Complementarity of Global Value Networks of International Hub Firms by the Example of Apple and Disney

This paper examines the Complementarity of global value networks of international hub firms by the example of Apple and Disney. The motivation for such topic was the news in April 2017 about the desire of Apple Inc. to buy the Walt Disney Company. We decided to research this issue through the topic of hub firms, a new business problem introduced in September 2017 issue of Harvard Business Review, and through the concept of value networks. This topic may be useful for managers of international companies or international hub firms, who are thinking about extending the company’s value network. The structure of the paper is as follows. The first chapter is dedicated to the value network expansion strategies of international hub firms. In the first subchapter, we explain the conceptual background, i.e. value networks, complementarity, and international hub firms. In the second subchapter, we researched the value network expansion of international hub firms. The second chapter is dedicated to the global network expansion on the example of two companies – Apple and Disney. In the first subchapter, we explore Apple Inc., its history of the value network expansion and research current company’s position. The second subchapter is about the Walt Disney Company, its history of the value network expansion and research current company’s position. In the third subchapter, we research the reasons for the possible purchase of the Walt Disney Company by Apple Inc. In the third chapter, we concluded findings into implications for managers. In the first subchapter, we consolidated theory and practice of the paper, and in the second subchapter we listed what implications this paper can bring to managers, and we also stated limitations of this paper and recommendations for future research.