Doctor Martin Owens BA MSc PhD
Senior Lecturer in International Business
Summary
Thank you for visiting this page. I am a Senior Lecturer in International Business at Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University. I currently teach Principles and Practices of International Business, International Strategy and Managing International Business.
My current research primarily involves the functioning of domestic and international alliances. I am currently working on inter-organizational co-ordination (the boiler room of any partnership), how context shapes the design and dynamics of alliance coordination. I am particularly interested in how the traits of the alliance manager influences the organization of activity in alliances. My previous research examined the interrelationship between formal structure and relational outcomes in alliances, and international alliance formation. Beyond alliances, I am interested in the internationalization of small firms, including the evolution of international networks, and movement of emerging country entrepreneurs to developed countries in the Western world. I have published my research in Environment Planning A, International Business Review, Industrial Marketing Management and Services Industries Journal. I have a PhD from the University of Ulster.
I joined Sheffield Hallam in the summer of 2018. I was previously a Lecturer in International Business for 12 years at the University of Bradford. At Bradford, I managed the BSc International Business and Management course and have taught a range of subjects in international business, strategy and general management across all levels. I have supervised two doctoral students to completion. I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and have a post-graduate certificate in Higher Education. In my free time, I enjoy reading, and fly fishing for trout in the beautiful loughs of Yorkshire and Ireland.
About
Qualifications
- 2009: Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, University of Bradford, United Kingdom
- 2006: PhD International Business, University of Ulster, United Kingdom
- 1999: MSc Marketing Studies, University of Ulster, United Kingdom
- 1998: BA Business Studies, University of Ulster, United Kingdom
Research
RESEARCH
I have been long interested in the creation and management of collaborative modes of market entry within international business, especially international joint ventures. I am also interested in how international business, and firms generally, intersect with forms of political violence such as terrorism and wars.
Publications
Key Publications
Owens, M. (2023). Inter-state war, institutions and multinationals: insights from the Russian-Ukraine war. Multinational Business Review. http://doi.org/10.1108/mbr-05-2022-0067
Journal articles
Owens, M., & Johnson, E. (2024). Not gone away: how domestic terrorism impacts multinationals in foreign markets. Critical Perspectives on International Business. http://doi.org/10.1108/cpoib-09-2022-0100
Olubajo, L., Dimitri, P., Johnson, A., & Owens, M. (2022). Managing inter-organisational collaborations to develop medical technologies: the contribution of inter-personal relationships. Journal of Medical Engineering and Technology, 46 (6). http://doi.org/10.1080/03091902.2022.2089255
Owens, M. (2021). Exploiting Bullets: International Business and the Dynamics of War. Critical Perspectives on International Business. http://doi.org/10.1108/cpoib-05-2020-0063
Nuraddeen, N., Owens, M., & McQuillan, D. (2021). International entrepreneurship from emerging to developed markets: an institutional perspective. International Marketing Review. http://doi.org/10.1108/IMR-02-2020-0028
Yakimova, R., Owens, M., & Freeman, S. (2021). The ‘visible hand’ behind cooperation in franchising: A model of franchisor practices that influence cooperation within social networks. Industrial Marketing Management, 94, 66-89. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2021.02.006
Yakimova, R., Owens, M., & Sydow, J. (2019). Formal control influence on franchisee trust and brand-supportive behavior within franchise networks. Industrial Marketing Management, 76, 123-135. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2018.07.010
Owens, M., Ramsey, E., & Loane, S. (2018). Resolving post-formation challenges in shared IJVs: The impact of shared IJV structure on inter-partner relationships. International Business Review, 27 (3), 584-593. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2017.10.007
Owens, M., Palmer, M., & Zueva-Owens, A. (2013). Institutional forces in adoption of international joint ventures: Empirical evidence from British retail multinationals. International Business Review, 22 (5), 883-893. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2013.01.002
Owens, M., Zueva-Owens, A., & Palmer, M. (2012). Partner identification and selection of joint ventures in international retailing. The Service Industries Journal, 32 (3), 383-410. http://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2010.540753
Owens, M. (2010). Equity ownership and control of international joint ventures in the retail sector. The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 20 (5), 559-581. http://doi.org/10.1080/09593969.2010.520509
Palmer, M., Owens, M., & De Kervenoael, R. (2010). Paths of the least resistance: understanding how motives form in international retail joint venturing. The Service Industries Journal, 30 (6), 965-989. http://doi.org/10.1080/02642060802342653
Palmer, M., O'Kane, P., & Owens, M. (2009). Betwixt spaces: student accounts of turning point experiences in the first‐year transition. Studies in Higher Education, 34 (1), 37-54. http://doi.org/10.1080/03075070802601929
Owens, M., & Quinn, B. (2007). Problems encountered within international retail joint ventures: UK retailer case study evidence. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 35 (10), 758-780. http://doi.org/10.1108/09590550710820667
Palmer, M., Owens, M., & Sparks, L. (2006). Interdisciplinary (Retail) Research: The Business of Geography and the Geography of Business. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 38 (10), 1775-1783. http://doi.org/10.1068/a3810com
Palmer, M., & Owens, M. (2006). New directions for international retail joint venture research. The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 16 (2), 159-179. http://doi.org/10.1080/09593960600572183
Conference papers
Kom, C., Sharpe, D., & Owens, M. (2023). Reflexivity in Context: Navigating the Challenges of Conducting Qualitative Research in International Business. In British Academy of Management, University of Sussex, Brighton, 1 September 2023 - 6 September 2023. British Academy of Management: https://www.bam.ac.uk/events-landing/bam2023-conference.html
Owens, M., & Zueva, A. (2022). Terrorism and international business: A critical perspective and future research agenda [abstract only]. In EIBA, 48th Annual Conference, Oslo, Norway, 2022 - 2022. European International Business Academy: https://www.eiba.org/UserFiles/proceedings-eiba-2022.pdf
Yakimova, R., & Owens, M. (2017). The structure of commitment and its relationship with co-operation among franchisees of retail franchises. In British Academy of Management Conference (BAM), Warwick, UK.
