What happens when previously autonomous firms from different countries, each with their own identities, routines and capabilities, come together inside a single multinational corporation? Can a cooperative strategy be established that advances the development of the multinational as a whole, or do mutual misunderstandings and the unintended consequences of strategic interaction among the players' lead instead to endemic conflict and disintegration?
This book tackles these novel and important questions through an empirical study of the strategic constitution of an 'actually existing' multinational. It does so by tracing the historical construction of the multinational corporation from the confluence of multiple formerly independent firms and analyzing the interacting web of strategies pursued by different actors within it. The analysis reveals how workers, unionists, subsidiary managers, and corporate executives pursue separate strategic games rooted in their local contexts, whose global outcome contrasts sharply with idealized views of the multinational as an integrated and coordinated organization.
By comparing these findings to those of the broader literature, the book proceeds to a theoretical examination of the challenges of managing the multinational, and the difficulties of resolving them through conventional organizational means. The authors propose new procedural solutions aimed at fostering mutual recognition and knowledge exchange within the multinational corporation, and explore how a multinational public may be created to press for the necessary reforms in corporate governance. As the success of such reforms is far from preordained, the book concludes with a seriesof alternative scenarios that illustrate the many obstacles to a smooth continuation of the globalization process.
This is an important and original study of significance for researchers, academics, and advanced students of international business, business strategy, comparative management and organizational studies.

Business firms are currently being forced to make a variety of changes to respond to both threats and opportunities in the international economy. This volume examines in detail the many ways successful companies establish a presence in overseas markets. The authors classify operations in the international environment into four categories. First, companies that do not want to actually establish local production facilities can export directly to targeted markets or engage in turnkey operations. Historically, this has been one of the most important means of acquiring international markets and continues to be a viable strategy today. Second, establishing contractual relationships with foreign companies is effective when a firm does not want to operate a wholly earned subsidy. Third, operating wholly owned facilities in other nations is one of the most preferred methods of gaining and maintaining a presence overseas. Firms typically employ this strategy either by building new facilities or by merging with or acquiring existing companies. The authors demonstrate how the approach used by business depends on the nature of the obstacles a host government places before foreign commerce.

To call Japan an economic superpower is perhaps an exercise in stating the obvious, but the importance of its continuing dominance in worldwide industries cannot be overlooked. The very industries that were supposed to be immune to Japan--in particular, those in high-technology--are coming under the increasing control of that country's firms. This book deals with the issue of global competitiveness, analyzing the transition that Japan has made from being a technological follower to a technological leader, and it provides a fuller understanding of the strategic use of technology by Japanese companies. David Methe focuses his study on the integrated circuit, a crucial development that affects numerous high technology products. How the Japanese were able to dominate a vital industry that had been invented and pioneered by the United States is a profoundly important question for American companies that wish to become internationally competitive.

Based on two years' of primary research conducted in Japan, Methe stresses the importance of technological strategy, and how it can be used by companies to compete effectively. From his interviews with CEOs of leading Japanese high technology firms and officials of various government agencies, Methe illustrates the subtle balance of competitive and cooperative forces, not just the cooperative aspects of industrial relations, that played a critical role in Japan's emergence as a major innovator in semiconductor technology. Noting the same competitive balance in government-sponsored research, he develops his central thesis that there are reciprocal relationships between the characteristics of technological innovations, a firM's strategic approach to technology, and public policy. Finally, Methe turns his findings toward U.S. firms engaged in the next stage of global competition, fully assembling the implications and suggesting planning strategies that will be effective in the international marketing of high technology products. Companies involved in the manufacture, marketing, and sales of high technology products will find this work to be an invaluable resource tool, as will students in business and marketing programs and public and academic libraries.

In a rapidly globalizing world, commercial relations and regional trade integrations between countries have improved. Analyzing trade relations both inside and outside countries allows for economic improvement. Globalization and Trade Integration in Developing Countries provides emerging research on the difficulties and challenges developing countries face in world trade as well as their performance. While highlighting topics such as economic growth, foreign trade policy, and trade competitiveness, this publication explores the trade integrations and commercial trends in advancing countries. This book is a vital resource for policy makers, government agencies, businesses, academicians, researchers, and students seeking current research on the advantages and techniques of improved international markets and trade.

