The purpose of this paper is to conduct a comparative analysis of the various issues faced by firms involved in foreign trade in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. It tries to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conduct a comparative analysis of the various issues faced by firms involved in foreign trade in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. It tries to delineate the issues or concerns in export and import trade that are significant, but of either same or different magnitudes in these countries. It also attempts to determine the concerns that are of lesser extent for both importers and exporters, and extent of usage of insurance against non‐payment of export debts, and/or loss of goods in transit.
Design/methodology/approach
Judgment and snowball sampling methods are employed to collect data from various companies in these countries. The results are analyzed from two samples of 42 and 25 responding firms of Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore, respectively. Descriptive statistics is used to present and analyze the data.
Findings
The paper highlights the various important issues related to foreign trade by firms. The issues that are significant, but are of the same magnitudes in these countries along with the issues that are of different magnitudes are mentioned. Furthermore, concerns of lesser extent for both importers and exporters along with a comparative analysis of buying insurance by firms are also mentioned.
Research limitations/implications
The results are basically from the various trading companies involved in foreign trade in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. The sample size of firms from Singapore may be another limiting factor.
Originality/value
This study fills the gap in the existing literature about current issues prevalent in these countries. Furthermore, some suggestions to reduce the concerns of foreign trade are also mentioned in the paper. The findings may be useful for financial institutions interested in providing better services to the firms.
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Every year, new development projects are recommended to be undertaken by various divisional management to corporate management in different multi‐divisional companies. The…
Abstract
Every year, new development projects are recommended to be undertaken by various divisional management to corporate management in different multi‐divisional companies. The corporate managements in such companies face a challenging task of understanding and approving these projects. Moreover, divisions’ performance in a particular year may depend upon the short‐term outcome of such projects. Divisional managers may avoid undertaking new projects, especially those with low probabilities of success, but with extremely high rewards, if successful. Thus, risk‐taking attitudes among divisional managers may be affected in such companies. This paper examines these issues. The results were compiled after surveying 30 multidivisional companies in various industries. Results highlight the various strategic decisions found being conducted at the head office level vs divisional level of such companies. Most of the companies were found to place moderate to fairly strong emphasis on a division’s past performance while evaluating the division’s current year performance. The results highlight project failure allowance, type of reward systems used, and corresponding risk‐taking attitude among divisional managers in such companies.
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Low Sui Pheng and Rajeshwar Sirpal
Extracts the fundamental principles of the Thirty‐six ChineseClassical Strategies of War to formulate an appropriate frameworkfor drawing lessons in Western generic business and…
Abstract
Extracts the fundamental principles of the Thirty‐six Chinese Classical Strategies of War to formulate an appropriate framework for drawing lessons in Western generic business and corporate strategies for the first time. Does not, however, suggest that Western literature on generic business and corporate strategies is any less effective than the Thirty‐six Chinese Classical Strategies of War which tend to be more definitive in nature. Much synergy can in fact be achieved by extending lessons in strategies from both the East and the West. Lessons from the Thirty‐six Chinese Classical Strategies of War would be particularly pertinent for the West in view of the growing economic influence of the East Asian region on the global political platform. Suggests marketing planners based in the West would certainly be better placed in this region if they, when operating in East Asia, were able to appreciate a deeply revered and firmly entrenched Chinese classical strategic treatize.
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Low Sui Pheng and Rajeshwar Sirpal
Considers the application of oriental philosophy Lao Tzu′s TaoTe Ching – to real estate marketing management, in order toenhance the effectiveness of the manager′s leadership role.
Abstract
Considers the application of oriental philosophy Lao Tzu′s Tao Te Ching – to real estate marketing management, in order to enhance the effectiveness of the manager′s leadership role.
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The purpose of this paper is to examine various methods of payment and foreign‐exchange risk management among firms involved in either export or import trade only, or both in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine various methods of payment and foreign‐exchange risk management among firms involved in either export or import trade only, or both in Brunei Darussalam. The paper also seeks to delineate the relationship(s) between various characteristics of firms such as number of years in business, size, and frequency of imports, and various methods of payment and foreign‐exchange risk management by the firms.
Design/methodology/approach
Judgment and snowball sampling methods are employed to collect data from the companies. The results are analyzed from a total sample of 42 responding firms. Descriptive statistics is used to present and analyze the data.
Findings
The paper highlights the various important methods currently used for both payment, and foreign‐exchange risk management in foreign trade by firms. It also mentions the methods that are used to lesser extent by importers and exporters in the country. Furthermore, various relationship(s) between either number of years in business, or size, or frequency of imports with various methods of payment, and foreign‐exchange risk management among firms are also highlighted in the paper.
Research limitations/implications
The results are basically from the various trading companies involved in foreign trade in Brunei Darussalam.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the existing literature of international business and finance. It fills the gap in the existing literature about current practices prevalent in the country. Furthermore, recommendations are made to enhance the methods of payment and foreign‐exchange risk management practices among firms. The findings may also be useful for financial institutions interested in providing hedging products and services to the firms.