Contents:
Part I: 1. ASEAN Business Context 2. The Rise of the Multinational Part II: 3. Organizational Downsizing 4. Corporate Consolidation 5. Human Resource Management 6. Electronic Technology 7. Information Tracking Part III: 8. The Marketing Function 9. Product, Brand, and Pricing Strategy 10. Advertising and Promotion 11. Distribution

Contents:
Part I: 1. ASEAN Business Context 2. The Rise of the Multinational Part II: 3. Organizational Downsizing 4. Corporate Consolidation 5. Human Resource Management 6. Electronic Technology 7. Information Tracking Part III: 8. The Marketing Function 9. Product, Brand, and Pricing Strategy 10. Advertising and Promotion 11. Distribution

This is the first handbook to provide an overview of the major research perspectives in cross-cultural management and to look at how they can be applied to real-world situations. The volume is distinctive in bringing together perspectives previously considered independently, placing the work of management experts alongside contributions from leading cross-cultural psychologists, sociologists and economists. The editors have consciously selected cutting-edge contributors from a variety of countries.

The structure of the handbook reflects a systems feedback model of management. Beginning with the influence of national cultures on managerial and employee behavior, the volume goes on to cover strategy, structure, human resources, motivation, rewards and leadership behavior, interpersonal processes, and corporate culture and values. This allows the reader to see the issues within a dynamic and systematic context. The relationships between the chapters are elucidated by commentary from the editors.

This authoritative volume will be welcomed by managers, researchers and students seeking insight into cross-cultural issues and problems in and across organisations.

In the context of political tensions and rising economic interdependence between Japan and China, this book studies how Japanese multinational companies try to minimize damages and manage their own fear and uncertainty to sustain their business interests. Using a qualitative approach, including over 150 interviews with Japanese and Chinese business and industry leaders, combined with statistical analysis of unique firm-level data, this book brings a 'firm-level view' to this crucial case of political conflict amid economic interdependence. It argues that there is wide variation in the degree of material damages Japanese multinationals sustain in the aftermath of political disputes, and how threatening they perceive the risks of political conflict to be. This book then goes on to evaluate the different responses to risk, from promoting Japan's culture through privately funded tactics and building common cause with the government, to diversifying a portion of assets abroad and even leaving China entirely. Presenting a new angle on economic globalization in the Asia Pacific region, Risk Management Strategies of Japanese Companies in China will be useful to students and scholars of Asian politics, business, and economics as well as international political economy.

Affinity to the Chinese culture, personalized social networks and a firm control of ownership and management have often been considered the key ingredients for the success of many diaspora Chinese transnational enterprises in South China and Southeast Asia. In view of the recent Asian crisis and the rapid changes imposed by globalization, scholars are increasingly concerned whether these family-owned Chinese transnational enterprises would survive the challenges in the new millennium.

Corporate entrepreneurship involves new business creation within established companies, the strategic renewal of existing business, and, ultimately, the search for sustainable competitive advantage in an increasingly globalised economy. Yet it remains elusive for many firms. In a collaboration between a practitioner and academic, Joe J. Amberg and Sara L. McGaughey explore corporate entrepreneuring within a large conglomerate multinational enterprise: Siemens AG. In early 2009, following a prolonged period of business stagnation and a huge bribery scandal, Siemens' top management identified a severe lack of entrepreneurship as a critical issue. The strengthening of 'local entrepreneurship' became a new priority in the strategic planning for 2010 to 2014. By examining three contrasting ventures in the Siemens business unit Fire Safety between 2008 and 2012, the authors identify key drivers and impediments that sustain inertia in corporate entrepreneuring within this global organisation. This study offers an insightful contribution to our growing - yet still fledgling - understanding of corporate entrepreneurship in global corporations, highlighting the importance of context, interdependencies between critical factors, and the false promise of universal best practice.

