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Knowledge transfer is a phenomenon faced by many organizations especially when dealing with the challenges of globalization. Organizations develop valuable knowledge from time to time and this knowledge has to be shared among the organizational members so that the organizations can leverage it to achieve the competitive edge. This paper is meant to discuss the factors that contribute to the phenomenon of interest including communication, management, transfer process, and also the working process in a virtual organization as a study setting. This issue is chosen because of the difficulties in dealing with knowledge transfer within the virtual organization and to identify the right factors involved in the knowledge transfer process. Perhaps from this study, the best approach of knowledge transfer process could be recognized and adapted by the virtual organization to strive in a business competitive world. Organizations that failed to adapt to the changing business environment especially with regard to the knowledge transfer process will be phased out from the business competition. The implications of the study will also be discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industry / Industrija is the property of Economics Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper attempts to locate the issue of innovation and foreign entry, in particular new entrants from China, in recent US and EU merger decisions. In the first part, the paper examines to what extend US and EU authorities considered foreign entry in recent major merger decisions such as Bayer/Monsanto, Dow/DuPont and ChemChina/Syngenta. The outcome of this short analysis shows that the EU Commission has in recent years begun to accept the argument of foreign entry, in particular from China, as long as the market shares of the merging parties are not too high. The US has not explicitly discussed the question of foreign entry in the above-named decisions. However, in the case Whirlpool/Maytag the US authorities accepted, despite high market shares of the parties, the argument of foreign entry and approved the merger. With regards to innovation, entry into future product markets is not considered favourable to the merging parties by the EU Commission. 'Innovation competition' or early 'pipeline products' is rather used as an argument to demonstrate that the merging parties hold market power in product markets in the future. Based on the selected case law, the US authorities, by contrast, did recognize entry into future product markets as an argument in favour of the merging parties. In its second part, the paper looks at the pros and cons of forming 'national champions' and discusses competition law enforcement in light of the numerous and politically powerful Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective -The article presents the concept between the relationship of knowledge management adoption in global new product development. The growth in new knowledge and technology has substantially increased the complexity of the projects that is strongly influencing the time, cost, and quality of the project management. Due to the volatility of the current market, the effectiveness of knowledge management could reduce the project uncertainties, project life cycle costs, and risks of new product development. Since new product development is regarded as the key to innovation due to its strong connection between the knowledge and core competence, the ways how the knowledge will be captured, created, and shared among the project teams is important to remain competitive in today's business and market competition. Hence, the modes of how they are created and shared between the project team members as well as the impact of knowledge management towards new product development will be discussed in this paper. knowledge management are normally created and transferred through the conversion between explicit and tacit knowledge, which can be further applied into the project management. Methodology/Technique -The paper embarks a conceptual review of present literatures which specifically address the perspectives of project management, and simultaneously explains the relationship between the knowledge management (namely knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, knowledge utilization and key success factor) and new product development. Finding -This research ascertains the conceptual framework that relate to knowledge management and new product development that contribute to increase the probability of project success in project management. Novelty - Present study aims to shed light on the existing knowledge of the organization can be evaluated by the actions of decision makers and introduce a conceptual framework that a better knowledge can lead to measurable efficiencies in production and product development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate the cross-border acquisition’s process through the Fiat-Chrysler case. Many automotive companies have considered cross-border mergers and acquisition (M & A) as a necessary step to face increasing competition and globalization, but only few of them were successful. In particular, some best practices in terms of lessons-learned are highlighted. