Improving predictions of international business environments: China as a case in point

foresight ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 622-634
Author(s):  
Marina Yue Zhang
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Delphi Panel ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Chinese Business ◽  
The One

Purpose Firms engaged in international business necessarily make predictions about the business environments in which they operate or seek to enter, on the basis of which they make a number of strategic decisions. The purpose of this paper is to consider the difficulties there are in making accurate predictions and how the process might be improved. Design/methodology/approach The paper examines predictions made in 2007 by ‘China experts’ about what the Chinese business environment would look like in 2017. Their predictions were accurate in respect of around two-thirds of the issues they were asked to consider. This paper focuses on the one-third of issues about which they were wide of the mark and examine the likely reasons. Findings The predictions of the 2007 study were accurate in respect of around two-thirds of the issues the China experts on the Delphi panel were asked to consider. The reason that they were wide of the mark on about one-third of issues could be attributed to two main factors: the 2008/2009 Global Financial Crisis and the appointment in 2013 of Xi Jinping as the President of China. These events precipitated changes in direction in the Chinese business environment that had not been (and could not have been) anticipated by the Delphi panel. Originality/value Very few Delphi studies have been subject to a follow-up examination of the accuracy of their predictions. This paper contributes a discussion the various methodologies that firms can use to improve their forecasts of international business environments.

Conceptualizing trust with cultural perspective in international business operations

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 1099-1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mian Ajmal ◽  
Petri Helo ◽  
Rassel Kassem
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Trust Building ◽  
Systematic Research ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Global Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Building Process

Purpose The growing international landscape of business has underlined the significance of multiculturalism and the novel challenges it brings to business implementation. The purpose of this paper is to draw attention of the readers toward how trust can be conceptualized and how trust-building process is affected in global business environments where more and more projects and businesses come into operation. Design/methodology/approach This research employs intensive literature review to conceptualize trust and develop a model of culture effects for trust building in global business environment. However, this study is presently explanatory in nature because no empirical evidence is provided. Findings Culture is a significant factor in building trust among global project stakeholders for the reason that trust is vital for developing a well-functioning long-term business relationship. The study highlighted that cultural differences among project teams can cause conflict, misunderstanding, and poor project performance. Research limitations/implications Future empirical research should investigate various scenarios, types of projects, cultures, and countries. Cultural issues are pretty sensitive, which have immediate association with trust-building process among international project stakeholders. Diminutive systematic research has been done on the cultural effects for trust building in international business context. The probe of how culture affects trust building efforts in global business environments remains unrequited. Originality/value This study adds value by creating awareness in the research community for undertaking a detailed and comprehensive research on this topic, and because of its originality, it serves as a foundation for future studies.

The Anthropocene: age of complexity, foresight and innovation?

foresight ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 571-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques G. Richardson ◽  
Walter Rudolf Erdelen
Keyword(s):  
Business Environment ◽  
Problem Analysis ◽  
Trial And Error ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Business ◽  
Development Evaluation ◽  
Single Field ◽  
The One ◽  
Made In

Purpose Specific examples or brief case-histories in different fields or disciplines illustrate the inventive process from conception to realization. Design/methodology/approach The authors examine predictions made in 2007 by “China experts” about what the Chinese business environment would look like in 2017. Their predictions were accurate in respect of around two-thirds of the issues they were asked to consider. The authors focus on the one-third of issues about which they were wide of the mark and examine the likely reasons. Findings The newly named Anthropocene is a time of increasing conception, research, design, development, evaluation and exploitation of new artifacts and services. Objectivity: careful problem-analysis assures the authors’ understanding of innovating pathways. Research limitations/implications Trial-and-error methods may be disorderly, log-type research records are not kept, accidents not considered relevant. Originality/value Examples cited are transdisciplinary, often requiring inputs from other economic or cultural sectors. These complexities should be of incalculable value to innovators with single-field backgrounds.

Crisis or opportunity: Marks and Spencer’s tryst with Indian retail

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 671-690
Author(s):  
Arunima Rana ◽  
Ravi Shankar
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
International Business ◽  
Brand Management ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Retail Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Competitor Analysis ◽  
Fashion Retail

Research methodology The case is written using secondary data sources (namely, research documents, press information, journal articles and published interviews). Publicly declared company information has further been leveraged to augment case facts. All information sources have been duly acknowledged in the reference section. Case overview/synopsis The case is written in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the Indian retail industry, revolving around scenarios in which a multinational retailer has to decide on its long- and short-term strategy in such an economic crisis. The case story has been developed around Marks and Spencer’s retail venture in the Indian market. With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting business at various levels, with countries moving to lock down and economies shrinking to recessionary levels, one of the worst affected sectors is retail. The teaching case builds upon Mark and Spencer’s initial decision of not entering and extending its food/grocery business in India. While it remained a dominant player in Indian fashion retail for almost two decades, it needs to re-think its decision of entering food retail owing to a pandemic situation affecting its offline sales/store footfall and increasing competition from global fashion brands such as Zara and H&M that had flooded the Indian fashion retail sector. The case provides a context for students to perform environmental factor and competitor analysis for a sector, with special focus on decision making in a changing crisis scenario. Complexity academic level This case could be used in undergraduate and MBA classroom programme, across subjects such as retail management, marketing management, international business, international business environment and strategic business management. This case fits while discussing topics such as business environmental factors, competitor analysis, decision-making under crisis, market entry decision, omnichannel retail strategy, consumer behaviour and brand management.