For decades governments, politicians, and trade unions have feared that firms investing abroad involved a loss of employment and a decline in wages for the home country, the implied assumption being that global production and consumption are somehow fixed. Similarly, research on multinational firms has tended to present them as having a number of alternatives - export, licensing or foreign direct investment - for the exploitation of fixed foreign markets.
In reality, the complex relationships between parent companies and their foreign affiliates must be examined very carefully and with the most disaggregated statistics available if we are to get an accurate understanding of firms impacts. A major obstacle to this research has been the confidential nature of the necessary data. This collection, with contributions from many distinguished writers in the field, presents work which has been able to exploit relevant data for countries such as the United States, France, Italy, Belgium and Japan.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203166701

Today, the Multinational Enterprise (MNE) is seen as a leading agent in the process of globalization. As they adopt global strategies, MNE's are seen to be creating stronger, deeper and more lasting links amongst countries, thus shifting the balance of power inexorably in their favour, to the detriment of the state.
This book interrogates this idea by undertaking a historical analysis of the global strategies of Ford.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203165365

Based on his firsthand experience, Farid Elashmawi has created a concise, valuable primer to 'going global'. 'Competing Globally' gives specific information about entering international markets, negotiating, conducting meetings and presentations, and working with international partners. 'Competing Globally' sheds light on varied business cultures, including those of North America, Europe, Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, Thailand and the Middle East. Elashmawi uses case studies, anecdotes, social tips, self-tests, and tables to provide important insights into communicating, marketing, and negotiating with organizations outside throughout the world. This book is invaluable to business managers and students who need to enhance their cross-cultural negotiation skills to compete globally.

This path-breaking book examines the effects of multinationals on the competitiveness of industry in the UK. The in-depth investigation analyses how these firms gain access to technology and questions whether or not multinationals, in their support of local technologies, improve the potential and competitiveness of local industry. The book discusses the evolution of multinationals in the late twentieth century, the role of the UK in this evolution and the theories of multinationals. It examines what these theories imply for efficiency and welfare, and the policies which affect multinational enterprises (MNEs). The authors consider the strategic positioning of subsidiaries in the UK in relation to the firm's overall global investment strategy. Using detailed empirical surveys, they also look at the role of technology in multinationals and how these firms' strategies are developing in regard to this. The authors examine whether MNEs UK operations are dependent on existing technology or whether they play a more positive role in its local creation and use. Finally the role of decentralized R&D in multinationals, and the status of this in the UK, is considered. Multinationals, Technology and National Competitiveness will be welcomed by those interested in international investment, business strategy, technology and innovation and public policy.

The first book-length treatment of theories, practical lessons, and the full set of critical issues that affect international joint ventures. It addresses culture, human resources, learning, legal, management, and research and development, and presents a full set of decisions and detailed guidelines for IJV formation and management. It also thoroughly analyzes 30 case studies.

Explores Korean foreign direct investment, putting forward a theoretical framework to explain why the Korean conglomerates felt compelled to invest in western, central and eastern Europe.

By providing a detailed analysis of the extent to which the McDonald's Corporation adapts or imposes its labour relations policies in Europe, this volume represents a real life case study revealing the interaction between a global multi-national enterprise and the regulatory systems of a number of different European countries.

First Published in 2001. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Contents:
Preface
Part I Introdution
1. The theoretical foundations
Part II Multinational corporations from the resource abundant countries
2. The emergence of multinational corporations from the United States: The period until 1914
3.The evolution of multinational corporations from the United States: The period since 1914
4. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Sweden
5. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Brazil
6. Conclusion: The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from the resource abundant countries
Part III Multinational corporations from the resource scarce large countries
7. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from the United Kingdom
8. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Germany
9. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Japan
10. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Taiwan
11. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from South Korea
12. Conclusion: The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from the resource scarce large countries
Part IV Multinational corporations from the resource scarce small countries
13. The emergence and evolution of multinatioanl corporations from Switzerland
14. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Hong Kong
15. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Singapore
16. Conclusion: The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from the resource scarce small countries
Part V Conclusion
17. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations: implications for theory

The first book-length treatment of theories, practical lessons, and the full set of critical issues that affect international joint ventures. It addresses culture, human resources, learning, legal, management, and research and development, and presents a full set of decisions and detailed guidelines for IJV formation and management. It also thoroughly analyzes 30 case studies.

