Managing Global Virtual Teams Across Classrooms,Students and Faculty

Virtual teams are becoming commonplace in business today so our business school students should have experience in effectively working in virtual teams. Based on a month-long virtual team project conducted by the authors between classes in South Africa and the United States, this paper discusses the opportunities and challenges of using global virtual teams as part of a business school curriculum. The authors describe the use of a virtual team life cycle to assess the month long project to identify key elements to retain and to change for the next time the virtual project is implemented.     

Virtual Teams and International Business Teaching and Learning: The Case of the Global Enterprise Experience (GEE)

The increasing importance of global virtual teams in business is reflected in the classroom by the increased adoption of activities that facilitate real-time cross-cultural interaction. This article documents the experience of students from two Colombian universities who participated in a collaborative international project using virtual teams as part of the international business (IB) curriculum. The data reveals that in spite of challenges associated with time zone differences, technology limitations, and trust issues, the vast majority of students perceived that the use of virtual teams as a teaching tool facilitates cultural understanding and IB-relevant learning. The findings of this research suggest that online experiential exercises can be an effective approach in teaching and in the development of virtual collaboration skills.     

选择与选择成本——品牌降低选择成本的机制分析

本文通过对选择爆炸式增长的描述,抽象出一般选择过程模型,并深入分析这一过程中所发生的成本及构成,证明品牌正是通过降低消费者的选择成本提高了选择效率,而企业外部顾客的选择效率决定了处于过剩阶段企业的内部价值的实现和内部效率的高低。本文区分了交易费用与选择成本的差别,进一步深化了对"品牌经济学"分析范式的核心范畴——选择成本的认识。     

Creating and sustaining trust in virtual teams

Conventional wisdom assumes that trust develops from a history of interpersonal interactions and communication, through which people come to ‘know and trust’ one another. In virtual teams, however, establishing trust can be complicated: members may have no past on which to build, no future to reference, and may never even actually meet face-to-face. Swift but fragile trust can develop early in a team's life cycle. Yet, if swift trust doesn't develop or even dissipates, members need to find ways of building trust in each other. To this end, an understanding of how trust impacts a virtual team's development will help managers and team leaders to facilitate and improve team success. Herein, we describe the three components of trust (ability, integrity, and benevolence) and identify which of these are critical to each life cycle stage (establishing the team, inception, organizing, transition, and accomplishing the task) of the virtual team. Proposed action steps for each stage show managers and team leaders how to help members develop trust and sustain it through the project's successful completion.     

A Cross-Validity Comparison of Conjoint Analysis and Choice Models at Different Levels of Aggregation

Several (ratings-based) conjoint analysis and experimental choice (choice-based conjoint) models are compared on their ability to predict both aggregate choice shares among the sample and individual choices in an availability validation task. While there was a weak relationship between validations at the individual and aggregate levels, several models stand out. In general, models capturing individual differences validated well at both the individual and aggregate level. The hierarchical Bayes choice and conjoint models validated particularly well.Among choice models, the hierarchical Bayes choice model had the highest aggregate and individual level-validations. It was followed by the hybrid and seven segment latent segment choice models. Overall, the highest validating ratings-based conjoint model was the hierarchical Bayes model. However, the seven segment latent segment conjoint model produced better aggregate choice share validations than any other conjoint model. These results indicate that validations can be improved either by using benefit segment models and/or merging different types of data to estimate more individualized models.In most cases, rescaling improved the ratings-based, but not the choice-based choice share validations. This suggests that one might adjust for differences between ratings and choice tasks before making choice share predictions.     

Understanding Supermarket Competition Using Choice Maps

In this paper we propose a model which combines the spatial interaction models with the latest developments in internal market structure analysis and allows us to infer supermarket competition from revealed preference data. Using a nested logit formulation we model consumers' store choice decisions to be a two stage process in which consumers choose first the suburb and then the store from which to buy groceries. Hence, our method allows retail managers not only to understand the advantage (or disadvantage) of having their store chain in a particular area but also assess the competition within that area. Comparisons to Factor Analytic Choice Map is made.     

Context Dependence and Aggregation in Disaggregate Choice Analysis

There is an emerging consensus among disciplines dealing with human decision making that the context in which a decision is made is an important determinant of outcomes. This consensus has been slow in the making because much of what is known about context effects has evolved from a desire to demonstrate the untenability of certain common assumptions upon which tractable models of behavior have generally been built. This paper seeks tobring disparate disciplinary perspectives to bear on the relation between context and choice, to formulate (1) recommendations for improvements to the state-of-the-practice of Random Utility Models (RUMs) of choice behavior, and (2) a future research agenda to guide the further incorporation of context into these models of choice behavior.     