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on the analysis of a cross-border acquisition: the qualitative approach allows authors to better understand all the dynamics, complexities and problems that characterize companies facing this process (Yin, 1984). Authors used public information, Internet sources and Fiat’s documents to gather all the necessary information. Findings – In a cross-border acquisition, compatibility and complementarity of products and markets are fundamentals, whereas unmanaged cultural differences, as well as misunderstanding of the real motivations, are a slow but deadly poison: integration and a clear common focus on the final target are key factor for success. Research limitations/implications – The investigation is limited to the strategy used by Fiat-Chrysler. If the authors’ suggestions can be confirmed or improved by using other case studies, guidelines could be very useful to companies dealing with M & A. Practical implications – The paper offers recommendations on how big companies can manage a cross-border acquisition, illustrates the key steps to be successful and tries to define the necessary elements for a successful M & A. Originality/value – The paper shows how two real multinational companies operating in the automotive sector have decided to become one entity; moreover, it highlights the fundamental steps of the process, giving to the management a good example of what must happen in reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan is recognized as a major competitor in world markets but is less well-known as an attractive market in its own right. This paper proposes that with the right strategies it is possible to successfully penetrate the difficult Japanese market. Problems and opportunities presented by the market are discussed, and some of the findings of a survey of Japanese and German mangers in Japan and German-based managers are reviewed. The paper covers the survey findings on market characteristics, barriers to entry, information requirements, factors contributing to success and methods of market entry. German and UK sources of information and advice on the Japanese market are given for those interested in pursuing the matter further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wealth taxes are redistributive policies, which tap into the accumulation of wealth at the top. As the financial burden of these taxes affect a small elite, standard political science arguments suggest that they are popular instruments. Yet, democratic governments have increasingly cut wealth taxes. This paper sheds light on the reasons for their decline. It is the main argument that in the context of financial globalization not only right-wing but also left-wing governments cut wealth taxes as they undermine economic competitiveness, which is in the interest of the whole society. The societal consensus is particularly pronounced under corporatism, where capital and labour establish a reliable agreement not to tax wealth in return for long-term growth and employment. Based on a database for inheritance and net wealth taxes in up to 18 countries since 1970, the findings illustrate the emergence of a societal consensus of wealth tax cuts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current manufacturers do not provide only tangible products to their customers, but also deliver services and integrated solutions in today's globalized environment. Furthermore, they effort also on implementing 'smart services'. Smart services allow by connected productservice systems to exchange data between their customers and the service providers. Smart services offer many benefits for both manufacturing companies as service providers and as well as for their customers. The aim of this paper is to investigate which benefits of smart services are the most significant for manufacturing companies. To address the research objective, a qualitative multi-case study was conducted among seven Czech electrotechnical SMEs, which have already started with smart service provision. The respondents operate in the same industry, but they provide a wide range of products and services to their customers with varying degrees of smart service orientation. The empirical part of the paper involves in-depth interviews with owners or with experienced senior managers in each case organization. The interviews were done from April 2017 to January 2018. The findings show the most important benefits for small and medium manufacturers and their customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the background of economic globalisation, market competition is no longer the competition between enterprises, but it is the competition between supply chains. Supplier selection is the basis of supply chain cooperation, and is also the key factor to improve the competitive power of a supply chain. A novel method, which combines entropy weight and an improved ELECTRE-III method, is proposed to deal with supplier selection of supply chains. The research states at home and abroad are firstly analysed, and on the foundation of the relative literature, the indicator systems are constructed and the corresponding objective weight of each indicator based on entropy is calculated. Then the threshold is confirmed and the harmoniousness index and the unharmoniousness index are calculated. Next, the outranking relation is calculated and evaluated. Last, the suppliers are ranked based on the net advantage value of each project. Finally, the case analysis proves that the process of this method is clear and the application of it is convenient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A main source of competitive advantage is derived from the cost efficiency offered by firms' manufacturing and logistics operations. Consequently, firms typically globalise their operations whereby they may exploit the comparative advantages - defined as production functions - of the nations in which they are present. Production process design thus arises as a significant issue. The research presented in this paper targets two fundamental questions attached to production process design that multinational companies face, namely: (i) should plants that are located in different countries but producing similar products use similar production processes?; and (ii) given that the firm's policy is to use similar production processes, how should the production processes be designed? Among others, the paper shows, by way of a numerical illustration of a binational manufacturing network, that the option of choosing freely upon production process design for the respective facilities in certain cases adds little to firm value. In fact, the value of this option tends to zero as the volatility rate increases when the exchange rate is modelled as a geometric Brownian motion without drift rate, implying that firms should employ similar production processes throughout their manufacturing networks. That is, a market value approach stands up for the so-called copy-exactly approach to production process design in these settings. We furthermore show the effects of