Noufou Ouedraogo, William X. Wei, Ali Muhammad and Mohammed Laid Ouakouak
The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of market pressure on organisational innovation performance through commitment and resource to innovate and manager…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of market pressure on organisational innovation performance through commitment and resource to innovate and manager innovation capability.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative study was conducted with 273 participants working in different organisations. These participants were drawn from the LinkedIn network of one of the researchers. The data were collected using a survey questionnaire uploaded onto www.surveymonkey.com. The data were analysed using SPSS and AMOS, and structural equation modelling techniques were used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
We found that market pressure has a positive effect on both commitment to innovate and resource to innovate. In turn, both commitment to innovate and resource to innovate influence manager innovation capability. We also found that manager innovation capability positively affects organisational innovation performance. Furthermore, manager innovation capability is a mediator in the relationship between commitment to innovate and organisational innovation performance as well as in the relationship between resource to innovate and organisational innovation performance. Finally, the relationship between manager innovation capability and organisational innovation performance is moderated by both extrinsic and intrinsic motivations to innovate.
Practical implications
Our study provides empirical evidence of the roles of commitment to innovate, resource to innovate and manager innovation capability in enhancing the innovation performance of organisations. Therefore, organisations should show their commitment to innovate, provide resources to innovate, develop managers’ capabilities to innovate and use a mix of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators to boost their innovation performance.
Originality/value
This study offers new insights into the dynamics of how market pressure leads to innovation within organisations.
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Lydia Qianqian Li, Katherine Xin, Vlado Pucik and William X. Wei
This paper aims to propose practical recommendations in accordance with the strategic roles played by research and development (R&D) in multinational companies (MNCs).
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose practical recommendations in accordance with the strategic roles played by research and development (R&D) in multinational companies (MNCs).
Design/methodology/approach
This study applies a qualitative method to investigate the talent management (TM) practices implemented in MNCs’ R&D units.
Findings
The findings identify four R&D strategies and four sectors of TM practices. Furthermore, there exists an alignment between R&D strategies and TM practices.
Research limitations/implications
This paper has several limitations. This qualitative research is exploratory, and larger samples or quantitative methods are needed to ensure the wider applicability of the findings. When possible, longitudinal studies yield superior results in revealing the evolving strategic roles of R&D subsidiaries and their TM practices. The authors used China as the research context, and similar studies in other emerging countries with active R&D activities are required to further validate or complement the findings in this study.
Practical implications
This study has some practical implications for companies with regard to aligning their TM practices with R&D strategies.
Originality/value
R&D units play an increasingly significant role in MNCs and TM is a key issue. However, there is a lack of TM research focusing on R&D employees by taking strategies into account.
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Fernando Angulo-Ruiz, Albena Pergelova and William X. Wei
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the differential impact of government promotional measures and government ownership on two internationalization variables: location and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the differential impact of government promotional measures and government ownership on two internationalization variables: location and speed of internationalization of emerging market multinationals (EMNEs). Central to the authors’ study is the mediating role of strategic intents to internationalize. In particular, we study how government impacts the resource-seeking, market-seeking and technology-seeking motives to internationalize.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical setting for the paper is Chinese companies that have internationalized via an equity based entry mode. The authors employ 672 firm responses collected by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Findings
The empirical results demonstrate that different home government measures have differential impact on internationalization outcomes. Government promotional measures (such as direct incentives and bilateral agreements to support internationalization) have only an indirect effect on international location and speed through the effect they have on the strategic motives to internationalize; while government ownership in the company has a direct impact on international location.
Research limitations/implications
The study highlights that home governments are shaping EMNEs strategic intent. Home government can influence EMNEs internationalization choices by providing resource flows through financial resources and state ownership or through asset-accumulation mechanisms via promotional measures.
Practical implications
Policy makers in emerging markets need to develop policies focused on the specific motivations that firms have when internationalizing. EMNEs are suggested to take advantage of government policies more intentionally.
Originality/value
The theoretical contribution centers on identifying important mediating mechanisms pointing to the interplay between government policies and international location and speed of firms. The authors contribute to the growing stream of research on internationalization of emerging market firms by building a sound theoretical model and examining empirically the role of home government in the internationalization of EMNEs.
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Fernando Angulo-Ruiz, Albena Pergelova and William X. Wei
This research aims to assess variations of motivations when studying international location decisions. In particular, this study aims to assess the influence of diverse…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to assess variations of motivations when studying international location decisions. In particular, this study aims to assess the influence of diverse motivations – seeking technology, seeking brand assets, seeking markets, seeking resources and escaping institutional constraints – as determinants of the international location choice of emerging market multinational enterprises (EM MNEs) entering least developed, emerging, and developed countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors develop a set of hypotheses based on the ownership–location–internalization framework and complement it with an institutional perspective. The conceptual model posits that the different internationalization motivations (seeking technology, seeking brand assets, seeking markets, seeking resources and escaping institutional constraints) will impact the location choice of EM MNEs in developed economies, emerging markets or least developed countries. This study uses the 2013 survey data collected by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. The final sample of analysis of this research includes 693 observations.
