsson, A, (2009a) Embedded knowledge sharing through the practice of firm values: the IKEA case. Accepted paper for the EGOS conference, Barcelona, Spain, 2-4 July.

Jonsson, A (2009c) Towards a value drive internationalization theory. The IKEA case. Paper submitted to SMS, Washington, USA.

Jonsson, A. (2009b) Knowledge sharing in the everyday work: A case study of IKEA and the impact of corporate values. Paper to be presented at NFF, Åbo, Finland.

Jonsson, A, (2009a) Embedded knowledge sharing through the practice of firm values: the IKEA case. Paper to be presented at EGOS, Barcelona, Spain.

Jonsson, A. (2008d) Managing knowledge across borders: a study within the IKEA world. Paper accepted and presented at SMS, Cologne, Germany, 12-15 October.

Jonsson, A. (2008b) “Managing Knowledge Across Borders: The IKEA Solution”. Paper accepted and presented at CIMaR, Rio de Janero, Brazil, 17-21 June.

Jonsson, A. (2008c) “Shadowing best practices – observering the useful ones: Knowing in practice at IKEA Japan”. Paper accepted and presented at EGOS, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 10-12 July.

Jonsson, A. (2008a) “The impact and outcome of knowledge sharing: A study of IKEA’s efforts to (re-)enter the Japanese market”. Paper accepted and presented at OLKC, Copenhagen, Denmark, 28-30 April.

Jonsson, A. (2007j) “A transnational perspective on retail internationalization: Lessons learnt from IKEA’s entry into China, Russia and Japan”. Paper accepted and presented at SMS, San Diego, USA, 14-17 October..

Jonsson, A. (2007i) “The learning paradox: An observation of knowledge sharing at IKEA Japan”. Paper accepted and presented at SMS, San Diego, USA, 14-17 October.

Jonsson, A. (2007h) “In search for orientation: A case study of IKEA’s efforts to enter international markets”. Paper accepted for NFF, Bergen, Norway, 9-11 August.

Jonsson, A. (2007g) “IKEA’s efforts to (re-)enter the Japan: The impact and outcome of knowledge sharing”. Paper accepted for NFF, Bergen, Norway, 9-11 August.

Jonsson, A. (2007f) “Knowledge sharing at micro level: an observation at IKEA Japan”. Paper accepted and presented at NFF, Bergen, Norway, August 9-11.

Jonsson, A. (2007e) “A transnational perspective on knowledge sharing: Lessons learnt from IKEA’s entry into Russia, China and Japan”. Paper accepted for Academy of Management, Philadelphia, USA, 3-8 August.

Jonsson, A. (2007d) “The learning paradox: An observation of knowledge sharing at IKEA Japan”. Paper accepted and presented at EGOS, Vienna, Austria, 5-7 July.

Jonsson, A. (2007c) “The impact and outcome of knowledge sharing: A study of IKEA’s efforts to (re-)enter the Japanese market” Paper accepted for OLKC, Ontario, Canada, 14-17 June.

Jonsson, A. (2007b) “A transnational perspective on retail internationalization: Lessons learnt from IKEA’s entry into China, Russia and Japan”. Paper accepted for OLKC, Ontario, Canada, 14-17 June.

Jonsson, A. (2007a) “A transnational perspective on retail internationalization: Lessons learnt from IKEA’s entry into China, Russia and Japan”. Paper accepted and presented at CIMaR, Manchester, Great Britain, 17-20 May.

Jonsson, A & Kalling, T. (2006b) ”Institutional challenges to knowledge sharing across national and intra-organizational boundaries; Case studies of IKEA and SCA”. Paper accepted and presented at EGOS, Bergen, Norway, 6-8 July.

Jonsson, A, & Kalling, T. (2006a) “Knowledge, organizational context and institutional forces: Knowledge sharing in IKEA and SCA”. Paper accepted and presented at OLKC, Warwick, Great Britain, 20-22 March.

Jonsson, A. (2006f) ”A transnational perspective on knowledge sharing in retail internationalization: case studies of IKEA’s entry into Russia, China and Japan”. Paper accepted and presented at the 4th workshop of SARD, Kobe, Japan, 24-26 November.

Jonsson, A. (2006e) “IKEA - A transnational retailer”. Paper accepted for AMS Retail Conference”, Orlando, Florida, 1-5 November.

Jonsson A. (2006d) Replicating IKEA: Challenges with a global strategy”. Paper accepted and presented at SMS, Vienna, Austria, 29 October – 1 November.

Jonsson, A. (2006b) Replication as strategy for internationalization; A case study of IKEA. Paper accepted and presented for AIB UK Conference, Manchester, Great Britain, 6-8 March.

Jonsson, A. Paper accepted and presented at EGOS, 6-8 July.

Jonsson, A & Elg, U. (2005) Knowledge and knowledge sharing in retail internationalization: IKEA’s entry into Russia. Paper accepted and presented at the 13th EAERCD Conference, Lund, 29 June – 1 July.

Jonsson, A. (2005a) Retail internationalization and the role of knowledge sharing: A qualitative case study of IKEAs expansion into the Russian market”. Paper accepted and presented at OLK, Trento, Italy, 8-11 June.

Jonsson, A. (2005b) Retail internationalization and the role of knowledge sharing - the case of IKEAs expansion into the Russian market. Paper accepted and presented at OKLC, Boston, USA, 16-19 March.

Work experience

Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration, School of Economics and Management, Lund University. Feburary 2008 -

Research assistant in the following research project; “Foreign Market Entry Processes and the Role of Market Orientation: The Case of Retailing and Networking companies”, Department of Business Administration, School of Economics and Management, Lund University. October 2002 - July 2008; and “Knowledge, Leadership, Identity in Organizations”, Department of Business Administration, School of Economics and Management, Lund University, July 2008 – September 2008.

Research coordinator, LIFS, Institute of Economic Research, Lund University, October 2002 - December 2004

Consultant, Ernst & Young Center for Business Knowledge, August 2001 – September 2002

Consultant, SMG Consulting, August 1999 – September 2000

 

Back