economies of scale on the optimal production process design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to define the specifics of the internationalization process of Czech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food industry. The food industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the EU which consists mainly of SMEs. However, in the Czech Republic it has to face increasing imports of foreign food products because of growing globalization, while exports lag behind. Thus, enterprises should be encouraged to internationalize in a greater extent to maintain their competitiveness. The paper explores the main motives, barriers and risks involved in internationalization as perceived by these enterprises. The results are based on primary data obtained by questionnaire surveys performed among Czech food industry SMEs, thus it is based on data about SME's real experiences and perception of interntaionalization process. According to our results, Czech SMEs from food industry are driven to internationalize mainly by their efforts to grow or by unsolicited foreign demand for their product. However, as the biggest barriers are perceived those connected with the lack of knowledge about foreign market and administrative requirements. The identified motives and barriers are compared with results of similar researches from Slovakia and Poland. Moreover, the results of Czech SMEs risk perception in internationalization are depicted in risk matrix which assess not only the effect of risk but also the possibility of its occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers an interpretive framework linking polycentric urban expansion in emerging/frontier economies to the global extension of infrastructure networks. Drawing from scholarship on state restructuring, we theorize an infrastructure scramble whereby numerous state actors and agencies make massive investments in infrastructure connectivity to secure effective integration to transnational value chains as economic and geopolitical competition intensify. This has manifold territorial implications, and matters for debates on planetary urbanization. Novel urbanization processes include the proliferation of peri-urban nodes. Built in cheaply available land, these respond to (or anticipate economic gains from) enhanced connective infrastructure. In contrast to city-regional exemplars, project-led polycentrism does not arise from territorially decentralized governance arrangements, and may deepen peri-urban exclusion. The paper includes an experimental comparison of two peri-urban nodal projects: the Iranduba University City (IUC), located in a riparian rainforest of the Brazilian Amazon 17 miles from bustling Manaus, and the Bagamoyo Port and Special Economic Zone, located 35 miles north of the congested port of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's expansive capital. Our findings suggest that: (i) techno-entrepreneurial capacity requirements underpin the centralist scalar politics governing the development of peri-urban nodes; as (ii) state-led projects rely on ambitious physical planning, with masterplans evincing elite, globalization-oriented objectives that neglect local needs and trigger displacement and (iii) even failing projects spearhead varying trajectories of territorial transformation in erstwhile-stagnant peri-urban peripheries. Concluding, we call for further research on multiple drivers and modalities of polycentrism in the global South, and the infrastructure scramble's broad implications for hyper-connected and bypassed territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Based on the theory of habitual domain, the purpose of this paper is to explore inter-firm networks' mechanisms for coping with environmental change and for assisting firms to adapt to their collaborative networks. Business globalization is driving more and more individual firms to form inter-firm collaborative networks. These networks need to develop new types of strategic capability in order not only to adopt a robust business process that will achieve high efficiency, but also to develop a network system for responding to external environmental changes. Design/methodology/approach – With insights gained from the case study, the paper develops an analytical framework for deconstructing the network behavioral changes based on the network habitual domain concept and discusses the dual roles of the network-based habitual domain in network behavioral changes. Findings – This paper demonstrates how a Chinese telecommunications service company and its inter-firm network became the market leader in one of the provincial capital cities in China within six years. Originality/value – From an endogenous perspective, this paper contributes some useful concepts that may assist both academia and managers to identify network-based habitual domains, improve the domains continuously, enhance their response capabilities, and formulate appropriate strategies according to the competition's requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to discuss the competitiveness of Germany's economy in the context of changing world economic market as well as in connection with demographic trends in Europe. Basic concepts (globalisation and competitiveness) are explained in the introductory part of the paper. The competitiveness of Germany's economy is discussed based on documents and reports on competitiveness and characterized in the paper in terms of its strengths and weaknesses. While its strengths include performance of businesses, enrolment to secondary schools, export, diversification, creditworthiness, and shortage of labour force, its weaknesses are taxes and social expenditures, prices ofpetrol and flexibility and adaptability in terms of the country's willingness to accept reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the new era of globalization, followed by liberalization and deregulation, contemporary concept of competitiveness is determined by productivity, which is a function of the ways companies compete, their capability to apply sophisticated methods and advanced technology and to offer unique products with high added value and diversified