关于我国中小企业国际化的人力资源管理思考

随着改革开放的不断深化,我国已经有不少中小企业走上了国际化发展道路,然而,人力资源的匮乏,尤其是国际经营人才的严重不足已经成为中小企业进一步国际化的障碍。本文试图分析我国中小企业的人力资源现状,并结合本人对中小型国际企业的访谈资料,提出加强我国中小企业国际化人力资源管理的思考。     

The impact of opportunity connectedness on innovation in SMEs’ foreign-market relationships

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) use of business networks has grown significantly during the last decades, partly due to increasingly complex innovation processes. This article investigates how different kinds of networks, depending on location, contextualize innovation in specific foreign market business relationships. Building on internationalization, network, and innovation research we develop a model that views opportunity connectedness in specific host-markets, home-markets, and other international markets as prerequisites to innovative collaboration and innovation outcomes in foreign business relationships. The results of our linear structural relations (LISREL) analysis of Swedish SMEs provide empirical evidence that the effect of opportunity connectedness on innovation outcomes in foreign business relationships is mediated by the level of innovative collaboration. These results indicate that SMEs need a relatively higher level of innovative collaboration in their partnerships with foreign market customers to convert opportunities conceived in home- and international- market networks into innovative outcomes in comparison to opportunities conceived in host-market networks. This finding implies that as opportunities become increasingly contextually remote, the importance of collaborative business relationships increases. By showing these results, the study contributes to research in the international small-business domain that seeks to identify important prerequisites of SME innovation.     

Dimensional effects of Korean SME’s entrepreneurial orientation on internationalization and performance: the mediating role of marketing capability

This study examines how three different dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (proactiveness, innovativeness, and risk-taking) each determine internationalization strategies and enhance international performance among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the mediating role of marketing capabilities. An integrative theoretical framework built on international entrepreneurship and a resource-based approach was tested in the context of Korean SMEs. Analyses of 401 survey data collected from Korean exporting SMEs revealed the differential effects of each entrepreneurial orientation and the mediating effect of marketing capability on internationalization strategies and performance. Proactiveness and risk taking appeared to function as significant antecedents of marketing capability. Marketing capability, in turn, significantly decreased internationalization scope and increased the financial performance of Korean SMEs, though it did not influence internationalization scale. This study further confirms that the mediating role of marketing capability in entrepreneurial orientation-performance relationships vary by entrepreneurial orientation dimensions. Taking the direct and indirect roles of the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions together, this study recommends the critical prioritization of risk-taking over proactiveness. It extends previous approaches to the triad of resource–capability–performance. Theoretical contributions and insightful managerial implications are also provided.     

Der Markteintritt multinationaler Unternehmungen in Märkte an der Basis der Einkommenspyramide

It has been widely accepted that poverty alleviation can’t be achieved without including the private sector. Especially, foreign multinational companies (MNCs) are highlighted in this context and are considered as a key to unlock the economic potential of low-income markets by linking them with more developed markets and facilitating the transfer of financial and technological resources. The international business literature, however, lacks of theoretical insights and systematic empirical evidence of MNCs entering low-income markets. Therefore, this study sheds light on the questions why MNCs enter low-income markets, how MNCs operate and how they gain knowledge in these markets. Using a multiple case study approach, we analyze MNCs with business activities in low-income markets by taking recourse to the internationalization process model of Johanson and Vahlne. The results reveal that companies develop knowledge by enlarging their mode of market commitment to a new level that exceeds investments of foreign manufacturing and production facilities.     

Business associations and their potential contribution to the competitiveness of SMEs

This paper examines the relations between small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and business associations. It identifies sectoral, local and national dimensions and reports survey results in Britain that evidence the range of services supplied and demanded. The paper reviews the theoretical understanding of how associations operate and how they can be expected to relate to their SME members. Using this framework the paper then assesses, largely using new survey evidence, the types of associations most relevant to SMEs, their characteristics, and their services. The paper concludes by arguing that SMEs are one of the least well represented groups of business, their interests are often likely to be swamped in association governance either by large businesses or by employee–status individuals. In general there are also limits to development of services through business associations, although there is strong variation between businesses by sector, location and size. The author concludes that contributions by associations through specific services to individual companies appears to be relatively limited. The chief contribution of associations to competitiveness of their member businesses appears to be their improvement of collective industry standards, e.g. through codes of conduct, information, collective events, benchmarking and management seminars.     

