Projects per year
Personal profile
Research profile
I am an Associate Professor of International Business and Strategy at Aalborg University Business School (AAUBS), Denmark, and a Visiting Scholar at University of Cambridge, UK. I am also the director of the Sustainability Lab at AAUBS.
My research focuses on diverse areas in international management and strategies with a focus on sustainable international strategic management, new technology-enabled value creation, and institutional impact on firm capabilities and sustainability-driven business modelling strategies such as Circular Economy.
My research has examined how European multinational enterprises develop and co-develop strategies and capabilities to earn synergy (acceptance and efficiency) in national business systems. It was the first study of its kind on Bangladeshi institutions and firms (national and multinationals) that explains how multinational subsidiaries (i.e., their activities and strategies) are accepted in Bangladeshi business systems, and what role national institutions, civil society actors, and transnational communities play in the process of firms’ internationalization, legitimation, and sustainability.
My view of firm strategy is, it is shaped and reshaped by the interactions between firms (or collectivities of firms) and institutions in which they operate. Firms operate within the rules, norms, values, and logics of institutional systems, not in isolation. So, their missions, perspectives, goals, strategies, activities, and offerings are shaped by the nature and performance of institutional arrangements. However, the nature of national institutions changes over time. One of the external forces to change national institutions is the ways in which transnational institutions (e.g., UN, EU, OECD) become dominant and how MNEs collaborate with the transnational institutions, civil society & national institutional actors, and large firms (primarily local) to evolve a new set of rules of business. I view strategy development as a complex process. Understanding the role of institutions and their influence on firm strategies are, therefore, critical in this process. Unlike the view of institution as the macro environmental constraints, I consider institution as the internal logics and the external conditions providing resources and constraints for firms to shape strategies to fit in the context.
The following three themes can well describe my research areas: 1) Multinational Corporations’ strategies in relation to internationalization, capabilities, legitimation, and sustainable management in emerging markets. 2) Business modelling including sustainability-driven business modelling and its impact on and relationship with global value chain, climate change, and circular economy transition. 3) Firm's technology adoption and digital strategies (Artificial intelligence, 3D, & Modular Innovation) for value creation and sustainable adaptation.
Despite multiple areas on which my studies focus, the core concentration of my research is on the cross-border management and multinationals strategies using institutionalism and business systems perspective. I aim to understand the strategic choices, antecedents, and mechanisms affecting sustainable international strategic management.
In relation to research and consulting, I have worked on a number of large multinational corporations such as Novo Nordisk, Arla, Glaxo Smith Clyne (GSK), Nestle, Telenor (Grameenphone), Tesla, iRobot Romba, H&M, Bestseller, Oticon, and Kube Data. In addition, I have also studied Bangladeshi multinational corporations such as Walton Electronics, DBL Apparel Company, Micro Fibre Apparel Group, GMS Apparel Group, ABA Apparel Group, and Interstoff Apparel Limited, Shasha Danims etc.
Recently, I completed an action-project in 2022 on ‘The Practical Tools for Sustainable Business Model Innovation for SMEs in Denmark and Sweden’ (3 million DKK funded by EU). I was a principal investigator and member of the steering committee for the project. In 2022, I also completed another project on ‘Artificial Intelligence, Value creation and Adaptation in International Context’, which I led in collaboration with the Department of IT & Media Technology at AAU, funded by Aalborg University Business School (AAUBS).
As a principal investigator and the leader, I have received a grant of 12 million DKK to study the circular economy transition in Bangladesh's apparel industry. This is the first project on circular economy research in apparel industry, funded by Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project has commenced in October 2022 and will continue till 2027.
However, my another on-going project on the apparel industry is: ‘Climate Change and Global Value Chains in Textile and Garments industry in Bangladesh’ (11.7 million DKK) in collaboration with Copenhagen Business School, Roskilde University, DK, and BRAC University, Bangladesh. I am a principal researcher and the lead from AAUBS in this consortium project.
