Management International Review

Research Article

Toward More Effective Research On the Multinationality-Performance Relationship

This paper revisits the mainstream academic perspective on the relationship between multinationality and performance (MP). The authors argue that most, if not all, past empirical work on this international management topic is flawed from a conceptual perspective since there is no valid theoretical rationale that would predict a generalizable MP relationship. They suggest that useful empirical work on the MP linkage requires prior analysis of the key parameters underlying the substance of the ...

A Theoretical Perspective On the Location of Banking Fdi

The paper models location of banking FDI under volatile demand conditions. In the model, information arrives either through passage of time or though presence in the foreign market. The model is also extended to analyze strategic and simultaneous FDI. The results show that market entry evolves from deferring FDI to partial FDI and only then to full FDI. The switch to partial FDI occurs faster when banks can gather information only through a presence in the foreign market. The switch to partia...

Country-of-Origin Effects of Foreign Direct Investment: An Industry Level Analysis

Employing detailed industry-level data, this paper examines the country-of-origin effects of foreign direct investment in China. The analysis demonstrates that there are significant differences in behavior between investors from non-Chinese Western (NCW) source countries and those from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (HMT). The findings show that NCW investors target local market, while HMT investors are export-oriented. Furthermore, NCW firms are more responsive to local labor quality and techno...

Psychic Distance, Its Impact and Coping Modes Interpretations of Sme Decision Makers

This paper adopts an interpretative focus in addressing SME decision makers' perceptions of psychic distance. It draws on empirical evidence from British SMEs exporting to Brazil. The study also addresses the hitherto neglected question of how SMEs cope with the difficulties of engaging in international business with psychically distant countries. It discusses the implications of its cognitive approach and findings for further research and conceptual development. Results indicate the relevanc...

Managing Business Relationships in New Zealand and China: A Semantic Perspective

This paper investigates communication strategies for building business relationships from a semantic perspective (culture-specific interpretation of meanings). The research method is based on discourse analysis of interviews with the New Zealand and Chinese managers. This study suggests that using a semantic perspective provides in-depth analysis of the managers' discourse of target cultures, which complements the prevalent approach of using cultural dimensions. New Zealand and Chinese manage...

Trends and Indications in International Business: Topics for Future Research

Forecasting changes in business environments is critical for appropriate responses by policy makers and corporate decision makers. This article reports on a Delphi study which features three rounds of interchanges between experts on possible changes in the international business environment and practice in the next years. Results indicate that terrorism and corruption issues have risen in importance while trade negotiations have declined. Corporate strategies are seen to need significant refo...