A transaction cost approach to a paradox in international marketing

Why do firms that make specific downstream investments as they start international operations, sometimes turn to more market-like arrangements as they gain international experience and their international sales increase? This paradox in international marketing is the key question to be addressed in this article. We use the concept of dynamic or temporary governance costs to examine the paradox. The pattern of internationalization in the Norwegian farmed salmon industry provides an example whereby Norwegian exporters established their own sales offices in several international markets in the early stages of internationalization, but subsequently disintegrated vertically and came to rely on more market-like arrangements. An analysis of the internationalization of this industry suggests that, over time, the market provided better capabilities than vertical integration. This reduced the transaction costs, thus making vertical disintegration an efficient strategy.     

Localized capabilities and the internationalization of manufacturing activities by SMEs

In this paper it is argued that the internationalization of production through foreign direct investment (FDI) by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is influenced by local level idiosyncracies. Although SMEs suffer from inherent constraints to international growth (due to the scarce availability of financial and managerial resources), the presence of qualified localized capabilities strengthen and complement their competitive/ownership advantages, thus favouring their internationalization. These capabilities are related to the advanced specialized services available to the firms, the existence of a ‘marshallian atmosphere’, and an environment conducive to innovation and learning. However, it is argued that negative externalities stemming from protectionism-oriented public intervention discourage the international growth of firms and negatively influence the propensity of SMEs to internationalize. Empirical support for these premises is provided by this study of the Italian case over the decade 1986–1995.     

Institutional distance and international networking

We focus on how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adapt to differences in institutional logics (values, beliefs, and rules) in their networking when they enter an institutionally distant market. We address gaps in the literature, relating to the role of institutional logics in SME internationalization, and how institutional distance affects the formation of network ties. We show how the social interaction involved in internationalization is embedded in the institutional logics followed by partnering actors. Specifically, we demonstrate how institutional distance may constrain the networking activities of SMEs and identify practices that may support successful internationalization.     

Growth dynamics of dedicated biotechnology firms in transition economies. Evidence from the Baltic countries and Poland

Countries undergoing the difficult transition from state ownership to market economies have characteristics which are often portrayed by scholars as adverse to the development of SMEs. Others nonetheless suggest that the performance of such firms can be positively influenced by business strategies. To develop a better understanding of the relation between these two seemingly different standpoints, this paper investigates the effects of (1) human capital; (2) administration system for start-ups; (3) financial capital; and (4) intellectual property rights on the emerging biotechnology industry in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland and considers the strategic response of two highly successful dedicated biotechnology firms (DBFs): Bioton in Poland and Fermentas in Lithuania. The results suggest that the decision to implement an internationalization strategy (and alliances with foreign partners) in association with the production of low cost, high quality products can drive the growth dynamics of SMEs.     

物流企业客户关系管理能力评价模型应用分析

随着经济全球化的深入,企业经营日益国际化,竞争亦日趋激烈,物流企业加强客户关系管理,将有助于提升企业的核心竞争力,有利于企业的可持续发展。文中以A物流企业为例,运用层次分析法,分析A物流企业的客户关系管理能力,并针对A物流企业客户关系管理能力的分析,提出了提高物流企业客关系管理能力的建议,为企业经营活动中提升经营绩效提供理论参考和行动依据。     

Peripheral location equals localized labour? Multinationals and the internationalization of training and development in Ireland

The paper examines the impact of MNC internationalization on the training and development of employees, drawing on the findings of a survey of training and work organization among high-tech MNCs operating in Ireland. The survey illustrates clearly that the internationalization of training and development spans a wide occupational spectrum and that it is not solely a feature of a distinct international management cadre. While the literature identifies international managers as the main groups benefiting from international training and development, the findings question the extent to which non-managerial labour can be viewed as primarily local and national in outlook and skill formation. Further, the level of both short-term and longer-term training mobility reflect a wider set of business attributes of multinationals in Ireland.     

国际化过程模型与国际新创企业模型的比较——以知识为分析视角

作为中小企业国际化研究的代表性理论模型,国际化过程模型和国际新创企业模型之间既有显著的差异也存在着密切的联系。二者之间的比较分析,有望成为构建更具一般性的中小企业国际化理论框架的出发点。本文以知识为主要分析视角,讨论了知识在不同理论模型中的作用,并从理论根源、知识角色、知识来源与获取机制等维度对两种理论模型进行了比较分析。     

促进辽宁高等艺术设计教育与地方中小企业发展互惠合作的可行性分析

本课题剖析高等艺术设计教育和中小企业在21世纪将共同面临生存危机和竞争压力,这将迫使二者更加关注市场动态,适应市场需求,提高自身的应变能力和创新活力.高等艺术教育可以推动地方中小企业快速发展,地方中小企业的发展又为高等艺术设计教育提供有力保障,二者相互促进合作,构建互惠互赢的共同发展体系,此项研究具有很高的实践和理论指导价值.     