At present, my current projects and researches heavily focus on understanding the dynamics of Apparel industry transition with an aim to explore firms' transition to circular business model, capability reconfiguration in GVC, technology adoption, and the impact of institutions on green industrialization in the context of circular economy adoption.
I am a member of the Dean’s Signature Project Committee on Sustainability-driven Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, and Rector's 'Climate Change Mitigation Strategy committeee at AAU.
I have co-edited a book titled 'Upgrading the Global Garment Industry', published by Edward Elgar, UK, which is the first book of its kind to focus on Global Garments Industry from the perspective of three under-focused areas - internationalisation, capabilities, and sustainability. I have brought the garments industry into the forefront of research in international business and strategy, which has been ignored for long, but that has affected the international business of many emerging economies and influenced the history of international business of many western countries in the 17th and 18th century in the colonial era.
I primarily use qualitative method including case studies, qualitative data analysis techniques, comparative case analysis and storytelling science. However, I am interested to work with panel data and quantitative techniques.
I have published in leading academic journals such as Global Strategy Journal, Technovation, International Business Review, Journal of International Management, and so forth.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
International Management and Strategy, PhD, Rethinking business system theory from the perspective of civil society, transnational community, and legitimacy: Strategies of European MNCs in Bangladesh’’
… → 2014
Award Date: 1 Jun 2014
Specialization in International Marketing, MSc-IB, University of Groningen
… → 2005
Award Date: 1 Jan 2005
International Business , MSc, University of Stirling
… → 2004
Award Date: 1 Jan 2005
Marketing, MBA, The University of Rajshahi
1994 → 1996
Award Date: 31 Dec 1996
Marketing, BBS (Honours), The University of Rajshahi
1991 → 1994
Award Date: 31 Dec 1994
External positions
Visiting Scholar, University of Cambridge
2022 → …
Keywords
- Business Economics and Trade
- International Business
- Strategy and management
- Global value chains
- Internationalization
- Civil society- Transnational Communities
- Business Models
- Discourse and Society
- Sentiments
- Artificial Intelligence
- Legitimation
- Institutional theory
- comparative capitalism
- Circular Economy
- Innovation
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Management and Organization
- Entrepreneurship
- National Business Systems
- Business Models
- sustainable strategic management
- Capabilities
- value creation
- governance
- capability development
- competitive advantage
- Sustainability-driven business modelling strategies
- multinational corporations
- Problem Based Learning
- Pedagogy
- Qualitative case studies
- storytelling
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Collaborations from the last five years
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CREATE: Circular Economy in Bangladesh’s Apparel Industry
Rana, M. B., Rana, M. B., Rana, M. B., Whitfield, L., Allen, M., Sørensen, O. J., Khan, M., Louise Syrett, H., Larsen, M. V., Eduardsen, J. S. & Svane, M.
01/10/2022 → 30/09/2027
Project: Research
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Sustainability-Driven Business Modeling Strategies in Global Value Chains
01/04/2022 → 31/03/2025
Project: PhD Project
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Sustainability-Driven Business Modelling Strategies in Global Value Chains
01/04/2022 → 31/03/2025
Project: PhD Project
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Climate change and global value chains in Bangladesh
Lund-Thomsen, P., Rana, M. B. & Riisgaard, L.
