Two-stage choice process of FDI: Ownership structure and diversification mode

Prior literature on foreign direct investment examines single-stage decision making processes based on, either the ownership structure (full vs. partial ownership), the diversification mode (Greenfield vs. acquisition), or the simultaneity of both of them (with four independent alternatives as a result of combining the ownership structure and diversification mode decisions simultaneously). This study proposes that ownership structure and diversification mode are nested and non independent decisions. However, the sequential order of the two decisions, ownership structure and diversification mode, is unknown. Thus, the current study tests the single-stage process used by previous researchers versus the two different hierarchical two-stage processes (ownership structure choice precedes diversification mode choice; and diversification mode choice precedes ownership structure choice). The empirical findings support the existence of a two-stage choice process where ownership structure choice precedes diversification mode choice. The main implication of these findings is that, given the human limited analytical capability, a hierarchical choice process can be useful to handle the information overload and the complexity inherent to the foreign direct investment choices.