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The manufacturing sector plays a strategic role as a major contributor to economic growth and development. However, the harsh business environment in Nigeria has constrained learning and capability building in the Nigerian manufacturing sector. The present state of the manufacturing sector underscores the need for firm-level learning and strategic policy actions. This paper utilized data from the Enterprise Survey Panel covering the periods 2007, 2009, and 2014/2015 to investigate firm learning and productivity in the Nigerian manufacturing sector. Case study illustrations were also undertaken to further provide insights into the links between learning variables and the productivity of selected firms in the sector. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; dynamic panel model (DPM) via ordinary least squares (OLS) and General Method of Moments (GMM) techniques. The results of the estimation show there is a positive and significant relationship between export participation lagged by one period (t-1) and the current firm performance. A one-period lag of the learning variables, namely: skills and training increased the productivity of firms. The case study illustrations revealed that major learning capabilities include customer feedback; through employees, staff training/seminars/workshops, and supplier feedback. The paper provides evidence to conjecture that the STI mode of learning, which involves formal research and development (R&D) in firms is not deep enough, and that domestic firms have less productivity relative to firms with some proportion of foreign ownership. Also, some of the constraints to learning and productivity are an unstable regulatory environment, poor infrastructure and high cost of doing business. The paper recommends both formal and informal modes/mechanisms of learning are important to ensure improved productivity of manufacturing firms in Nigeria Also, learning opportunities may differ within and across manufacturing subsectors. Industry regulators or agencies should organize to provide a forum for firms and relevant stakeholders to regularly interact on learning experiences to learn from each other and collaborate to address obstacles to productivity. JEL Classifications: O14, O33 and D22 Keywords: Learning, innovation, productivity, manufacturing, Nigeria, INTRODUCTION The manufacturing sector of any economy plays a strategic role as a major contributor to economic growth and development. It holds the key to employment, income, and an improved [...]

Due to the demand for built products from foreign investors and the growing economy, Vietnam's construction industry experiences strong growth. While some of the construction projects are successfully executed, others faced difficulties. The aim of this study is to examine the factors that lead to successful outcomes in construction projects in Vietnam. Using the case study research design, three successful projects and another three unsuccessful projects were investigated. Data were collected from face-to-face interviews with several project participants in each project and archival data. The results show that major enablers that lead to project success are foreign experts' involvement in the project, government officials inspecting the project, and very close supervision when new construction techniques are employed. A factor which leads to poor performance is the lack of accurate data on soil, weather, and traffic conditions. The findings may be useful to construction professionals operating in Vietnam to put in place factors that can lead to good project performance. For foreign practitioners entering Vietnam's market, the study may assist them in focusing on the more important factors to achieve good project outcomes. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000013 CE Database subject headings: Project management; Construction management; Case studies; Professional practices; Vietnam; International factors. Author keywords: Project performance; Project management practices; Vietnam; Internationalization.

CASE DESCRIPTION The primary subject matter of this case concerns foreign direct investment (FDI) in the southern U.S., specifically automobile FDI in Alabama. Secondary issues concern the aggressive competition, using [...]

CASE DESCRIPTION The primary subject matter of this case concerns foreign direct investment (FDI) in the southern U.S., specifically automobile FDI in Alabama. Secondary issues concern the aggressive competition, using [...]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.03.012 Byline: Nicholas A. Phelps Keywords: clothing industry; Kenya; AGOA; FDI; economic development Abstract: Drawing upon survey and interview research covering 23 of an estimated total of 35 clothing manufacturing establishments operating in Kenya as well as interviews with the policy community, this paper examines the local economic development impacts associated with the recent AGOA-prompted re-birth of the clothing industry in Kenya just after its recent high watermark in 2003. It provides evidence of the characteristics of these manufacturing establishments as well as evidence of the multiple and interconnected failures on the part of Government, parent companies, agents, and customers to promote the longer-term sustainability of the industry. As such, it provides further case study evidence of Africa's uniquely problematic incorporation into global commodity chains. Author Affiliation: University College London, UK Article History: Accepted 26 March 2008

The article highlights the case study of two Chilean multinational companies Endesa, an electricity generator and Provida, a pension fund. The liberalization know-how is said to be one source of regional competitive advantage for Chilean firms operating electrical and pension fund businesses.