In the twentieth century the application of national taxes to income from international business has created complex yet fascinating issues. The co-ordination of national jurisdiction to tax international income has rested formally on a network of bilateral treaties, but its practical administration has relied on a community of specialists; business advisers on the one hand and national officials on the other. The rapid growth of transnational corporations has put great pressure on the international tax system, especially due to the increasing difficulty of ensuring that the internal transfer prices between related firms in different countries reflect a fair and acceptable allocation of costs and profits. Furthermore, the widespread use of intermediary companies formed in tax havens has led to complex counter-measures and a constant process of treaty renegotiation and interaction with national law. The increasingly close administrative co-operation of tax authorities has been criticized as secretive and often arbitrary. Yet proposals for a more comprehensive framework and clearer legitimizing principles and procedures have conflicted with both the vested interests of international firms and with sensitivities about national sovereignity. But major reforms are necessary, even if implemented piecemeal.

Using perspectives from law, economics and social science, this book provides a systematic introduction to the major problems of international taxation of business income. In doing so, it retrieves important policy issues that have become buried in technical intricacies of the international taxation system.

Analyses the history of management in Japan in conceptual terms based on the work of Alfred Chandler. The book demonstrates the difference between family-owned firms and professionally managed firms. The author uses this framework to explore the development of managerial capability and the evolution of managerial systems in Japan. The book was first published in Japanese in 1996.

Structural Revolution in International Business Architecture Volume 2 fills important gaps in the existing literature of management science by providing new and improved methods of optimal control system modeling. These research methods are applied in a variety of problems of management science and national economic management. Applications are on oil field development, energy system modeling, resource modeling, time varying control of dynamic system of national economy, and investment planning.

Dr. Hines draws on her own extensive worldwide research and her consultations with major multinational corporations to provide a comprehensive, detailed study of the rationale underlying the emergence of global private power, ways to find opportunities for further development within the global private power business, and alternative methods and techniques for its development and finance. Her book shows that, with assistance from bilateral and multilateral government agencies such as the International Finance Corporation and the various national export-import banks, project debt ratios resonably low. Equity is usually contributed to the project by all the major participants. Global competition for viable power projects is tending to reduce costs and increase plant efficiencies. This work is a major contribution to our understanding of what global power privatization is, where it is being implemented and how it is done, and the various considerations that energy executives and public policymakers worldwide should keep in mind when they seek financing for their private power projects.

Global power plant development commonly starts with regional and country risk analysis as the developer views alternative opportunities and compiles a prospectus for potential investors. As the developer analyzes the financial, market, operating, resource, political, and other risks, he or she usually considers possible methods of risk mitigation. With the participation of key host and home country and foreign partners, the developer selects the new location, the type of power plant and necessary equipment for the desired output, the fuel types and sources, the potential customers, the private financing methods, and the possibility of financial guarantees from the host government and bilateral and multilateral organizations. The markets of Asia, Latin America, and Europe present unusually good opportunities at the turn of the new century.

THE ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS (UK and Ireland Chapter) Published in association with the UK and Ireland Chapter of the Academy of International Business International Business: New Challenges, New Forms, New perspectives provides in-depth and new knowledge about some of the most recent challenges for international businesses such as corporate social responsibility, the phenomenon of outward foreign direct investment from China, and the international growth of smaller firms, including international new ventures. This volume also reflects on new perspectives in international business by presenting the experience of successful business experts in the field in managing large international projects, the issues they face and the strategies they use to tackle them.

Financial markets have often been seen by economists as efficient mechanisms that fulfill vital functions within economies. But do financial markets really operate in such a straightforward manner? The Sociology of Financial Markets approaches financial markets from a sociological perspective. It seeks to provide an adequate sociological conceptualization of financial markets, and examine who the actors within them are, how they operate within which networks, and under which cognitive and cultural assumptions. Patterns of trading, trading room coordination, cognition and emotions, and global interaction are studied to help us better understand how markets work and the types of reasoning underlying these institutions. Financial markets also have a structural impact on the governance of social and economic institutions. Until now, sociologists have examined issues of governance mostly with respect to the legal framework of financial transactions. Contributions in this book highlight the ways in which financial markets shape the inner working and structure of corporations and their governance. Finally, the book seeks to investigate the symbolic aspects of financial markets. Financial markets affect not only economic and social structures but also societal cultural images and frameworks of meaning. Barbara Czarniawska demonstrates how representations of gender relationships are a case in point. Arguing that financial markets are not simply neutral with respect to questions of gender but enhance certain images and interpretations of men and women. Addressing many important topics from a sociological perspective for the first time, this book will be key reading for academics, researchers, and advanced students of financial markets in Business, Management, Economics, Finance and Sociology.

