title: Vicarious learning in SME internationalization: A systematic review and thematic synthesis

authors: Perera, Shanika Rangani

subjects: vicarious learning

abstract: Vicarious learning helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) acquire foreign market knowledge by observing and interpreting other firms’ actions and outcomes in international markets. We searched Scopus, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost (2000–2025) and retained 27 studies (2007–2025). The synthesis organizes prior studies into four analytically derived categories that summarize how vicarious learning is conceptualized and operationalized in SME internationalization research: (T1) peer performance benchmarking, (T2) imitation and leader-following, (T3) institutional mimetic pressures, and (T4) network-, cluster-, and advisor-enabled vicarious learning. Across themes, a subset of studies suggests that absorptive capacity may condition whether external experience is recognized, assimilated, and exploited, although direct tests remain uneven and in some cases the contingency is inferred rather than explicitly tested. We translate these insights into an organizing framework and a future agenda on boundary conditions, measurement, and multi-level designs, positioning the review as mechanism clarification that imposes conceptual order on a fragmented literature, rather than as field-level consolidation.

text: Vicarious learning in SME internationalization: A systematic review and thematic synthesis Vicarious learning helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) acquire foreign market knowledge by observing and interpreting other firms’ actions and outcomes in international markets. We searched Scopus, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost (2000–2025) and retained 27 studies (2007–2025). The synthesis organizes prior studies into four analytically derived categories that summarize how vicarious learning is conceptualized and operationalized in SME internationalization research: (T1) peer performance benchmarking, (T2) imitation and leader-following, (T3) institutional mimetic pressures, and (T4) network-, cluster-, and advisor-enabled vicarious learning. Across themes, a subset of studies suggests that absorptive capacity may condition whether external experience is recognized, assimilated, and exploited, although direct tests remain uneven and in some cases the contingency is inferred rather than explicitly tested. We translate these insights into an organizing framework and a future agenda on boundary conditions, measurement, and multi-level designs, positioning the review as mechanism clarification that imposes conceptual order on a fragmented literature, rather than as field-level consolidation.

year: 2026

title: Lignin oxidation products in soil, dripwater and speleothems from four different sites in New Zealand

authors: Heidke, Inken

abstract: Lignin oxidation products (LOPs) are widely used as vegetation proxies in climate archives, such as sediment and peat cores. The total LOP concentration, Σ8, provides information on the abundance of vegetation, while the ratios C/V and S/V of the different LOP groups also provide information on the type of vegetation. Recently, LOP analysis has been successfully applied to speleothem archives. However, there are many open questions concerning the transport and microbial degradation of LOPs on their way from the soil into the cave system. These processes could potentially alter the original source-dependent LOP signals, in particular the C/V and S/V ratios, and thus complicate their interpretation in terms of past vegetation changes. We analyzed LOPs in leaf litter and different soil horizons as well as dripwater and flowstone samples from four different cave sites from different vegetation zones in New Zealand using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. We test whether the original source-dependent LOP signal of the overlying vegetation is preserved and can be recovered from flowstone samples and investigate how the signal is altered by the transport from the soil to the cave. The LOP concentrations range from mg g−1 in the soil to ng g−1 in the flowstones. Our results demonstrate that, from the soil to the flowstone, the C/V and S/V ratios both increase, while the total lignin content, Σ8, strongly decreases. This shows that the LOP signal is strongly influenced by both transport and degradation processes. Nevertheless, the relative LOP signal from the overlying soil at the different cave sites is preserved in the flowstone. We emphasize that for the interpretation of C/V and S/V ratios in terms of past vegetation changes, it is important to compare only samples of the same type (e.g., speleothem, dripwater or soil) and to evaluate only relative variations.

