Kristina Westermark

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Proximity and learning in internationalisation

THIS THESIS IS about four small IT service firms with offices in Swedenand India. These four service firms set out to interact and collaboratebetween the offices, some more intensely and frequently than others.In the process of their internationalisation, they need to find ways,or to learn, how to collaborate in an international setting, includingmaking use of physical as well as social proximity. In Proximity andLearning in Internationalisation - small Swedish IT firms in India,Westermark combines a discussion on proximities and processes oflearning to present a more thorough understanding of how socialproximity can develop over time, and furthermore, in what waysocial proximity matters for service firms working in an internationalsetting.The qualitative exploration of the process of learning is inspired by'communities of practice', and Westermark focuses on ways in whichindividuals at firms through social participation learn to collaborateacross distance, and develop a common way of working together inan international setting.This thesis continues the vibrant discussion in economic geographyon proximity as more than 'being there' in a physical sense. In thisdiscussion, the understanding of proximity is as a metaphor ofcloseness, putting more emphasis on individuals and their experiences.In this thesis, experience of closeness is empirically explored througha longitudinal study. This includes trying to operationalise socialproximity by exploring the experience of social proximity amongstthe individuals at the case firms. More precisely, social proximity isconceptualised as individuals experiencing 'shared social familiarity'.

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