This book expands the business network view on managerial issues in multinational corporations. Specifically, it scrutinises the importance of a subsidiary's external and internal business network for its strategic and organizational role within the corporation. The internationalisation of firms in terms of management issues and headquarters control, the influence of subsidiaries on decisions and learning processes within multinational corporations are examined in detail. It is argued that to understand these issues, it is necessary to analyse the context of the multinational corporation in terms of the subsidiaries' external and internal business networks. The authors also explore the extent to which subsidiaries are embedded in close relationships with other business partners and the ability of headquarters to retain control if their subsidiaries are given the opportunity to influence decisions concerning strategic investments. The theoretical elements of the book are underpinned by illustrative cases from an extensive database of 20 multinational corporations. Grounding its analyses and conclusions on unique and extensive data on specific business relationships at the subsidiary level in multinational corporations, this book will be invaluable to students, researchers and lecturers focusing on management and international business.

Recent years have seen intense debates among management and academics on the rise of `lean production' and `Japanization'. This book examines in detail the actual practice of transfer and adaptation of productive models into the auto industry. Case studies cover in detail the Japanese transplant experience in North America, and the global experience of hybrid production systems in Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

This work is an examination of borderless markets where national boundaries are no longer the only relevant criteria in making international marketing, economic planning, and business decisions. Understanding political and nonpolitical borders is especially important for products and industries that are culture bound and those that require local adaptation. National culture is one critical factor that affects economic development, demographic behavior, and general business policies around the world. Over 75,000 statistics are provided for over 230 national groups covering a number of social, economic, and business variables. A significant review of literature is also included.

National champions are firms promoted by governments to defend the national interest in the international market. This book looks at how European national champions have fared under the pressure of European integration and in an increasingly competitive world economy.

With tariff disputes, ethical concerns and digital currencies dominating the news, international finance continues to engage national debate. As globalization expands, organizations must not only manage the advantages that ensue but also their exposure to risk. Now in its sixth edition, International Financial Management offers students a comprehensive introduction to this fast-moving field. Up-to-date real-world examples, critical debate questions and project workshop activities equip students with the essential knowledge they need to succeed in international finance. This textbook is suitable for final-year undergraduate as well as master's level courses in international financial management. This title is available with MindTap, a flexible online learning solution that provides your students with all the tools they need to succeed, including an interactive eReader, engaging multimedia, practice questions, assessment materials, revision aids and analytics to help you track their progress.

This book explores green innovation and future technology skill development within regional small to medium sized enterprises. Notwithstanding the goals of a greener Europe, there has been little debate as to how the skills required to fulfil the goals of sustainable development can be imparted within regions and within rural business communities.

Since the operations manager of today is faced with global scenarios, people and cultural skills have become more critical for success than analytical tools in a global 21st century. The main themes in production and operations management are operations strategy, productivity, and quality. These themes are manipulated to serve those involved in production and operations management including employees, customers, and owners. Experienced operations managers recognize that they accomplish their goals through people, and that the skills in dealing with people are often neglected. This operations book focuses on a new type of human-centered production management designed to broaden the operations managers' thinking in the human interactions area, and to expand problem-solving processes geographically from domestic to global.

This work should be of interest to CEOs and corporate and departmental executives who deal with operations and productions. Individuals in academic areas dealing with management, operations management, international business, and organizational behavior should also find this book of interest.

A compendium of statistical data, up-dated from the original sources in both East and West, on production, consuption, standards of living, foreign trade, finance, and energy on the countries of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, this statistical handbook, gives ready and systematic access to economic and foreign trade data gthat otherwise is widely scattered in original sources and published in a multitude of foreign languages. Trade flows from and to the countries of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, in the world markets, and within the CMEA area are covered by systematic and analytical statistics, compiled from the most recent original sources. The highly specialized information contained in this, the fifth up-dated edition of Comecon Data, originates form three distinct groups of sources: official statistical yearbooks and periodicals published by the member-countries of COMECON and thye statistical yearbook of the DMEA secretariat (supplemented by publications of Yugoslavia, an associate but not a member of that body); data published by international organizations--the United Nations, ECE, OECD, IMF, the World Bank, etc.; and Western sources. Comparability with previous editions is preserved by repeating the sequence and numbering of the table headings, and quick reference is facilitated by the detailed list of tables and alphabetical index. To academic, political, and economic analysts in need of measurable facts underlying the daily flood of controversial news and views that dominate the interplay of forces on the world political state, the sober statistical data presented her will offer solid, in-depth information. The only comparable work, which contains some of the information here assembled is published in Russian only.