Findings
After controlling for several variables, two-stage Heckman regressions show there is a variation of motivations when EM MNEs enter least developed countries, emerging markets and developed economies. EM MNEs are motivated to enter least developed countries to seek markets and resources. Conversely, those firms enter developed countries in their search for technological assets and to escape institutional constraints at home. While the present study findings show a clear difference in the motivations that lead to location choice in least developed vs developed countries, the results are not as clear for location in other emerging countries.
Research limitations/implications
The paper offers empirical support for the importance of motivations as crucial determinants of location choice.
Originality/value
This paper provides a detailed quantitative study on the internationalization location choice of EM MNEs based on their motivations. Though theoretical models underscore the importance of motivations, we know very little about how, in practice, motivations drive location choice. This study contributes to the international location choice literature a deeper understanding of how diverse motivations drive choices of expansion into developed economies, emerging markets or least developed countries.
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Xianmiao Li, William X. Wei, Weiwei Huo, Yi Huang, Manyi Zheng and Jinyi Yan
This study aims to build a research model from the perspectives of knowledge hiding and idea implementation to examine what factors influence idea implementation and the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to build a research model from the perspectives of knowledge hiding and idea implementation to examine what factors influence idea implementation and the cross-level moderating role of team territory climate.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from universities, 52 (R&D) teams in China via a two-wave survey. The final sample contained 209 team members and their immediate supervisors. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to test hypotheses.
Findings
The results indicated that individuals’ knowledge-hiding behavior had a significantly negative impact on idea implementation and creative process engagement, which played a mediating role. Team territorial climate played a cross-level moderating role between knowledge hiding and idea implementation. If team territorial climate was at a high level, then the negative connection between knowledge hiding and idea implementation would be weaker.
Research limitations/implications
Under the perspective of territorial behavior in Chinese cultural, it can help to distinguish territorial behavior and be preventive at individual and team levels. This study not only enables managers to clearly understand the precipitating factors of idea implementation but also provides constructive strategies for alleviating the negative effects of knowledge territoriality on creative process engagement and idea implementation.
Originality/value
This study constructs a cross-level model to explore the relationship among knowledge hiding, creative process engagement and idea implementation at individual and team levels in the context of Chinese R&D enterprises. Additionally, the study analyzes the influence of territoriality on idea implementation under boundary conditions.
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Stanley Bruce Thomson, William X. Wei and Phillip Swallow
Considering the importance of China as a global economic power and the emphasis placed on human resources in a knowledge economy, the findings of no less than 30 articles on…
Abstract
Purpose
Considering the importance of China as a global economic power and the emphasis placed on human resources in a knowledge economy, the findings of no less than 30 articles on diversity management in that country seem inadequate given the growing importance of diversity in the workplace. Analysis of those articles reveals that most of the research focuses on firms located on the eastern coast. Moreover, while cataloging the types of industry and ownership covered provides a broad overview, specific industries and ownership types require further examination.
Methodology
Searches were conducted in both English and Chinese databases using the keyword search phrase of “diversity management and China”. The criteria for including an article were as follows: 1) an emphasis on diversity management within the business environment; 2) a focus on applications of diversity management within the People’s Republic of China, thus excluding Taiwan; and 3) a research-based or conceptual orientation. The search was further limited by using the “abstract” as a limiter under the assumption that if the concepts were important, the author(s) would have used that terminology in the abstract.
Findings
Gender emerged as a major concern along with residential status; racial and ethnic differences, on the other hand, cultural and/or other influences on diversity management received limited attention. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used by the various authors, but exploratory methods such as grounded theory saw minimal use. With the little research done on diversity management in China, it is difficult to assess whether or Chinese firms are fully using its available workforce. China must embrace diversity management practices with a view to achieving competitive advantages as well as equality and harmony in the workplace.
Originality/value
This is one of the first published reviews of articles from both Chinese and English databases that delves into the issue of diversity management in China.
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Long Zhao, Zuanshi Liu, William Wei and Bernadette Andreosso-O’Callaghan
The purpose of this paper is to argue that financial development, measured by private credit in the economy, affects exports in an inverted U-shaped manner. The authors use the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to argue that financial development, measured by private credit in the economy, affects exports in an inverted U-shaped manner. The authors use the new trade theory model and empirical data to analyze whether the financial system is the reason of global imbalance.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper builds a simple production model to connect financial development with a country’s export or outward foreign direct investment (ODI) decision. Using a panel data covering 108 countries for the period 1990-2011, the authors find strong evidence to show that when a country is at a lower financial development level, further advancements of its financial system will boost exports.
