Regional expansion of emerging market SMEs: the roles of domestic market environmental uncertainty and international alliance partner diversity

This study develops and tests a framework of the effect of domestic market environmental uncertainty on international alliance partner diversity (IAPD) and the effect of IAPD on small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs’) regional expansion. Leveraging primary data from a sample of 232 Pakistani SMEs, the findings indicate that domestic market dynamism and technological dynamism drive SMEs to engage in IAPD. The analysis further reveals that IAPD improves SMEs’ regional expansion, and particularly so at higher levels of cross-cultural knowledge absorption. The research and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Professional Culture Compatibility and Performance in International Joint Ventures: A Chinese Experience

<p>This research was influenced by Sirmon & Lane's (2004) model of cultural differences and international alliance performance. Sirmon & Lane's model introduced the concept and importance of partners' professional culture compatibility in international alliances. However, to date, their model lacks empirical testing. This research therefore took the study further by empirically investigating the influence of professional culture compatibility between partners and international alliance performance by using a selected sample of Sino-Foreign joint ventures in China. The findings overall support Sirmon & Lane's (2004) model that (1) Partners from similar national cultures experience lesser differences in their professional cultures as opposed to partners from diverse cultures; and, (2) Professional culture differences between partners negatively influence the overall performance of international joint ventures. However, this research also argues that the relationships shown in Sirmon & Lane's (2004) model are not as straightforward as was previously proposed, and the findings suggest several additional factors that contribute to the relationship between partner professional culture compatibility and international alliance performance.</p>

Professional Culture Compatibility and Performance in International Joint Ventures: A Chinese Experience

<p>This research was influenced by Sirmon & Lane's (2004) model of cultural differences and international alliance performance. Sirmon & Lane's model introduced the concept and importance of partners' professional culture compatibility in international alliances. However, to date, their model lacks empirical testing. This research therefore took the study further by empirically investigating the influence of professional culture compatibility between partners and international alliance performance by using a selected sample of Sino-Foreign joint ventures in China. The findings overall support Sirmon & Lane's (2004) model that (1) Partners from similar national cultures experience lesser differences in their professional cultures as opposed to partners from diverse cultures; and, (2) Professional culture differences between partners negatively influence the overall performance of international joint ventures. However, this research also argues that the relationships shown in Sirmon & Lane's (2004) model are not as straightforward as was previously proposed, and the findings suggest several additional factors that contribute to the relationship between partner professional culture compatibility and international alliance performance.</p>

The container and force schemas in political discourse

The paper focuses on metaphors based on the image schemas of container and force that were employed by U.S. President Barack Obama in the campaign against ISIL (The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). Systematic metaphors based on the schemas of container and force illustrate the strategy of the international alliance against ISIL’s activity. The strategy included the isolation of the organization, the restriction of the flow of foreign fighters and financial resources to the area controlled by ISIL as well as planning military operations designed to weaken the influence of the organization. The analysis has been conducted on the corpus of political speeches delivered by the speaker in the period from June 2014 to September 2016. Theoretical framework that is employed in the analysis of primary data is grounded in Critical Metaphor Analysis (CMA) which explores ideological aspects of discourse.

Societal Need for Interdisciplinary Ageing Research: An International Alliance of Research Universities “Ageing, Longevity and Health” Stream (IARU-ALH) Position Statement

Ageing is a global concern with major social, health, and economic implications. While individual countries seek to develop responses to immediate, pressing needs, international attention and collaboration is required to most effectively address the multifaceted challenges and opportunities an ageing global population presents in the longer term. The Ageing, Longevity and Health stream of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU-ALH) was built on a solid foundation of first-class interdisciplinary research and on innovative outreach and communication centres. This interdisciplinary network conducts projects that span biology, medicine, social sciences, epidemiology, public health, policy, and demography, and actively engages with the public and other societal stakeholders. Here we posit that such international interdisciplinary networks are needed and uniquely placed to address major challenges related to health and ageing and ultimately will produce new understanding and knowledge to promote the awareness of healthy ageing and encourage societal change via novel, science-informed interventions. Global interdisciplinary research presents great potential and opportunities to accelerate our understanding of human ageing and to produce new, more effective solutions to a pressing, complex problem. However, more focused, strategic efforts and investments are required in order to deliver on these potentials and reap maximum benefits for individuals and societies. IARU-ALH members are determined to contribute, in collaboration with others, to delivering on this vision.