01/07/2021 → 30/06/2025
Project: Research
Research output
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Challenges in apparel’s circular economy transition in Bangladesh
Rana, M. B. & Whitfield, L., 1 Jan 2024, (Unpublished).Research output: Working paper/Preprint › Working paper › Research › peer-review
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AI-enabled Value Creation in International Business: Crossing the Boundary of Bounded Rationality
Rana, M. B. & Moeslund, T. B., 15 Dec 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference without publisher/journal › Conference abstract for conference › Research › peer-review
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A Tale of Two MNEs: How Institutions Shape Two Pharma Firms' Interactions with Local Organizations
Allen, M., Rana, M. B. & Liu, J., 24 Jul 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference without publisher/journal › Conference abstract for conference › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Home Country Institutions and MNEs’ Strategic Purpose in Least Developed Economies
Rana, M. B., Allen, M. & Liu, J., 28 Feb 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference without publisher/journal › Conference abstract for conference › Research › peer-review
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How Institutions Influence Firms’ Climate Change Strategies: Extending the Perspectives of International Business and Global Value Chains with Business Systems
Rana, M. B. & Allen, M., 12 Jun 2023, (Accepted/In press) Progress in International Business Research. van Tulder, R., Grøgaard, B. & Lunnan, R. (eds.). Emerald Group Publishing, Vol. 18. (Progress in International Business Research).Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
Prizes
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Best Paper Award at EIBA Conference in 2023
Rana, Mohammad Bakhtiar (Recipient) & Moeslund, Thomas B. (Recipient), 17 Dec 2023
Prize: Conference prizes
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Wiley-Blackwell the Most Cited Paper for Global Strategy Journal in 2021-22
Rana, Mohammad Bakhtiar (Recipient) & Sørensen, Olav Jull (Recipient), Jun 2023
Prize: Research, education and innovation prizes
File
Activities
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Session Chair at EIBA Conference 2023
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana (Moderator)
16 Dec 2023Activity: Talks and presentations › Conference presentations
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The Changing Global Power Balance: Challenges for European Firms
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana (Lecturer)
15 Dec 2023 → 17 Dec 2023Activity: Talks and presentations › Conference presentations
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Discussant at the PhD Symposium at EIBA- 2023 in Lisbon
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana (Panel member)
15 Dec 2023Activity: Talks and presentations › Talks and presentations in private or public companies
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12TH EIBA / EIASM DANNY VAN DEN BULCKE DOCTORAL SYMPOSIUM
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana (Participant), Marina Papanastassiou (Organizer) & Emmanuella PLAKOYIANNAKI (Organizer)
15 Dec 2023Activity: Attending an event › Organisation or participation in workshops, courses, seminars, exhibitions or similar
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Journal of Product Innovation Management (Journal)
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana (Peer reviewer)
15 Dec 2023Activity: Editorial work and peer review › Peer review of manuscripts › Research
Press/Media
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Policy Discussion in Television in Bangladesh: রূপান্তরের অর্থনীতি | Apnar Songe | আপনার সঙ্গে | Ekhon TV
18/06/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Circular threads: What EU policies mean for sustainable textile exports from Kenya
01/04/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Research project CREATE launched for Bangladesh apparel industry
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana, Christian Nielsen & Rasmus Antoft
09/10/2022
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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International Project on apparel industry launched
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana, Rasmus Antoft, Christian Nielsen & Lindsay Whitfield
08/10/2022
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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গার্মেন্টস নিয়ে আন্তর্জাতিক গবেষণা প্রকল্প ‘ক্রিয়েট’ উদ্বোধন (International Research project launched on Garments Study)
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana, Christian Nielsen & Rasmus Antoft
07/10/2022 → 08/10/2022
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
Impacts
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5 ECTS PhD Course on Sustainability and Circular Economy in a Methodological Perspective
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana (Participant), Olav Jull Sørensen (Participant), Jonas Strømfeldt Eduardsen (Participant), Imranul Hoque (Participant) & Mohammad Amanullah (Participant)
Impact: Social impact, Public policy impact
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AAU HELPS TO IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF THE BANGLADESHI GARMENT INDUSTRY
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana (Participant)
Impact: Public policy impact, Social impact, Economic impact
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Action research project contributes to more sustainable businesses
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana (Participant)
Impact: Social impact
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Chatham House Intends to Collaborate with CREATE Research Project for Joint Policy Formulation on Circular Economy Transition on Apparel Industry in Bangladesh
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana (Participant) & Klas Wetterberg (Participant)
Impact: Public policy impact
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Circular threads: What EU policies mean for sustainable textile exports from Kenya
Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana (Participant)
Impact: Economic impact