Adapting the scrum methodology for establishing the dynamic inter-organizational collaboration

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 852-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Mollahoseini Ardakani ◽  
Seyyed Mohsen Hashemi ◽  
Mohammadreza Razzazi
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Incremental Method ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Project Life Cycle ◽  
Modern Business ◽  
Project Life

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose an applicable method for establishing the dynamic inter-organizational collaborations (DIOCs) based on the scrum methodology. Design/methodology/approach The scrum methodology embedded within the context of the DIOC project life cycle was used and adapted to being usable with specific characteristics of the project. Findings In order to succeed in the highly competitive, dynamic and changing business environments, the organizations need to change their view of business practices. The transition from the traditional status of manufacturing to the inter-organizational collaborations can be one of the fundamental changes in the modern business management. The proposed method has the capability to establish DIOCs effectively and efficiently whilst guaranteeing agility, competitiveness, and risk timely management. Originality/value Establishing collaborative alliances via association of various experienced and professional organizations and producing the value-added market’s need services is an effective and efficient solution for survival of SMEs in the current competitive, dynamic and changing business environment. So far, different frameworks, reference models/architectures, and many theoretical discussions have been presented for DIOCs context, but these representations are conceptual, empirical and generic. This paper aims to propose an applicable iterative and incremental method for establishing the DIOC which guarantees the agility and risk timely management of the establishment process and promotes competitiveness of partners.

Knowledge acquisition via internet-enabled platforms

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charmaine Glavas ◽  
Shane Mathews ◽  
Rebekah Russell-Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
International Business ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
Flow Of Information

Purpose Technology has profoundly transformed the international business environment, particularly regarding the flow of information and the way in which knowledge is acquired and shared. Yet, the extent of this transformation is still underappreciated. The purpose of this paper is to examine how small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owner/founders acquire and utilize knowledge for internationalization via internet-enabled platforms. Design/methodology/approach The empirical analysis draws on multiple case study methodology to examine 13 Australian SME owner/founders and the knowledge they acquire from utilization of internet-enabled platforms. Findings The analysis reveals four differing types of internet-enabled experiences: “technical internet-enabled experiences,” “operational internet-enabled experiences,” “functional internet-enabled experiences,” and “immersive internet-enabled experiences.” The findings indicate that internet-enabled experiences can generate both explicit and tacit forms of knowledge for the pre, early and later phases of internationalization. Practical implications The findings provide a structured approach by allowing SMEs to “plot” themselves against the classification of internet-enabled experiences to denote their level of technological involvement, and for discerning the types of knowledge that can be acquired. The findings are particularly helpful for owner/founders, highlighting that internet-enabled platforms are affecting the ways in which knowledge can be acquired and applied to international businesses processes. Originality/value The findings extend the conventional notion of knowledge acquisition for international business by highlighting how information and knowledge can be acquired via internet-enabled platforms. The findings lay the necessary groundwork for building an evidence base and theoretically extending the concept of knowledge acquisition via internet-enabled platforms.

Supply resource management: Salomon and his network of subcontractors in Romania

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-6
Author(s):  
Richard Calvi
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Resources ◽  
Internal Resources ◽  
The One ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose According to Christopher (2000), in a lot of sectors, the competition is a question of supply chain against supply chain. The winner in term of competitive advantage should be the one, who is able to obtain more than the competitor from the available resources. In strategic literature, Dyer and Singh (1998) are the first who introduced the concept of “relational competency” to explain why some companies gain their competitive advantage not directly from their internal resources but mainly because they are able better to combine external resources. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a case study. Findings The author describes the different phases and strategic decisions in the building of a real supplier eco-system. Research limitations/implications It is a sole case study. Practical implications This study is a description of a success story. Originality/value This study is a description of an external resource management in action.

