How organizations navigate the complexities of a deglobalizing environment – towards a conceptual model

Purpose: This paper aims to review the extant literature in the area of deglobalization, particularly focusing on how organizations navigate the complexities of a deglobalizing environment. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review (SLR) was performed in the domain of deglobalization. A peer-reviewed article search was carried out using Scopus and Web of Science databases. A total of 48 articles met the inclusion criteria. Findings: The results of the SLR show five higher-order themes with underpinning categories. The themes derived in the analysis were modelled into – (a) the impact of deglobalization on firms; (b) organizations’ response to the deglobalizing environment; (c) the role of organizational characteristics, resources and capabilities; (d) the role of government and policies; and (e) effect on firm performance. The findings of this work serve as a roadmap, indicating multiple avenues for future research on which further investigation is required. Practical implications: This study maps the theoretical and empirical research on deglobalization and the organizations’ strategic decisions to navigate this environment, providing key insights and practical reflections for business managers and top management teams (TMTs) of organizations to make informed decisions. Originality/value: The focus of this review is in a niche area of deglobalization, particularly considering the firm’s strategic responses in a deglobalizing world, which is new. This SLR provides a comprehensive image of deglobalization–firm response literature and indicates research directions to enrich the literature stream.