text: Lignin oxidation products in soil, dripwater and speleothems from four different sites in New Zealand Lignin oxidation products (LOPs) are widely used as vegetation proxies in climate archives, such as sediment and peat cores. The total LOP concentration, Σ8, provides information on the abundance of vegetation, while the ratios C/V and S/V of the different LOP groups also provide information on the type of vegetation. Recently, LOP analysis has been successfully applied to speleothem archives. However, there are many open questions concerning the transport and microbial degradation of LOPs on their way from the soil into the cave system. These processes could potentially alter the original source-dependent LOP signals, in particular the C/V and S/V ratios, and thus complicate their interpretation in terms of past vegetation changes. We analyzed LOPs in leaf litter and different soil horizons as well as dripwater and flowstone samples from four different cave sites from different vegetation zones in New Zealand using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. We test whether the original source-dependent LOP signal of the overlying vegetation is preserved and can be recovered from flowstone samples and investigate how the signal is altered by the transport from the soil to the cave. The LOP concentrations range from mg g−1 in the soil to ng g−1 in the flowstones. Our results demonstrate that, from the soil to the flowstone, the C/V and S/V ratios both increase, while the total lignin content, Σ8, strongly decreases. This shows that the LOP signal is strongly influenced by both transport and degradation processes. Nevertheless, the relative LOP signal from the overlying soil at the different cave sites is preserved in the flowstone. We emphasize that for the interpretation of C/V and S/V ratios in terms of past vegetation changes, it is important to compare only samples of the same type (e.g., speleothem, dripwater or soil) and to evaluate only relative variations.

year: 2021

title: The Long Bay Restaurant site, R10/1374: Volume 1, the archaeology (HNZPTA authorities 2015/19 and 2016/81): Report to Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Auckland Council

authors: Campbell, M

abstract: Auckland Council had proposed refurbishing the Long Bay Restaurant at Long Bay Regional Park (Lot 2 DP 54616), amounting to a near full rebuild of the structure apart from the in situ foundations. Council began the project in mid-2013 with the partial demolition of the existing structure and sawing of the concrete floor slab to install new utilities. Following the discovery of human remains beneath the floor slab on 2 July 2013, work was halted. The remains were inspected by the New Zealand Police who confirmed that they were pre-European kōiwi tangata. An assessment of the site was then undertaken by Beatrice Hudson of ArchOs Archaeology (Hudson 2013) and the find was recorded as site R10/1374 in the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) Site Recording Scheme (SRS) (this site number applies to any other archaeological features associated with the wider area). Auckland Council applied to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, HNZPT) for an archaeological authority under section 18 of the Historic Places Act 1993 to undertake archaeological test excavations to investigate the nature, extent and condition of the site, and how it would be affected by the proposed development project. Authority 2014/506 was granted on 28 November 2013 and the investigation was carried out on the 20th and 21st of January 2014 (Campbell et al. 2014) (the 2014 excavation is summarised in Chapter 3).

Auckland Council then applied to HNZPT for an authority under section 44 of the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 to modify or destroy any further material found during the refurbishment project, including associated car parks and footpaths. Authority 2015/19 was granted on 7 August 2014 and works resumed. On 6 November 2014 further kōiwi were found within the project footprint and work once again ceased. 

Following extensive consultation with mana whenua and HNZPT, Auckland Council determined that the refurbishment would continue but it was agreed that the entire footprint of the development would be cleared archaeologically in order to provide assurance that no further kōiwi would remain within the project area. As the scope of the archaeological investigation had changed, a new archaeological authority, superseding authority 2015/19, was required and a full archaeological assessment of efects was also required in support of the authority application (Campbell and Hudson 2015). Authority 2016/81 was granted by HNZPT on 25 August 2015. This report fulfils the conditions of both authority 2015/19 and 2016/81.