services. Empirical evidence confirms that industrial clusters through their multidimensional model of networking and information exchange can enhance competitiveness through driving innovation, productivity growth and stimulating formation of new businesses. Foreign direct investments are seen as an important factor for enhancing competitiveness by transferring know-how and new technologies. This paper analyses the impact of the clusters in attracting foreign direct investments, drawing conclusions and recommendations for Republic of Macedonia. Main conclusions of the paper are that automotive cluster has put Republic of Macedonia on a map of attractive FDI location for automotive industry. Number of foreign companies decided to locate their economic activities in the country, thus, contributing to the overall competitiveness of the country. Further steps are needed to place the country in the worldwide supply chains and to further strenghtent the links between local suppliers and foreign companies with final goal- attraction of more FDI and further rise of the automotive cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer an alternative framework and solution for balancing exploitation–exploration tensions and their management.Design/methodology/approach A case study method was adopted to uncover what underlies tensions and contradictions between exploitation–exploration that emerge for Chinese manufacturing companies due to the competitive global environment and their latecomer disadvantages when they source new technologies by cross-border mergers and acquisitions. The acquiring firm that acquires two companies is thus not a single but a cross-case study.Findings The authors present three contradictory points needing to be balanced and according to which three paradoxes emerge: exploitation from a similar knowledge base and innovation from a complementary knowledge base, efficiency and flexibility, as well as profit and breakthroughs. The authors theorize how paradoxical integration helps manage these interwoven tensions. Further, the assimilate-integration-apply (AIA) path suggests a new behavior logic and path choice for Chinese companies when they follow an ambidextrous strategy.Research limitations/implications This paper has implications for future research and for companies’ everyday practice on ambidexterity in Chinese society.Originality/value The authors combine ambidexterity perspective and AIA path with linkage-leverage-learning (LLL) to offer an alternative framework and solution for balancing exploitation–exploration paradoxes in EE firms’ internationalization to increase LLL’s explanatory power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Journal of Management Studies is the property of Czestochowa University of Technology, Faculty of Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Globalization and the increased market competition are forcing companies to consider new ways of doing business in order to remain competitive. One of these ways is the internationalization on foreign markets. At the beginning, the main protagonists of the internationalization were large multinational companies, but nowadays small and medium enterprises are no exception, they increasingly expand their businesses in foreign markets. The goal of every company, regardless of its size, is to achieve profit and survival in the market, so the decision for internationalization is an excellent opportunity to achieve the set goals. But that is not the only and key reason always, why companies decide to take that step. In this paper we will do a review of the motives and their impact on the internationalization of companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globalization, strong development of information-communication technologies and the emergence of new burning challenges for the global communities enabled the concept of corporate social responsibility to be perceived as a business model that allows for successful differentiation of companies, as well creating sustainable competitive advantage. Objective: The goal of the paper is to offer a short overview of the role of internal and external stakeholders within the concept of corporate social responsibility and point out the importance of quality relationships between the company and its stakeholders with the aim of improving the standard of living of all community members. Methods/approach: The paper is based on a systematic analysis of previously published relevant international scientific papers in the field of corporate social responsibility, stakeholder theory and information-communication technologies. Results: This paper demonstrates that the concept of corporate social responsibility has gone, in its several decades of existence, from the "unnecessary dependency" phase to the critical business model phase. Conclusions: As there is a natural connection between the concept of corporate social responsibility and the stakeholders, it can be concluded that the quality of the relationship between the company and its stakeholders represents a key factor that affects the success of the company in its notion of differentiating itself from competitors and creating sustainable competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sociohistórica: Cuadernos del CISH is the property of Universidad Nacional de La Plata and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper reviews the diverse literature on corporate political activity (CPA) and develops a framework that details and integrates existing research in this field. A systematic analysis of extant CPA literatures is conducted to order them into domains that have implications for organizational performance. The paper is structured into three such domain emphases, which require further research investigation: resources and capabilities focus; institutional focus; and political environment focus. The contribution of each to an understanding of CPA in pursuit or defence of corporate competitive advantage is discussed. The authors also suggest that the internationalization of business, including the more recent emergence of developing country economies and companies, presents scholars with the