The Development of International Business as an Academic Discipline

Abstract

This article reviews the emergence of international business (IB) as an academic discipline through an examination of IB research, curriculum, and location within the organisational structures of universities and business schools. A selective review of the literature on IB education is used to identify different approaches to the formulation of the IB curriculum and its constituent parts and principal features: internationalisation of business functions; integration of constituent subject areas; multidisciplinary and strategic orientation. This is used to derive a number of pedagogic implications for both teachers and students of IB: sequencing and ordering of the curriculum; revealing the ontology and epistemology of IB; breadth versus depth in the curriculum; emphasising a study of or for IB; locating and structuring IB within a modular programme; class room practice for delivering the IB curriculum.     

Developing an International and Technology-Driven Business School Program

Abstract

Academics and practitioners alike have voiced their concerns about how to continuously improve the quality of education in the business school. Two central issues that have received recent attention are (1) how to address a rapidly changing and increasingly global economy, and (2) how to infuse technology into the business school curriculum. Both of these issues are changing at break-neck speed, whereas the academic environment, by its very nature and structure, is struggling to meet these demands ata much slower pace. We attempt to offer solutions to these major issues by developing an action plan for international business and technology. One key factor in developing global and technological programs in business schools is the input of its stakeholders-the international and technological business community. In this study, we report the results of an investigation of the international business and technological community's perceptions of the skills they require of recent business school graduates. A total of 126 business organizations provide insights for business schools to develop action plans to address international and technological needs. A discussion and implications of our findings provides an initial avenue for schools to follow in their strategic planning for the future.     

Impact of International Business Education on Ethnocentricity

Abstract

As evidenced by recent surveys of American managers, there is a serious shortage of qualified candidates on the US job market. This shortage is most evident in two specialization areas: high-technology knowledge workers and internationally competent managers. Indeed, American companies rate lack of qualified high-technology personnel as their number one reason for slower than desired business expansion. The other less glamorized, yet serious shortcoming of the American educational system is its inadequate training of cross-culturally competent workers for this truly global post-industrial era. In response to this human resources crisis, realizing that “the future economic welfare of the US will depend substantially on increasing international skills in the business community,” the United States Department of Education began an active campaign of promoting international education and research in several major American universities in the late 1980s. Since 1988, nearly 40 universities have been awarded tens of millions of dollars to engage in such activities as developing formal international business curricula, offering foreign language courses, promoting internationally-oriented research, provoking international education and research dialogues among the faculty, exchange programs between American and foreign universities for students and the faculty and similar activities. This research is a first attempt in evaluating the impact of one such program on the internationalization level of American students. It will be shown that the international education program at one major American university has successfully produced a cadre of more global and less ethnocentric workforce for American corporations.     

A Theory and Model of Business Alliance Success

Abstract

Business alliances, an important form of relationship marketing, are becoming ubiquitous. However, many alliances are unsuccessful. The authors provide an integrative model of alliance success based on sub-models that rely on the resource-based, competence-based, relational factors, and competitive advantage views of alliances. The authors then show how a theory of competition, “resource-advantage theory,” grounds the integrative model.     

Organizational slack as an enabler of internationalization: The case of large Brazilian firms

In this paper, we address an empirical puzzle. We note that a deliberate and serious drive to internationalize has occurred rather late in the evolution of large Brazilian firms. Meanwhile, and despite their late internationalization, these Brazilian firms expanded rapidly and intently. Despite the rich literature on Emerging Market Multinational Enterprises (EMNEs), there is still much contention on what drives rapid EMNE internationalization, particularly for the less explored firms from Latin America. Using an inductive case study of five leading Brazilian MNEs, we bring new insights on this neglected question. We unveil that the existence of organizational slack (of operational, managerial, and financial nature) can indeed facilitate rapid internationalization, particularly when triggered by unique home country conditions (e.g., regulation; rising cost of doing business at home; exhaustion of profitable growth opportunities in the domestic market).     

文化差异对国际商务活动的影响

在国际商务活动中,文化对于商务活动的各个方面都有着直接的影响。因为世界各国在文化方面差异很大。如时间观、权力和决策、法律的意见、关系网等,所以在商务活动中只有了解了对方的文化,才能使国际商务活动顺利地进行。     

论我国国际贸易的电子商务服务模式

本文提出我国国际贸易的电子商务服务模式,应建立国家级的统一数据交换出口,为进出口企业、银行、物流公司等服务商及政府监管机构建立统一的数据交换平台,使国内外与国际贸易活动相关的机构完成电子商务协同作业。本文分析了这种服务模式的建设构架、优势和政府应发挥的作用。     

Investigating Graduate Business Students' Perceptions of the Educational Value Provided by an International Travel Course Experience

Abstract

Researchers agree that students' critical thinking and decision making skills are enhanced through exposure to new cultures and global markets. Thus, one way of bringing about improvement in these areas is through international travel courses. The purpose of this study is threefold. One, to describe the process involved in the creation of a required for-credit international travel course; two, present the findings of a research study designed to investigate graduate business students' perceptions of the educational value provided by an international travel course; and three, describe the ongoing process of closing the assessment loop as it relates to the internationalization of MBA and MACC curricula. The results of this study are encouraging. In general, students perceived that the international travel course added value to their educational experience and enhanced their relationships with other students. Items receiving weaker support were concerned with “thinking skills”, such as multi-disciplinary integration and improved decision-making. These results have important implications for future improvements to the international travel course.     