中国大型商业银行中间业务的SWOT分析及战略选择

当前,中国大型商业银行既具有自身具有营业网络、客户资源、资金等优势,也存在着资产质量不高、金融创新和风险管理不足、收费标准不规范、专业人才匮乏等劣势;既面临着经济环境、金融混业经营的趋势、相关法律法规的逐步完善以及科学技术进步带来的发展机遇,也面临着人才和客户流失以及外资银行的威胁。中国大型商业银行应该抓住外资银行尚未形成绝对优势地位的有利时机,采用SO战略和WO战略,即扭转型战略和差异化战略,充分利用自身特有的优势,改善经营环境,加快推进金融创新步伐,拓展业务空间,努力提升市场竞争力。     

Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media

The concept of Social Media is top of the agenda for many business executives today. Decision makers, as well as consultants, try to identify ways in which firms can make profitable use of applications such as Wikipedia, YouTube, Facebook, Second Life, and Twitter. Yet despite this interest, there seems to be very limited understanding of what the term “Social Media” exactly means; this article intends to provide some clarification. We begin by describing the concept of Social Media, and discuss how it differs from related concepts such as Web 2.0 and User Generated Content. Based on this definition, we then provide a classification of Social Media which groups applications currently subsumed under the generalized term into more specific categories by characteristic: collaborative projects, blogs, content communities, social networking sites, virtual game worlds, and virtual social worlds. Finally, we present 10 pieces of advice for companies which decide to utilize Social Media.     

贸易措施的效果分析与政策取向——以关税、配额与补贴为例

关税、配额与补贴是一个国家用来保护国内市场、帮助国内厂商抵御国外对手竞争的常用措施。由于保护机制不同 ,关税、配额与补贴对不同利益主体的利益再分配会产生不同的影响 :关税措施有利于生产者和政府 ,不利于消费者 ;配额措施有利于生产者 ,不利于消费者 ,政府利益不受影响 ;补贴措施有利于生产者和消费者 ,不利于政府。一个国家可以根据其要保护的利益主体不同采取相应的保护措施     

Modeling Methods for Discrete Choice Analysis

This paper introduces new forms, sampling and estimation approaches fordiscrete choice models. The new models include behavioral specifications oflatent class choice models, multinomial probit, hybrid logit, andnon-parametric methods. Recent contributions also include new specializedchoice based sample designs that permit greater efficiency in datacollection. Finally, the paper describes recent developments in the use ofsimulation methods for model estimation. These developments are designed toallow the applications of discrete choice models to a wider variety ofdiscrete choice problems.     

Exploratory Analysis of Similarities Between Social Choice Rules

Nurmi (1987) investigated the relationship between voting rules by determining the frequency that two rules pick the same winner. We use statistical techniques such as hierarchical clustering and multidimensional scaling to further understand the relationships between rules. We use the urn model with a parameter representing contagion to model the presence of social homogeneity within the group of agents and investigate how the classification tree of the rules changes when the homogeneity of the voting population is increased. We discovered that the topology of the classification tree changes quite substantially when the parameter of homogeneity is increased from 0 to 1. We describe the most interesting changes and explain some of them. Most common social choice rules are included, 26 in total. Jel Classification: D7     

Statistical Analysis of Choice Experiments and Surveys

Measures of households' past behavior, their expectations with respect to future events and contingencies, and their intentions with respect to future behavior are frequently collected using household surveys. These questions are conceptually difficult. Answering them requires elaborate cognitive and social processes, and often respondents report only their “best” guesses and/or estimates, using more or less sophisticated heuristics. A large body of literature in psychology and survey research shows that as a result, responses to such questions may be severely biased. In this paper, (1) we describe some of the problems that are typically encountered, (2) provide some empirical illustrations of these biases, and (3) develop a framework for conceptualizing survey response behavior and for integrating structural models of response behavior into the statistical analysis of the underlying economic behavior.     