challenge of understanding CPA in more varied institutional settings. CPA practices continue to expand as commerce goes increasingly global and, consequently, involves a wider array of political actors and institutions. The paper contributes by increasing the clarity of CPA classification, reflecting on the implications of a multi-polar world for CPA research and advancing future agendas for scholars in this research community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine recent trends in R&D offshoring by US multinational enterprises (MNEs) against a well-established conceptual framework derived from transaction cost and internalization theories, as well as challenges to it. Design/methodology/approach – The paper develops and tests a parsimonious model of cross-country variation in R&D performed by affiliates of MNEs based on a 31-country, 15-year dataset of US non-bank majority-owned foreign affiliates (MOFAs). Findings – Consistent with the implications of transaction cost and internalization frameworks, the findings show that the location of R&D offshoring is significantly determined by ownership of physical assets by MNEs in the host country and host country technological capability. Practical implications – R&D offshoring can enhance the quality and the quantity of knowledge flows between home country and host country R&D centers. The resulting positive knowledge spill-over effects can increase the welfare and productivity of an MNE and its home country in the long run. Originality/value – The paper provides a comprehensive explanation for MNEs' R&D offshoring based on transaction costs, internalization framework and technological factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to refute the proposition that in today's global economy "local is the new global." It provides a logical argument that a passing economic trend should not be viewed independent of circumstances. Design/methodology/approach – The paper briefly discusses changes in the global economic landscape and identifies factors that are essential to sustaining market attractiveness and achieving a competitive edge. The paper then concludes that certain markets acquire an edge in appealing to businesses and attracting FDI. Findings – When companies, under certain conditions, relocate their businesses back home, this does not evidence a retreat from the global market. Rather, it demonstrates a change in strategic initiative to seize market opportunities and effectively deal with competition. Originality/value – The paper offers a genuine reflection on emerging economic phenomena. It sets the stage for an effective argument to counter the voices that seize on current global economic difficulties and meltdown to promote disengagement from the global economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of knowledge spillovers from neighbouring regions on regional industrial diversification should not be overlooked. Here we are referring to not only intra‐industry knowledge spillovers from neighbouring regions, but also the spread of knowledge from related industries in neighbouring regions. This paper also develops an analytical framework that pays more attention to the role of institutional proximity between regions and how it is associated with geographical and cognitive proximity, and acknowledges that institutional proximity may generate asymmetric effects in the process of inter‐regional knowledge spillovers. Using the Chinese custom database during 2002–11, we confirm that knowledge spillovers from neighbouring regions play a key role in regional industrial diversification. More importantly, inter‐regional knowledge spillovers are likely to occur more efficiently if two regions have similar institutional contexts. It is also shown that institutional proximity could generate asymmetric effects in inter‐regional knowledge spillovers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to bring a methodological and empirical contribution to the measurement of trade competition. Globalization and the emergence of new poles in the world economy brought changes to the global landscape and consequent increase in international trade. There is a debate in the literature with regard the indexes that are better fit to be applied in empirical examples for the acquirement of relevant results for measurement of trade competition. This measurement will be achieved by observing the levels of structural similarity in distinct areas and at different moments in time. A higher degree of similarity between the export structures implies a stronger competition in destination markets. The values obtained for this measurement are highly relevant for the trade competition topic. Through this study we further explore the measurement of trade competition and comparatively discuss several indexes used in this area of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As globalization and demands increase, maritime transport must achieve efficiencies, be in tune with technological advances, and make continuous operational improvements to stay competitive in the market. This was no different for the Panama Canal. The canal enjoyed many years of success from its original opening in 1914. However, the need for expansion intensified as ships grew in size. A canal expansion is no small undertaking and effective project management practices were as critical to the success of the project as the cement used to expand it. Projects, regardless of size, are not resistant to challenges or roadblocks. Such was the case with the Panama Canal Expansion. Although the completion of the project was celebrated and the use of the expanded canal is beneficial to shippers and the Panama region, the canal expansion experienced significant cost and schedule overruns, as well as construction issues and contractor disputes during the life of the project. This paper describes the background of this mega project, including its objectives, a breakdown of estimated costs, project timing, a review of stakeholders, and an evaluation of the project's risk analysis. Additionally, this paper includes a post-project review which analyzes the project's results, observes the lessons learned, and