This volume addresses commonly held beliefs and misconceptions about the nature and role of multi-national enterprises. It presents a range of perspectives by leading academics, focusing on core themes and illustrating these themes with current business practices.
Examines the evolution of multinational firms, their new forms and organization, and their global impact
Reviews multinational enterprises as they relate to globalization, cross-border management, international business, business and society, resources and capabilities management, strategic management, and corporate responsibility
Draws comparisons between analyses of the performance-based outcomes of an economics tradition, and the more process and relationship-oriented results of an organization behaviour approach

Taiwanese foreign direct investment rapidly expanded in the mid-1980s when the domestic wage rate and the value of the Taiwanese currency skyrocketed simultaneously. Losing their competitive edge at home, many Taiwanese firms relocated to lower wage countries; mainly Southeast Asia and China. Taiwanese Firms in Southeast Asia provides a comprehensive review of Taiwan's direct investment in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. It also explores the motivation behind investment in Asia, Europe and the US. In most countries, incidence of foreign direct investment is positively correlated with firm size. However, in Taiwanese firms, the opposite is true. The book examines the reasons for this and assesses the difference in practice between small and large firms conducting foreign direct investment, focusing on the manufacturing sector. The book also includes an original, comprehensive survey and a series of interviews with Taiwanese parent firms and their subsidiaries in Southeast Asia. The authors conclude that networking underscores the core competitiveness of Taiwanese firms and when these firms invest abroad, they attempt to maintain a close connection with domestic networks to retain competitiveness and flexibility. However, they will have difficulty in sustaining this in the long-term because co-ordination of production across national borders requires intensive input of managerial resources which are scarce among Taiwanese firms. In the long-term, they have to localize and integrate themselves into the local networks. The book is a result of joint research efforts by Taiwanese, American and Southeast Asian scholars and will be required reading for students and scholars of economies in Southeast Asia, international business, Asian studies and multinational enterprise.

First Published in 2000. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Chinese companies have managed to perform well in Malaysia, especially after the recession in the mid-1980s, due to a clear change in the Malay dominated government's attitude to Chinese capital. Despite the problems that prevail among UMNO politicians, the government has provided a stable economic environment and offers opportunities for domestic private investment, even for the Chinese. Given these circumstances, it does appear that Chinese capital in Malaysia has reasonable prospects for further growth in the immediate future. This study examines the dominant role of Chinese capital in the economy, providing in-depth empirical research on its mode of development and styles of operation. Covering the period from colonial times to the present day this study identifies key issues pertaining to Chinese business operations in Malaysia: ownership and control patterns, style of growth, relations with the state, politicians and other Chinese businessmen, and the manner of development of business abroad, whilst debunking the theory that large-scale Chinese capital is not very entrepreneurial in nature.

This volume is a detailed account of the evolution and theory of multinational trading companies. In the history of multinational business, trading companies have played an especially significant and strategic role which continues until the present day, when Japan's "sogo shosha" and giant commodity traders feature among the world's largest businesses. However, the origins and strategies of multinational trading companies are little known compared to those of manufacturing multinationals. The book features contributions from an international selection of US, European and Asian economists and business historians which demonstrate the importance of trading companies in trade and investment flows in the world economy from the 19th century to the late 1990s. The authors adopt evolutionary and comparative perspectives to examine diversification strategies and organizational structures. This study contributes to our knowledge of the history and theory of international business.