Sociologists have long debated the impacts of foreign investment for less developed countries. However, theorization fails to articulate the potential environmental consequences of foreign investment dependence. Here, an ecostructural theory of investment dependence is proposed and a derived hypothesis is tested. The hypothesis states that less developed countries dependent on foreign investment in manufacturing exhibit higher levels of per capita noxious gas emissions. These anthropogenic emissions contribute to global warming, climate change, and a variety of human health problems. To test the hypothesis, newly available panel data for the emission of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide gas as well as measures of foreign investment in manufacturing are analyzed in random effects generalized least squares (GLS) panel regression models for 39 less developed countries. Findings confirm the hypothesis, even when controlling for domestic investment, the relative size of the manufacturing sector, level of development, and other factors. Overall, the analyses support the ecostructural theory of foreign investment dependence, and underscore the sociological relevance in considering the environmental impacts of the transnational organization of production as well as the overall scale of production. Keywords: globalization, environmental degradation, foreign investment dependence, greenhouse gas emissions, political economy.

The use of international alliances has increased in recent year as a result of globalization. While numerous articles analyzing strategic alliances have been published, few have provided a practical framework for practitioners to follow. This article fills the void in the literature by providing a legal framework for creating an international strategic alliance using a case study of a growing alliance in the global packaging industry., Introduction The aim of this paper is to examine a particular strategic international alliance in the packaging industry, and to recommend a legal structure for such an alliance using a [...]

This article explores the transformation of industrial systems in transborder investments made by Taiwanese information technology investors in China. It asks how crossborder firms would operate in these new territories. The study found that, by and large, Taiwanese investors chose to respond strategically to the tensions in different ways at different stages. At first, regarding China as a land of cheap labor and land, they relocated the Taiwanese industrial system in such a way as to avoid disturbing the hosting regions. The situation changed as China's market emerged confidently and opened gradually to foreign investors after the mid-1990s. Exploring this huge new market in China provided a mandate for Taiwanese investors to prosper. They opened up their firm boundaries and added new departments of research, development, and marketing. They developed from being merely export subcontractors to producing their own brand-name goods. In the most recent stage, Taiwanese investors have created networks to tap into local resources to support new activities. Echoing Yeung (2005) in a recent issue of this journal, this article argues that new investments change the developmental trajectories of the host regions and, at the same time, the regions imbued the incoming firms with their own regional stamp. From this perspective, location and localization decisions by cross-strait firms may be regarded as geographically sensitive strategies whereby firms, as reflexive agents, protect and reinforce their competence through the evolution of a firm-territory nexus.

Foreign Direct Investment: Six Country Case Studies Yingqi Annie Wei and V.N. Balasubramanyam, editors (Cheltenham, Edward Elgar, 2004), 218 pages The vast literature on foreign direct investment (FDI) has been [...]

The effects of export-orient foreign direct investment in a developing country such as Sri Lanka are discussed. It is shown that a favorable investment climate plays a greater role in inducing foreign investment than the implementation by the host country of attractive investment inducements. Furthermore, the success of the investment venture would rely on the stage of industrialization and entrepreneurship.

Byline: Marwan N. Al Qur'an Identifying appropriate location decision factors is, hypothetically, claimed to be an imperative managerial procedure involved in the foreign investment decision-making process. As an attempt to provide insight into this critical issue, three comparative case studies of Western Australian internationalising service firms were undertaken. The empirical results show that three types of location decision factors or criteria were developed by location decision-makers at three stages of the country-selection process; that is, the country, city and site factors. The findings also reveal that the identification of these location factors contributed significantly to arriving at successful foreign direct investments and, accordingly, confirmed the theoretical assertion stated in the literature. As a result, these findings have significant theoretical and practical implications to the location strategy in international business.

Byline: M. John Foster, Zhuo Wang In the last ten years, as levels of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) have grown, the developing economies of the world have become increasingly important sinks for FDI, particularly China. Within China the Yangtze Delta has been a major FDI attractor; Nanjing lies within that region. This paper examines Nanjing's comparative FDI success within the Delta, seeks to identify the 'regional' specific advantages (rsa) of the city and its attendant neighbourhood, and hence to assess the future FDI potential for the city and map out an outline strategy for its delivery. To facilitate the achievement of such strategy, it is also proposed that Nanjing should improve its self-promotion and could gain from promoting full transparency as an attractor element. The city may be seen as a case study of an issue facing many cities/provinces of China.

Gradual and orderly development in the direction of increased commitment of forms of market presence needs to be critically scrutinized on two accounts: the methodological limitations of previous studies make empirical support weak, and many of the assumptions supporting the theory are questionable, especially in lieu of international business environment changes and changes in the ability of companies to manage international operations. The entry of Swedish companies into Japanese growth strategies is described with the intention of establishing the extent to which the pattern is consistent with high performance and of discussing the effects of some potential determinants of company strategies in regard to these investments. The influence of the extent of a company's international experience is considered in particular.