Internationalization of R&D and Operations in Dominant Product U.S. Firms

Abstract

An empirical study of a sample of 38 U.S. dominant product firms operating in manufacturing industries was undertaken to trace the patterns of internationalization of R&D and operations. First, the results of our analysis revealed that internationalization of R&D and operations were a significant part of the evolving internationalization strategies of the dominant product firms we studied. Second, while internationalization of operations was influenced by international configuration via global standardization, the internationalization of R&D was influenced by international configuration via national responsiveness and by competitive positioning via differentiation. Third, the results highlight the fact that the internationalization moves of dominant product firms are not all similar, but depend on the international configuration and competitive positioning pursued by the firms.     

A new editorial order in entrepreneurship & regional development

The aim of this paper is to contribute to international entrepreneurship theory by adopting a foreign market perspective when examining the links between network development and knowledge creation. Network development is argued to enhance the understanding of regional market structures and make firms more inclined ? and better able ? to create knowledge in foreign market business relationships (business relationships represent focal points in networks). The basis of this argument is that networks provide a multitude of opportunities for the exploitation of previously unexploited combinations of knowledge. Data were gathered from surveys conducted with an effective random sample of 188 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sweden. A LISREL-based analysis was performed to test the three hypotheses deduced from theory. Findings showed that network development has a direct positive impact on knowledge creation and that knowledge combination functions as a mediating construct between network development and knowledge creation.     

Internationalization of Chinese banking and financial institutions: a fuzzy-set analysis of the leader-TMT dynamics

Abstract

Received international business and international human resource management theories have generally reached a consensus on the important role of leader and top management teams (TMTs) in deciding and shaping the firm’s internationalization process. However, what remains unclear is how a well-functioning TMT is formed to effectively achieve the desired internationalization goal. Utilizing a unique sample of Chinese banking and finance institutions’ initial public offering overseas, this study explores how Chinese BFIs configure the leader-TMT dynamics to achieve high internationalization performance. Using a set-theoretic approach and the technique of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, a distinct taxonomy of the leader-TMT dynamics (namely, grass-root, strategic executor, born-global and glocal) is developed. Our findings provide novel insights into the IHRM variations within Chinese BFIs’ TMT formation, based on a theoretically and methodologically extended leader-TMT dynamics perspective.     

Supplier relationship-specific investments and the role of safeguards for supplier innovation sharing

The vast majority of the supplier innovation literature has focused on how buying firms can effectively “pull” innovations from their suppliers. Yet, we know remarkably little about the factors that contribute to a supplier voluntarily “pushing” innovations to its customers. The present study addresses this research gap in the context of industrial buyer–supplier relationships and with a specific focus on relationship-specific investments. Drawing on theory from the relationship-marketing literature and on transaction cost theory, we devise and test a proposed theoretical model that links the level of a supplier's relationship-specific investments to its sharing of innovative ideas regarding products and processes with customers. The model also considers the role of contract length, relationship age, and buyer–supplier cooperation as possible safeguards. The empirical results suggest that a supplier's relationship-specific investments encourage a supplier to suggest ideas of process innovations but to refrain from suggestions about product innovations. The latter effect, however, can be attenuated by appropriate formal and informal safeguards.     

产业集群与中小企业国际化的实证分析

文章通过对台湾制鞋业的实证分析,研究了中小企业集群在降低交易成本、增进技术进步及创新、促进企业国际化方面的能力效应,并说明企业集群是中小企业发展国际化经营的一条重要途径。     

国际营销动态能力的制度驱动机制研究——基于四川长虹国际化进程的案例分析

随着国际市场动荡性的不断增强,国际化企业如何在持续变化的外部环境下获取和维持竞争优势成为战略营销研究的关注焦点;国际营销动态能力概念为企业应对激烈国际市场竞争提供了新的指导工具。本研究基于制度理论的视角,从管制、规范和文化认知三大系统中识别出若干制度因素;通过对四川长虹国际化进程的案例分析,考察了企业在不同国际化阶段驱动国际营销动态能力的关键因素及实现机制;最后对研究所提供的理论和实践启示进行讨论。     

内部控制、关系型交易与非效率投资

基于 2007年至2011年中国上市公司的经验数据,探讨企业关系型交易对管理层机会主义行为的影响。实证结果表明：供应商或客户关系型交易比例越高,投资效率越低,这会加剧投资过度或投资不足程度,说明供应商或客户关系型交易在带来关系租金的同时也会带来一系列负面效应;上市公司的内部控制质量越好,越有助于抑制关系型交易带来的非效率投资,说明内部控制作为一种可置信承诺,能够有效抑制机会主义行为、控制和降低风险,提高信息披露的可信度,缓解信息不对称,从而抑制关系交易引发的投资不足或投资过度行为。