Owens, M., Zueva, A., & Palmer, M. (2013). Inter-firm diversity and shared management IJVs: empirical evidence from British MNEs. In British Academy of Management Conference (BAM), Liverpool, UK.
Owens, M., Zueva, A., & Palmer, M. (2008). International joint venture motives in retailing: a knowledge based view. In European International Business Academy (EIBA) Conference, Tallin, Estonia.
Owens, M., & Palmer, M. (2008). Institutional forces influencing international joint venture motives: a study of British retail TNCs operating in South East Asia? In Academy of International Business (AIB) Conference, Milan, Italy.
Palmer, M., Owens, M., & Sparks, L. (2006). Talking past one another? Re-examining the retail-geography disciplinary interface. In Academy of Marketing Conference, Middlesex University, London, UK.
Palmer, M., & Owens, M. (2005). International retail joint venture activity: new research directions. In 15th International Conference on Research in the Distributive Trades, Sweden.
Owens, M., Quinn, B., & Alexander, N. (2004). Motives for international joint venture formation in retailing. In Annual conference of the Academy of International Business (AIB), Unversity of Ulster, Magee.
Owens, M., Quinn, B., & Alexander, N. (2004). Equity joint venture formation processes in international retailing. In Recent advances in retailing and services science conference, Prague, Czech Republic.
Owens, M., Johnson, A., Drakolis, T., & Wang, C. How does SME perceived environmental uncertainty influence structuralbusiness network development? Evidence from Greek Tourism SMEs. In Academy of International Business.
Yakimova, R., Owens, M., & Freeman, S. The ‘visible hand’ behind cooperation in franchising: Towards a framework of centralised practices that influence cooperation within franchise network. In British Academy of Management.
Theses / Dissertations
Kom, C.N. (2022). Making Sense of Co-Opetition in a Post-Colonial Entrepreneurial Landscape: Nigeria’s Fashion Industry. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Sharpe, D., & Owens, M. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00519
Drekolias, T. (2021). Perceived environmental uncertainty and network development: the case of Greek SMEs. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Owens, M., Johnston, A., & Wang, C. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00384
Internet Publications
Owens, M. (2023). What BAE’s Ukraine deal shows about the risks and opportunities of setting up a business in a war zone, The Conversation, September.
Postgraduate supervision
I have 15 years experience of supervising doctoral students in the area of international business and inter-firm co-operation. I have also examined doctoral students both internally and externally. I have supervised three students to completion and currently supervising three students. See below:
Current:
Mr Abiola Adebayo (with Dr Fariba Darabi and Dr Imtiaz Mostafiz), Exploring the SME management of institutional voids in emerging markets
Mrs Linda Olubajo (with Dr Andrew Johnson and Professor Paul Dimitri), Value and dynamics of inter-personal relationships in University-Industry collaborations.
Ms Caroline Fusi (with Dr Diana Sharpe), Informal institutions and the emergence of co-opetition in the fashion sector.
Completed:
Dr Theo Drekolias (2020) (with Dr Andrew Johnson and Professor C. Wang). SME networking and environmental uncertainty: an empirical investigation in the Greek SME sector
Mr Salah Alawadhi (2013), “The role of institutional systems and government policy in securing foreign direct investment in Kuwait”, University of Bradford.
Dr Nuraddeen Nuru (2017), "The entrepreneurial process of emerging market entrepreneurship to developed markets: an institutional theory perspective", University of Bradford.