基于业态生命周期的竞争力测度模型

零售企业的竞争力与其具有的商业业态所处生命周期阶段密切相关。文章依据以往对传统业态生命周期的总结和对未来发展的估计设定参数,构建了威布尔测度模型,以衡量零售业态和企业的竞争力。分析表明,业态所处时间不同,其竞争力不同,业态竞争力函数在成熟期的某个时间点取得最大值,这时的企业具有最强的竞争力,之后其竞争力开始下降。借助这一模型,企业可以对自身竞争力进行科学评估和预测,并采取恰当的经营策略,改善经营参数值,进而有效地提高竞争力。     

The Domains of Undergraduate International Business and International Management Courses in Accredited Schools of Business

ABSTRACT

This study compared undergraduate international business and international management course syllabi from 190 management departments at accredited U.S. business schools. Comparisons revealed considerable overlap in topic areas in the two courses. The findings indicate the need for greater domain clarity and differentiation in objectives, topic areas covered, and textbooks used. Domain clarification could lead to more truthful representation of the two courses, better training and disciplinary grounding of course instructors, more appropriate hosting of the courses in business school departments, and enhanced skill-sets among students in these courses. Finally, clear domain definitions are necessary for reliability and validity in international business research.     

Perceived Effectiveness of Simulations in International Business Pedagogy

Abstract

This paper examines the perceived effectiveness of simulations in teaching international business. A survey of third and fourth year Canadian students who participated in a web-based international business simulation was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Factor analysis was used to understand the underlying relationships in the resulting data. The study finds that, compared to traditional approaches, e.g., textbooks and cases, students viewed the simulation as a more effective learning tool. The game stimulated interest and participation among students and was effective in fostering teamwork. The simulation was also viewed as being effective in providing students with an appreciation of the international context and complexity of cross-national decision-making.     

中低收入群体住房保障国际比较及启示

国外住房保障模式主要分为廉价实物配租和货币租金补贴两种模式。目前,我国在住房供给的模式上还存在很多问题,与国际相比,差异很大。应借鉴国外成功经验,健全廉租房制度保障模式,明确政府在住房保障建设中的主体地位,完善住房保障工作机制及法制法规建设,解决好中低收入群体住房的问题。     

景区成与败与景区商业密不可分

景区开发是否成功与景区商业密不可分,因此,在开发之前就需要对景区未来的商业前景进行预测并得出定论.包括景区商业能发展哪些内容,尤其能否发展住宿、餐饮这些高利润的商业;这些商业是否和景区外的同类商业存在着激烈竞争;为促进商业发展需要建设的商业配套成本是否合适;未来商业运营成本如何.只有这些商业问题能得到比较明晰的分析和判...     

The Role of Business Ethics in Merger and Acquisition Success: An Empirical Study

The purpose of this paper is to explore job performance, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from an ethical perceptive. A great number of studies have extensively discussed the link between M&A and performance; however, most focused on the financial functions and strategy selections. Although ethical issues emerge in the M&A process, it is a less studied area. This study adopted the structural equation modeling approach to empirically test our hypotheses. Based on 264 samples from financial companies, data analyses indicated that ethical conduct in M&A is significantly correlated with employee job performance. Ensuring employment security and caring practices can significantly explain organizational commitment. Organizational commitment also plays a significant mediating role between a company’s ethical conduct and employee job performance. Managerial implications are also provided.Carol Yeh-Yun Lin is a Professor of the Department of Business Administration at National Chengchi University in Taiwan. She received her Ph.D. in Human Resource Development from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992. She has published previously in the Journal of Small Business Management, Journal of Psychology, Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, Industrial Relations Journal, International Journal of Human Resource Management, and a number of other scholarly journals. Yu-Chen Wei is a doctoral candidate of the Department of Business Administration at National Chengchi University. Her research interests include intellectual capital, high-performance work system and business ethics.     

国际贸易业务经理胜任力模型构建初探

本文围绕国际贸易业务经理的胜任力展开,探索担任这一角色所需要具备的职业素质与职业能力;并根据外贸企业的战略发展需求,确定国际贸易业务经理所应具备的角色特征,初步构建国际贸易业务经理胜任力模型。     

农村微型企业创业信息需求的影响因素研究——以湖北省为例

从农村微型企业创业者的微观视角出发．对湖北省内91位创业者的信息需求行为进行了调查与分析,实证结果表明,创业者信息需求影响因素有创业者个人特征、微型企业特征及可获得信息的特征,并在此基础上提出了三点建议。     

国际贸易竞争力指数的实证分析——以福建省为例

本文认为,在国际贸易中,福建省劳动密集型出口产业的存在和发展具有必然性和持久性,其未来发展的行业方向是提升工业制成品的竞争力,致力于产业结构调整。一是继续关注杂项制品类产业发展,减缓该类产业国际竞争力的下降速度;二是加强工业基础建设,促进劳动密集型产业向资本密集型产业升级,提升按原料分类制成品类和机械及运输设备类商品的贸易竞争力;三是平衡货物贸易与服务贸易结构,提升服务产业的国际竞争力。     

文化差异对国际商务谈判的影响及对策研究

在全球经济一体化的总框架内,国家间的贸易活动更加频繁,商业关系日益复杂,国际商务谈判成为跨国贸易交往中不可或缺的重要环节。如何能更好地融合不同文化背景的人进行国际商务谈判,解决文化差异将是谈判的一个关键部分。本文首先对关于文化差异对国际商务谈判影响的相关文献进行简单搜集和整理,然后从文化差异产生的原因及类型、文化差异如何影响商务谈判以及相应的应对策略这三个方面进行分析和阐述。     

企业跨国经营与劳动关系管理研究

劳动关系管理已成为我国企业跨国经营过程中面临的重要问题。本文在回顾企业跨国经营理论和劳动关系理论基础上,首先明确了企业跨国经营中劳动关系管理的特征,然后分析了企业跨国经营劳动关系模式发展的新趋势,最后提出了企业在跨国经营中劳动关系管理的策略。