The process of international business model transfer in the Seven-Eleven group: US - Japan - China

This study takes a broader view of internationalization in retailing within the context of the cross-border transfer of business models based on the case of Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd. The authors acknowledge that it is imperative to take a broader process based view of internationalization in a continually consumer driven global economy, with increasing convergence of information and communication technologies which enable effective management of large networked retail firms. Such a process based view of internationalization has implications through all the stages in the core value chain of the retailer, from sourcing through to logistics, store operations, property management to customer relationships. The research demonstrates how the internationalization of Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd entailed across-the-board continuous adaptation covering all three systems of retail store formats and operating systems, product development and procurement, and supply chains. Accordingly, the study makes a contribution to the standardization versus localization debate in internationalization literature by applying the concept of ‘continuous creative adaptation’ to the case study.