Excavation began on 5 October 2015 with site clearance and removal of the concrete pad but not the ground beam foundations, while full excavation commenced on 12 October under the direction of Matthew Campbell (Excavation Director, CFG Heritage) and Beatrice Hudson (Osteologist, ArchOs Archaeology). Excavation continued until 3 November, by which stage kōiwi of a further 10 individuals had been found, bringing the total to 12. Following an onsite hui on 4 November between representatives of mana whenua, HNZPT, Auckland Council and the excavation team, the excavation was halted but mana whenua requested that the 3 possible burials that had been located but not excavated be lifted, and on 9 November the site was shut down. At a second on site hui on 9 December Auckland Council announced that they had resolved to cancel the restaurant project, but mana whenua expressed a desire that the 13 x 12 m excavation area opened up at the time be excavated to a sterile layer to lift all kōiwi. Excavation resumed on 18 January 2016 and continued until 4 March, when all kōiwi and archaeological deposits and features had been excavated.

text: The Long Bay Restaurant site, R10/1374: Volume 1, the archaeology (HNZPTA authorities 2015/19 and 2016/81): Report to Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Auckland Council Auckland Council had proposed refurbishing the Long Bay Restaurant at Long Bay Regional Park (Lot 2 DP 54616), amounting to a near full rebuild of the structure apart from the in situ foundations. Council began the project in mid-2013 with the partial demolition of the existing structure and sawing of the concrete floor slab to install new utilities. Following the discovery of human remains beneath the floor slab on 2 July 2013, work was halted. The remains were inspected by the New Zealand Police who confirmed that they were pre-European kōiwi tangata. An assessment of the site was then undertaken by Beatrice Hudson of ArchOs Archaeology (Hudson 2013) and the find was recorded as site R10/1374 in the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) Site Recording Scheme (SRS) (this site number applies to any other archaeological features associated with the wider area). Auckland Council applied to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, HNZPT) for an archaeological authority under section 18 of the Historic Places Act 1993 to undertake archaeological test excavations to investigate the nature, extent and condition of the site, and how it would be affected by the proposed development project. Authority 2014/506 was granted on 28 November 2013 and the investigation was carried out on the 20th and 21st of January 2014 (Campbell et al. 2014) (the 2014 excavation is summarised in Chapter 3).

Auckland Council then applied to HNZPT for an authority under section 44 of the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 to modify or destroy any further material found during the refurbishment project, including associated car parks and footpaths. Authority 2015/19 was granted on 7 August 2014 and works resumed. On 6 November 2014 further kōiwi were found within the project footprint and work once again ceased. 

Following extensive consultation with mana whenua and HNZPT, Auckland Council determined that the refurbishment would continue but it was agreed that the entire footprint of the development would be cleared archaeologically in order to provide assurance that no further kōiwi would remain within the project area. As the scope of the archaeological investigation had changed, a new archaeological authority, superseding authority 2015/19, was required and a full archaeological assessment of efects was also required in support of the authority application (Campbell and Hudson 2015). Authority 2016/81 was granted by HNZPT on 25 August 2015. This report fulfils the conditions of both authority 2015/19 and 2016/81.

Excavation began on 5 October 2015 with site clearance and removal of the concrete pad but not the ground beam foundations, while full excavation commenced on 12 October under the direction of Matthew Campbell (Excavation Director, CFG Heritage) and Beatrice Hudson (Osteologist, ArchOs Archaeology). Excavation continued until 3 November, by which stage kōiwi of a further 10 individuals had been found, bringing the total to 12. Following an onsite hui on 4 November between representatives of mana whenua, HNZPT, Auckland Council and the excavation team, the excavation was halted but mana whenua requested that the 3 possible burials that had been located but not excavated be lifted, and on 9 November the site was shut down. At a second on site hui on 9 December Auckland Council announced that they had resolved to cancel the restaurant project, but mana whenua expressed a desire that the 13 x 12 m excavation area opened up at the time be excavated to a sterile layer to lift all kōiwi. Excavation resumed on 18 January 2016 and continued until 4 March, when all kōiwi and archaeological deposits and features had been excavated.

year: 2019