ARL instruction librarians and the one-box: a follow-up study

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 368-381
Author(s):  
Ellen L. Rubenstein ◽  
Cheryl McCain ◽  
Kristal S. Boulden
Keyword(s):  
Gradual Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Association Of Research Libraries ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Survey Questions ◽  
Select Group ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
Original Survey ◽  
The One

Purpose The effectiveness and usability of one-boxes have been subjects of much research and debate, as librarians have worked to evaluate and improve the tools’ effectiveness and functionality. As one-box technologies change and improve over time, librarians must learn to navigate their new features and limitations. This paper aims to report the results of a study that sought to determine whether or not one-box teaching practices and philosophies of librarians of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) changed between the fall of 2011 and the spring of 2016. Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted using the same survey questions that were sent to ARL instruction and reference librarians in October of 2011. The survey was e-mailed to the same librarians who responded to the original survey. Questions focused on how librarians use the one-box during instructional opportunities and their overall opinions on the one-box as an option. Findings There were similarities between the two studies in that librarians agreed that one-box search tools tended to be beneficial for novices as an entrée into library resources but not as valuable for significant research. Librarians also noted the need for improvement in the results and felt that the products did not live up to their hype. There was a slight shift from negative opinions to more neutral opinions, indicating that some librarians have become more accepting of the tool. This shift may reflect a gradual change that suggests that librarians have become more comfortable with or accustomed to the presence of the one-box and its features. Research limitations/implications Although this follow-up study was sent to all participants who had responded to the first study, fewer than 25 per cent of the original number responded to the survey in 2016. Originality/value This is the first study to examine the shift in practices and philosophies over the past five years of a select group of reference and instruction librarians.

Litigation against clients and audit report lag: an examination of the role of state ownership and regional legal development in China

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Liu ◽  
Charles Cullinan ◽  
Junrui Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Financial Statements ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
State Ownership ◽  
Audit Report ◽  
Government Ownership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legal Development ◽  
Chinese Business

Purpose Companies may be defendants in lawsuits that are unresolved at year-end. This paper aims to consider whether the financial statements of companies facing litigation claims (pending litigation) are more time-consuming to audit due to the complexity and subjectivity of contingent liabilities associated with pending litigation. The authors consider whether auditors tailor their approach to pending litigation based on two distinct factors in the Chinese business environment: the client’s government ownership status and the legal development of the region in which the company is based. Design/methodology/approach Data on litigation against companies and their audit report lags were obtained for 18,029 firm-year observations of Chinese companies from 2008 to 2017. The sample was subsequently divided based on whether the company was a state-owned enterprise (SOE) and based on whether the company was based in a region of China with a more-developed and more market-oriented legal system. Findings The overall results indicate that audits of companies with pending litigation take 2.9 days longer than those of companies without pending litigation. For companies with multiple pending claims, each additional claim is associated with 1.9 more days of audit report lag. These effects are weaker for SOEs and for companies in regions of China with less developed legal systems. The results are consistent with the idea that auditors tailor their response to pending litigation based on the risk profile of the client, including consideration of SOE status and regional legal development. Originality/value This paper is the first to consider the potential effect of pending litigation (including claims not disclosed or recognized in financial statements) on audit report lags and how environmental business factors can influence this relationship.

Compressors Asia Limited: transformation to project marketing firm?

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milind Trivikram Phadtare
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Marketing Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industrial Marketing ◽  
Mba Students ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Market Leader ◽  
Air Compressors

Subject area Industrial Marketing. Study level/applicability MBA students and participants of MDPs. Case overview It involves marketing of air compressors in particular and industrial equipment in general. It tries to analyse strategies on the framework of market leader strategies to facilitate growth in a challenging business environment in view of the strengths and weaknesses of the firm. It aims to identify the organizational and business model changes that may be required to be implemented in transforming a firm from a marketer of capital goods to a marketer of projects. Expected learning outcomes To help students/participants evaluate and select marketing strategies for a market leader under challenging business environments as well as identify important organizational and business model changes involved in transition of any firm from selling products to selling projects. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 8: Marketing.

scholarly journals Value (co-)creation in B2B sales ecosystems

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Rusthollkarhu ◽  
Pia Hautamaki ◽  
Leena Aarikka-Stenroos
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Value Proposition ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Novel Concept ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Digital ecosystemic business environments challenge dyadic approaches to value creation and particularly to business-to-business (B2B) sales. This paper aims to offer a novel conceptualization of the connection between value creation and B2B sales, which indicates practical implications and builds an agenda for future research. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper integrates theoretical insights on service-dominant logic, service ecosystems, interactional value co-creation and B2B sales. This paper uses anecdotal evidence from the field of B2B sales to illustrate theoretical concepts developed in the paper. Findings The paper develops the concept of value idea emergence (VIE), the process through which B2B entities become aware of a pursuable benefit. The paper further proposes that value (co-)creation in ecosystems happens through VIE’s intertwinement with the process of value proposition creation, a process, which includes all activities needed to bring a value proposition to a customer. The paper then discusses the role of B2B in these processes and proposes an agenda for future research. Practical implications The novel conceptualizations of value (co-)creation can help B2B sales managers to understand the ecosystemic nature of the interactions that affect sales and value creation in the current business environment. Originality/value The paper contributes to the literature on B2B sales and value creation by proposing a novel concept of VIE, introducing a conceptual model of interactive value (co-)creation in ecosystems and reformulating the role of B2B sales in value creation. These theory-developing insights can be used to guide both academic and managerial attention to interactions happening in the ecosystem outside of the buyer-seller dyad.

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