provides recommendations from established project management techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of globalisation on corporate real estate strategies. Specifically, it seeks to identify corporate real estate capabilities that are important in a hypercompetitive business climate. Design/methodology/approach -- This paper utilises a qualitative approach to analyse secondary data in order to identify the corporate real estate capabilities for a hypercompetitive business environment. Findings -- Globalisation today is an undeniable phenomenon that is fundamentally changing the way business is conducted. In the light of global hypercompetition, corporate real estate needs to develop new capabilities to support global business strategies. These include flexibility, network organization and managerial learning capabilities. Research limitations/implications -- This is a conceptual paper and future empirical research needs to be conducted to verify the propositions made in this paper. Practical implications -- Given the new level of uncertainty in the business climate, that is, hypercompetition, businesses need to develop dynamic capabilities that are harder for competitors to imitate in order to maintain what is considered a "momentary" competitive advantage. The findings of this paper are useful to guide corporate real estate managers in this regard. Originality/value -- This paper is original in two ways. First, it applies the strategic management concept of capabilities to corporate real estate. Second, it links the key challenge that businesses face today, i.e. globalisation, to the concept of capabilities as a means to maintain competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on the survival of business start-ups. FDI has potential for both negative displacement/competition effects as well as positive knowledge spillover and linkage effects on new ventures. We find a net positive effect for the whole dataset. However, a major contribution of the paper is to outline and test an argument that this effect is likely to be comprised of a net negative effect in dynamic industries (high churn: firm entry plus exit relative to the stock of firms) alongside a net positive effect in static (low churn) industries. We find evidence to support this view. The results identify new effects of globalisation on enterprise development with associated challenges for industrial policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese press, instead of acting purely as a state propaganda instrument, now functions as ‘Party Publicity Inc.’ — that is, a quasi-business that seeks to make huge profits on the one hand and to legitimate the Party mandate by promoting its image on the other. The accelerated pace of media conglomeration following China's accession to the World Trade Organization has sharpened this trend. This study examines the impact of press ecology in Shenzhen, a national trend-setter for ‘Party Publicity Inc.’, before and after conglomeration. We observe that press conglomeration has (a) engendered a more centralized management structure and operation; (b) replaced duopolistic competition with market monopoly and greater price-fixing abilities; (c) continued to rely on state office subscription; (d) dampened journalists' enthusiasm for political reform in favor of economic interest; (e) developed a two-tier Publicity Inc. to serve both the Party and the market; and (f) provided an opportunity for overseas expansion. Marketization does not trigger political reform, but pre-empts pressure for political change. The Party Publicity Inc. in its conglomerate form represents a complicitous accommodation between power and money engineered by a post-Communist bureaucratic-authoritarian regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Journal of Management Studies is the property of Czestochowa University of Technology, Faculty of Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents an international trade model based on a market structure with monopolistic competition and age dependent quality and productivity in producing each product variety. Due to innovations new product varieties of a still higher quality enter the market every period rendering old varieties obsolete. For a given technology (variety) production costs decrease after an infant period due to learning. While all firms are assumed to be symmetric in a life-cycle perspective, at a given point in time firms of different ages differ in productivity, firm size, product quality, and export behavior. The model highlights a process of creative destruction, which allows firms to produce in a finite span of periods determined by the intensity of product and process innovations. The model predicts a wide range of export behavior of the individual firm during its life cycle depending on the structure of technological progress and trade costs. These predictions are consistent with empirical evidence on firm's internationalization in a dynamic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to investigates how organizational learning, absorptive capacity, cultural integration, specialization of the acquired firm and characteristics of transferred knowledge impact innovation performance subsequent to overseas acquisitions. Design/methodology/approach -- Survey responses from 222 Chinese multinational enterprises engaged in overseas acquisitions. Findings -- Differences between acquiring and acquired firms' capabilities, while having a positive direct influence, suppress the positive impact of organizational learning and absorptive capacity, suggesting that multinationals require some basic level of capabilities to appropriate value from overseas acquisitions. Research limitations/implications -- This paper investigates the impact of knowledge-seeking overseas acquisition of Chinese multinationals on innovation performance, as this appears to be the primary motive for making such acquisitions. Practical implications -- Knowledge-seeking overseas acquisition should be based upon the absorptive capacity of the acquiring firm and complementarity between both firms. In knowledge-seeking overseas acquisitions, establishing an effective organizational