Bridging Policy and Practice in Global Value Chains

As governments around the world introduce new policies to reshape global value chains (GVCs), pioneering research from the Haskayne School of Business is asking a critical question: How do multinational enterprises (MNEs) respond? 

Awarded a 2025 Insight Grant from The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to explore GVC-oriented policy and global value chain governance, Haskayne professor Liena Kano, and her colleague Dr. Ari Van Assche at HEC Montreal, aim to bridge the gap between high-level policy ambitions and the operational realities of global firms. 

Integrating Intention and Implementation 

The research examines how companies adjust their supplier networks and business practices in response to new policies. What makes these policies effective—or not—in influencing corporate behavior?  

“We’re trying to better align public policy with how global value chains actually operate,” says Kano. “There’s a real gap between what policymakers want to achieve and how businesses function. Our work is about better integration between policy intention and practical implementation.” 

The stakes are high. GVCs are central to global trade and are affected by, and respond to, a wide variety of factors. Human rights, environmental protection, national security and geopolitical risks are all intertwined with how GVCs function. Governments are increasingly using policy tools to address these challenges, but many of the policy debates overlook the realities of how businesses truly operate.  

"When GVC policies don’t reflect business realities, they can backfire—sometimes harming the very communities they are meant to protect." 

 

Providing Practical Guidance  

Kano finds it fascinating to see how firms and their suppliers around the world navigate these shifting expectations and pressures, and aims to “to help policymakers design smarter, more effective rules by grounding them in the complexities of international business.” 

That’s where this research comes in. By combining firm-level insights with international policy analysis, Kano and Van Assche hope to offer practical guidance for both regulators and business leaders. 

The project is a collaboration between scholars with complementary expertise. Kano brings deep knowledge of multinational enterprise strategy and international business theory while Van Assche is an expert in international policy. Together, they’re tackling a complex and timely issue. 

Research Impact 

The research is especially relevant today, as governments ramp up efforts to regulate global value chains. From climate action to labour rights, the policies being introduced are ambitious. But ambition alone isn’t enough. 

“If policies don’t account for how global firms and suppliers actually operate, they risk missing the mark,” Kano explains. “We want to help design smarter, more effective rules—ones that are grounded in business realities.” 

The potential impact is broad: 

• Policymakers can use the research findings to craft better regulations.
• Companies and suppliers can adapt to policy changes more effectively.
• Communities, workers and environments affected by GVCs stand to benefit from more thoughtful governance. 

Academic audiences will also gain from the work. Kano plans to develop a comprehensive theory of GVCs that links firm-level behaviour with macro-level policy trends. 

In short, this research is about making global value chains work better—for everyone. 

Liena Kano is a Professor of Strategy and Global Management and the McCaig Family Future Fund Professor of International Family Business at the Haskayne School of Business. She holds a PhD and an MBA from the University of Calgary and a BA (Honours) in Linguistics and Intercultural Communications from the University of Russia's Academy of Education. Her research interests intersect international business, strategic management, and entrepreneurship.