上市公司会计政策选择分析

随着新企业会计准则的实施,上市公司会计政策有了较大的可选择空间。同时,也必须认识到,上市公司一方面可以根据其生产经营目标和特点选择更适宜的会计政策,以保证会计信息的真实与公允,另一方面,新会计准则增加了上市公司利用会计政策选择进行盈余管理、报表粉饰甚至利润操纵的可能性。应控制会计政策的滥用,使企业会计政策选择剩余权不宜过大;健全上市公司的内部监控机制;完善上市公司会计准则。     

An Analysis of Assortment Choice in Grocery Retailing

Consumers in grocery retailing commonly buy bundles of products to accommodate current and future consumption. When all products in a particular bundle share common attributes (and are selected from the same product category), the consumer is said to assemble an assortment. This research examines the impact of assortment variety on the assortment choice process. In particular, we test the prediction that consumers demand less variety for higher quality items. To investigate this relationship, we employ a flexible choice model, suitable for the analysis of assortment choice. The model, based upon the assumption that the utility of purchase of one item in an assortment depends upon the set of items already selected, allows for a general utility structure across the assortment items. We apply the model to household assortment choice histories from the yogurt product category. Substantively, we show that yogurt choice is affected by brand quality perceptions (quality-tier competition). Moreover, we show that reaction to reductions in variety (number of yogurt flavors) is mediated by brand quality perceptions. Taken together, these empirical facts paint a picture of a consumer who is willing to trade-off variety against product quality in assortment choice.     

Learning About Computers: An Analysis of Information Search and Technology Choice

We estimate a dynamic model of how consumers learn about and choose between different brands of personal computers (PCs). To estimate the model, we use a panel data set that contains the search and purchase behavior of a set of consumers who were in the market for a PC. The data includes the information sources visited each period, search durations, as well as measures of price expectations and stated attitudes toward the alternatives during the search process. Our model extends recent work on estimation of Bayesian learning models of consumer choice behavior in environments characterized by uncertainty by estimating a model of active learning—i.e., a model in which consumers make optimal sequential decisions about how much information to gather prior to making a purchase. Also, following the suggestion of Manski (2003), we use our data on price expectations to model consumers’ price expectation process, and, following the suggestion of McFadden (1989a), we incorporate the stated brand quality information into our likelihood function, rather than modeling only revealed preference data.Our analysis sheds light on how consumer forward-looking price expectations and the process of learning about quality influence the consumer choice process. A key finding is that estimates of dynamic price elasticities of demand exceed estimates that ignore the expectations effect by roughly 50%. This occurs because our estimated expectations formation process implies that consumers expect mean reversion in price changes. This enhances the impact of a temporary price cut. Finally, while our work focuses specifically on the PC market, the modeling approach we develop here may be useful for studying a wide range of high-tech, high-involvement durable goods markets where active learning is important.JEL Classification: C15, C33, C35, C42, C51, C52, D83, D84     

基于SWOT的南京软件外包发展战略

软件外包是提升国内软件企业国际竞争力和成熟度的有效形式,发展软件外包业成为南京的战略目标。在对国内城市比较分析和对南京软件外包企业实地调研分析的基础上,运用SWOT战略分析方法,综合考虑南京软件外包产业内部条件和外部环境的各种因素,对南京软件外包战略和政策进行系统评价。     

The Use of a Retail Store Database for Brand Choice Analysis

This paper examines relationships between perceptions and behaviours of channel members in an industry embroiled in conflict. We scrutinize these relationships from the perspective of the retailers. We utilize realistic perceptual and behavioural constructs which are meaningful to retailers. Our results suggest that the relationships between perceptions and behaviours may be bi-directional. We review the pertinent literature on conflict and suggest directions for future research.     

品牌品类扩张边界的经济分析:基于选择成本分析范式

基于选择成本分析范式,通过引入品类相似系数这一新概念,构建数理模型,分析品类扩张的内在机制。结果表明,品类数量的增加将有利于品牌需求量的提高,但由于消费者选择成本的存在,品类数量的进一步增加将会降低品牌信用度,造成选择成本的增加,从而抑制需求量的扩大,最终品类数量和品牌需求量将会趋向于均衡状态,存在品牌品类扩张的边界。     

用频谱分析方法实现多音并行HF MODEM

探讨了多音并行ＨＦ ＭＯＤＥＭ的原理,采用频谱分析的方法实现全数字化多音并行ＨＦ ＭＯＤＥＭ,其中解调、同步和多普勒频移补偿都是通过ＦＦＴ来完成。本方案已经在计算机上模拟实现。