learning mechanism is necessary for improving innovation performance. Originality/value -- This paper reports on the behaviour and innovation performance of Chinese multinationals through analysis of primary data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of innovativeness and competitiveness is rising and it is the essential condition for the survival in a global market. Especially it is vitally important for small countries (and their regions), which do not have the exceptional situation and position in the market, acknowledged products (services) or resources, even stable long-term traditions of innovation culture, etc. The present paper focuses on absorptive capacity, its development issues in regional innovation systems and well-being creation in a small country's regions. For the purposes of the research, analyses were carried out, identifying reasons (or barriers), promoting (or limiting) innovative activities, impeding organizational propensities and desire to develop activities of knowledge access, anchoring and diffusion at the organizational and inter- -organizational level. This paper reveals the experience of Lithuanian regions from the point of view of experts, representing institutions of science, business, innovation and business support. This paper represents the experience of partnerships (successful and failed) for the knowledge absorption in Lithuania and their connection to subsequent directions of organizational behavior and decisions. Furthermore, the author suggests main aspects for managers, seeking to maintain (gain) organizational absorptive capacity, corresponding to requirements and speed of the modern market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue explores multi-dimensional retail transitions in Southeast Asia against the backdrop of the ongoing globalization of retail capital. As an introduction to the special issue, this paper does three things. First, it introduces the rationale for, and wider context to, the special issue. Second, it offers a contemporary snapshot of the leading retail markets in Southeast Asia in order to highlight the considerable national variation in market conditions that exists, and thereby to situate the papers that follow. Third, it reviews the existing literature on retail transformations in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on three areas: deregulation and reregulation with respect to retailing, competitive impacts of foreign retailers on domestic firms, and the supply network impacts of inward investment in retailing. The paper concludes by outlining a brief research agenda for work on retail transitions in Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to study the strategy development by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for improving coordination in supply chain in Indian perspective. Globalization and liberalization of the world economy has leveled the field for all competitors around the globe. To face global competition successfully, SMEs have to break isolation of their suppliers and other entities in the supply chain. Design/methodology/approach -- For collecting data, a question-based survey was conducted. In total, 251 valid responses were received. Statistical analysis of data acquired from survey is done by one sample t-test, correlation and regression analysis. Findings -- Uncertainty of customer order/demand, insufficient knowledge of supply chain management (SCM) and involvement of middlemen in supply chain are the main problems faced by Indian SMEs during implementation of SCM. Quality improvements, delivery on time and cost reduction are the major priorities while forming supply chain strategies. Coordination strategies are positively correlated with business performances. Research limitations/implications -- Major implication is that SMEs should develop their strategies effectively after analyzing business environment and future plans. While developing strategies for improving coordination in supply chain of SMEs, they should give due importance to problems and risks they face. However, it is felt that this study can be further explored by considering other aspects of strategy development such as human resource, organization culture, etc. Originality/value -- Finding and issues of the paper will be highly useful for SMEs in framing their strategies for improving coordination in supply chain, and academia for further research in the context of changing market scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a research paper from Professor Naresh Malhotra, senior fellow, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, which focuses on various trends that are shaping the role of marketing research. It states that in this age of globalization, Internet connectivity, social media, and marketing research are becoming more important as companies are facing intense competition. The paper also highlights some of the emerging issues and trends in marketing research, that include the increased participation of marketing researchers in marketing decision making, and marketing managers participating in marketing research. Another trend is that marketing research is becoming integrated with the decision support systems.

One of the major concerns for the technology market is the demand volatility and its impact on inventory policies. Demand volatility in the technology sector may arise due to many factors namely customer choices, competition, growing market size, and so on. Often companies use rented warehouses to absorb any fluctuations in demand. Unfortunately, warehouse and inventory researches ignore the phenomenon of growing market size to formulate policy decisions. In this paper, we proposed a two-warehouse inventory model with deterioration for technology products with linearly increasing market size where demand follows innovation diffusion criterion. The model is based on the assumption that the holding costs in the rented warehouse are more than the own warehouse. A simple solution procedure also discussed to solve nonlinear cost function. Numerical example and sensitivity analysis are also used to describe the utility of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]