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Guns, Growth & Government

Ehrnborg, Viktor LU ; Kojouharov Sjögren, Elliot LU and Börjeson Kennedy, Connor LU (2025) IBUH19 20251
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
This thesis investigates how national institutional architectures mediate the effectiveness of government
support in shaping the international success of military-industrial firms. Through a comparative case
study of SAAB (Sweden) and Rheinmetall AG (Germany), it analyzes firm performance across export
capability, profitability, and dual-use innovation. Despite similar product domains, the firms are
embedded in contrasting institutional fields: Sweden’s coordinated model versus Germany’s more
liberal, market-led system.
Combining extended Institutional Theory with a state-enabled Resource-Based View, the study
conceptualizes performance as co-produced through institutional field thickness, temporal layering, and
public-enabled VRIN... (More)
This thesis investigates how national institutional architectures mediate the effectiveness of government
support in shaping the international success of military-industrial firms. Through a comparative case
study of SAAB (Sweden) and Rheinmetall AG (Germany), it analyzes firm performance across export
capability, profitability, and dual-use innovation. Despite similar product domains, the firms are
embedded in contrasting institutional fields: Sweden’s coordinated model versus Germany’s more
liberal, market-led system.
Combining extended Institutional Theory with a state-enabled Resource-Based View, the study
conceptualizes performance as co-produced through institutional field thickness, temporal layering, and
public-enabled VRIN resources. Drawing on longitudinal data from firm archives and state sources, it
finds that Saab’s success was enabled by integrated procurement, R&D, and export mechanisms.
Rheinmetall, by contrast, relied on internal capabilities and institutional work to navigate regulatory
constraints.
The findings show that institutional structure, not merely the presence of state support, shapes the
formation and deployment of strategic capabilities in defence sectors. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Ehrnborg, Viktor LU ; Kojouharov Sjögren, Elliot LU and Börjeson Kennedy, Connor LU
supervisor
organization
course
IBUH19 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Keywords: Military-industrial firms, Institutional theory, Export capability, Profitability, Dual-use innovation, Saab, Rheinmetall, Resource-Based View (RBV), Comparative case study, Longitudinal analysis
language
English
id
9212116
date added to LUP
2025-09-10 16:07:13
date last changed
2025-09-10 16:07:13
@misc{9212116,
  abstract     = {{This thesis investigates how national institutional architectures mediate the effectiveness of government
support in shaping the international success of military-industrial firms. Through a comparative case
study of SAAB (Sweden) and Rheinmetall AG (Germany), it analyzes firm performance across export
capability, profitability, and dual-use innovation. Despite similar product domains, the firms are
embedded in contrasting institutional fields: Sweden’s coordinated model versus Germany’s more
liberal, market-led system.
Combining extended Institutional Theory with a state-enabled Resource-Based View, the study
conceptualizes performance as co-produced through institutional field thickness, temporal layering, and
public-enabled VRIN resources. Drawing on longitudinal data from firm archives and state sources, it
finds that Saab’s success was enabled by integrated procurement, R&D, and export mechanisms.
Rheinmetall, by contrast, relied on internal capabilities and institutional work to navigate regulatory
constraints.
The findings show that institutional structure, not merely the presence of state support, shapes the
formation and deployment of strategic capabilities in defence sectors.}},
  author       = {{Ehrnborg, Viktor and Kojouharov Sjögren, Elliot and Börjeson Kennedy, Connor}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Guns, Growth & Government}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}