Internationalisation is now a necessity for American organisations, leading to unprecedented cultural exchanges in multinational employers. Much has been written about Americans working abroad, but how do non-Americans feel about working for Americans? To answer this question, Bond Benton directly surveyed nearly 600 Foreign Service Nationals working for the US State Department.

Are state and local economic incentives to attract new firms worthwhile? Mitsubishi Motors in Illinois provides in-depth analysis of the incentives offered to land Diamond-Star Motors, the plant's labor force, supplier organization, and its community impact to answer this question. The authors conclude with a benefit-cost analysis of the incentive package at the community and at the state level. Written in nontechnical language, the book is intended for planners and administrators in state and local government, economic and business development officers, and international corporate management, as well as economists and public policy analysts.

Although much research has been compiled separately on the various issues surrounding the establishment of Japanese auto manufacturing plants in the United States, this work is unique for its direct surveys of workers, suppliers, members of the community, and city and state leaders involved in the negotiations. Data on the local housing impact are drawn from detailed examination of loan applications in the community during the major hiring period at the plant. While some results confirm previous work, the authors find many differences, particularly in the composition of the labor force and the effect of just-in-time production methods on supplier location. The book provides a comprehensive view of the community and regional impact of a Japanese auto manufacturing plant which can be used as a model for planning economic development strategies to attract new firms to states and communities. Written in nontechnical language, the book is intended for planners and administrators in state and local government, economic and business development officers, and international corporate management, as well as economists and public policy analysts.

This book provides authoritative academic and professional insights into the strategies of Chinese Foreign Direct Investments in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Distinguished authors from across the world will make a contribution to the growing literature on OFDI (outward foreign direct investment) from China.

This comprehensive Handbook sets out the nature and scope of International Human Resource Development (IHRD) to advance our understanding of research and practice in the field. Drawing on expertise from a global team representing some of the field's most distinguished researchers, the Handbook explores a range of contextual, process and people development practice issues impacting IHRD research and practice. Focusing on IHRD as a distinct field of research and practice, the authors offer comprehensive coverage of a number of critical contextual dimensions that shape the IHRD goals that organisations pursue; impact the IHRD systems, policies and practices that are implemented; and influence the types of IHRD research questions that are investigated. The Handbook examines the processes or actions taken by organisations to globalise IHRD practices and discusses important people development practices that come within the scope of IHRD. By bringing together a variety of research strands and engaging in key debates while also acknowledging the emergent, dynamic and constantly evolving nature of the field, the authors of this Handbook have created an invaluable resource for academics, students, professionals and practitioners in IHRD, HRD, HRM, international management, organisational behaviour and leadership. Contributors: M. Alagaraja, H. Alhejji, V. Anderson, A. Ardichvili, E.E. Bennett, A. Bratton, R. Carbery, N. Clarke, N. D'Annuzio Green, T. Garavan, J. Gedro, K. Grant, C. Gubbins, M. Hammond, J. Kim, S. Kim, Y. Lai, A. McCarthy, A. McDonnell, R.R. McWhorter, H. Moon, C.T. Nolan, D. O'Shea, J. Pearson, V. Pereira, O. Pruetipibultham, W.E.A. Ruona, V. Shanahan, M. Sheehan, C. Valentin, J. Winterton

Explores the transformations that have taken place in Japanese workplaces since the dawn of the new millennium in terms of management practices, particularly in the areas of Human Resource Management and organizational culture. The author empirically assesses the effectiveness of the new approaches introduced by Japanese companies.

To understand international joint ventures (IJV) creation and management one has to know how cross-border firms actually decide to form and operate a new company jointly. One has to "be there," say volume editors Woodside and Pitts. One must understand IJVs in "real life" and particularly the interactions among people, their behaviors and decision-making over time. What are the key success factors? The micro-managerial details? Written by a team of international experts, Creating and Managing International Joint Ventures provides just that perspective, in a blend of theory and application seldom found in the literature. Executives with international development responsibilities and academics researching and teaching international business strategy, management, and marketing will find here a research-based source of information and knowledge that is both thought provoking and immediately applicable.