Globalization, information and communication technologies, and the millennials who have entered the workforce, compelled corporations to change their resistant and defensive approaches to diversity and to proactively address differences. Companies determined that embracing diversity positively impacts their bottom line, as a result of the variety of perspectives and skills that derive from fostering a diverse workforce. To date, the majority of the studies in the business and communication fields shed light on diversity engagement in the US and leave room for the further exploration of how diversity is construed and approached in international milieus. There is a paucity of recent studies on diversity engagement in the US and the topic requires current investigation of the newest corporate engagement in diversity. Diversity in Multinational Corporations aims to address the two gaps in the literature. For this purpose, the book analyzes the diversity approaches of twenty-eight US companies from ten industries to develop a theoretical framework whose practical application enables companies to make significant contributions to the environments in which they operate. The framework addresses the present challenges that American corporations face in their diversity engagement, namely low employee engagement and "diversity fatigue," and proposes the implementation of a new social responsibility approach, whose aim is to address inequality at a global scale by adaption to the local environment and less focus on immediate business benefits. Finally, because the book discusses diversity engagement in global business environments, its results can be applied by international companies that operate at a global scale.

This edited book addresses two critical issues in international management: building trust and managing boundary spanning activities between international business partners. The duel-process of internationalization of multinational corporations (MNCs), through globalisation and regionalisation, has helped MNCs to increase their market expansion and improve the capabilities of innovation and learning. By creating various forms of international strategic alliances (ISAs), MNCs have become structurally more complex and geographically more dispersed. As a result, MNCs in general and ISAs in particular face the challenges of discerning blurred organisational boundaries, reconfiguring the control mechanisms, integrating diversified resources, and coordinating distributed activities in time and space. Research in organisation behaviour indicates that boundary spanners play critical yet unspecified roles and functions in managing cross-boundary relationships. A core boundary spanning function is to build trust relationships. When organisations engage in business transactions, members of the organisations are concerned with not only the outcomes of economic transactions but also the processes of social exchanges. Boundary spanners may succeed in building interpersonal trust in a partnership, nonetheless their effort may not lead to inter-partner trust without an effective implementation of the institutionalisation process. Whereas trustworthiness is the antecedent to trust providing the basis for trust to develop, distrust manifests itself as a separate and linked concept to trust. These dynamic features of trust, trustworthiness, and distrust are critically elaborated. Trust Building and Boundary Spanning in Cross-Border Management is dedicated to explicating these under-researched themes and contributing to the emerging streams of research in micro foundations and micro-structural approaches. It illustrates the latest research on the topic and will be of interest to both students at an advanced level, academics and reflective practitioners in the fields of organisational behaviour and theory, strategic management, international strategy and strategic alliances.

Recent analysis of international competitiveness has helped to increase levels of interest in technological innovation as a crucial factor determining the kind of advantages required in an economic scenario. At the same time, particular attention has been devoted to the role which multinational corporations are playing in the production of technological capabilities for the global markets. The aim of this study is to contribute to an understanding of those intermediate countries with specific reference to two relevant international areas. On the one hand, those countries of southern Europe whose dynamic is very much influenced by the phases of European construction. In this context, multinational corporations are reorganizing their strategies among which technology creation is central. On the other hand, in most industrialized countries of Latin America the opening up process has changed the traditional role played by multinational corporations.

Multinational Enterprise and Transnational Regions offers an innovative approach to the study of the history of transnational economic regions. The Rhine valley is such a region comprising the cities and areas along the Rhine river and its tributaries. The transition from coal to oil that unfolded between 1945 and 1973 rapidly transformed the region, shattering some of the old river-based connections and creating new ones with the introduction of large-scale cross-border oil pipelines. Multinational enterprises shaped these new regional connections but divergent national government responses gave rise to differentiated development in different parts of the Rhine valley. Multinational Enterprise and Transnational Regions argues that processes of regional change should be understood from transnational interconnections rather than from local or national perspectives. This book uses a transnational business history methodology to tease out the region's transformation and to circumvent the national bias in public sources. It will be of relevance to academics and researchers with an interest in regional and transnational European history, international business, environmental history, and business history, as well as practitioners interested in the oil industry, energy and energy history, business history and international business, and associated disciplines.