Findings
First, an inverted U-shaped relationship between exports, imports and financial development is found in the study of 108 countries over the period 1990-2011; second, ODI provides a substitute effect to exports for financially advanced countries. These findings have provided an alternative explanation to international trade imbalances and contribute constructively to the discussion regarding whether exports and financial development are positively related or not.
Originality/value
As a result, the findings shed some light on the issue of global current account imbalances between developing and developed countries from a new perspective.
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Changjun Yi, Yun Zhan, Jipeng Zhang and Xiaoyang Zhao
This study investigates the effect of ownership structure – ownership concentration and firm ownership – on outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) by emerging market…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the effect of ownership structure – ownership concentration and firm ownership – on outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) by emerging market multinational enterprises (EMNEs), and further explores the moderating effects of international experience and migrant networks on this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Data of Chinese MNEs listed on Shenzhen and Shanghai stock exchanges between 2005 and 2016 are used. The empirical analysis is based on the negative binomial regression model.
Findings
The empirical results reveal a significant inverted-U relationship between ownership concentration and OFDI by EMNEs. State ownership is found to have a positive effect on OFDI by EMNEs. Both international experience and migrant networks strengthen the inverted-U relationship between ownership concentration and OFDI as well as the positive effect of state ownership on OFDI by EMNEs.
Practical implications
EMNEs need to maintain a moderate ownership concentration when conducting OFDI, and they are supposed to make full use of their own international experience and focus on migrant networks of the host country. Policy-makers in emerging economies need to better create a fair business environment for enterprises.
Originality/value
Combining agency theory and the resource-based view, this study integrates ownership structure, firm-level heterogeneous resources – international experience and country-level heterogeneous resources – migration networks into a framework to study OFDI by EMNEs, which expands the scope of research in international business.
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The foundation collection of the printed books now forming the Library of the British Museum was that of Sir Hans Sloane. This comprised about 40,000 volumes. To it was added in…
Abstract
The foundation collection of the printed books now forming the Library of the British Museum was that of Sir Hans Sloane. This comprised about 40,000 volumes. To it was added in 1759 the Royal collection, begun in the time of Henry VII and inherited by George II from his predecessors on the throne.
Smart card-based E-payment systems are receiving increasing attention as the number of implementations is witnessed on the rise globally. Understanding of user adoption behavior…
Abstract
Smart card-based E-payment systems are receiving increasing attention as the number of implementations is witnessed on the rise globally. Understanding of user adoption behavior of E-payment systems that employ smart card technology becomes a research area that is of particular value and interest to both IS researchers and professionals. However, research interest focuses mostly on why a smart card-based E-payment system results in a failure or how the system could have grown into a success. This signals the fact that researchers have not had much opportunity to critically review a smart card-based E-payment system that has gained wide support and overcome the hurdle of critical mass adoption. The Octopus in Hong Kong has provided a rare opportunity for investigating smart card-based E-payment system because of its unprecedented success. This research seeks to thoroughly analyze the Octopus from technology adoption behavior perspectives.
Cultural impacts on adoption behavior are one of the key areas that this research posits to investigate. Since the present research is conducted in Hong Kong where a majority of population is Chinese ethnicity and yet is westernized in a number of aspects, assuming that users in Hong Kong are characterized by eastern or western culture is less useful. Explicit cultural characteristics at individual level are tapped into here instead of applying generalization of cultural beliefs to users to more accurately reflect cultural bias. In this vein, the technology acceptance model (TAM) is adapted, extended, and tested for its applicability cross-culturally in Hong Kong on the Octopus. Four cultural dimensions developed by Hofstede are included in this study, namely uncertainty avoidance, masculinity, individualism, and Confucian Dynamism (long-term orientation), to explore their influence on usage behavior through the mediation of perceived usefulness.
TAM is also integrated with the innovation diffusion theory (IDT) to borrow two constructs in relation to innovative characteristics, namely relative advantage and compatibility, in order to enhance the explanatory power of the proposed research model. Besides, the normative accountability of the research model is strengthened by embracing two social influences, namely subjective norm and image. As the last antecedent to perceived usefulness, prior experience serves to bring in the time variation factor to allow level of prior experience to exert both direct and moderating effects on perceived usefulness.
The resulting research model is analyzed by partial least squares (PLS)-based Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach. The research findings reveal that all cultural dimensions demonstrate direct effect on perceived usefulness though the influence of uncertainty avoidance is found marginally significant. Other constructs on innovative characteristics and social influences are validated to be significant as hypothesized. Prior experience does indeed significantly moderate the two influences that perceived usefulness receives from relative advantage and compatibility, respectively. The research model has demonstrated convincing explanatory power and so may be employed for further studies in other contexts. In particular, cultural effects play a key role in contributing to the uniqueness of the model, enabling it to be an effective tool to help critically understand increasingly internationalized IS system development and implementation efforts. This research also suggests several practical implications in view of the findings that could better inform managerial decisions for designing, implementing, or promoting smart card-based E-payment system.