Chinese multinational enterprises' firm-specific advantages and a critic on the international business theory

We argue that the extant literature tends to view that EMNEs do not have FSAs and in particular, innovation-based ownership advantages. This, however, is not a fact but a myth that deserves detailed examination. Drawing on a case study of four Chinese multinationals, we argue that some Chinese multinationals have brilliant innovation capabilities particularly in areas such as services-based innovation, architectural innovation and grafting innovation. This helps to explain their rapid rise and internationalisation. We therefore argue that Dunning’s OLI paradigm is still relevant in the context of EMNEs. However we also accept that the OLI paradigm needs to be taken with a complementary view that EMNEs also internationalise to augment their assets/capabilities. We call for further studies on EMNEs’ FSAs with a broader view of innovatio

Inward investment, employment and government policies in Wales

This empirical paper examines the links between multinational enterprises’ countries of origin, types of inbound foreign direct investment (IFDI), related capital investment levels and the resultant effects on regional employment in Wales, a peripheral region of the UK. Longitudinal, official data are used to examine the relationships between these variables, making use of statistical techniques. The findings are used to make recommendations for inward investment policy development in Wales, focusing on the targeting of IFDI from those countries of origin whose multinational enterprises appear likely to contribute most to the future creation and safeguarding of regional employment

Marketing in Russia by UK businesses: lessons from a survey of trade missioners to Moscow

This paper explores and analyses the findings from a survey of UK participants in a trade mission to Moscow, with reference to relevant academic literature. The focus is on their experience of doing business in transition economy (TE) country-markets (including Russia itself); their perceptions of Russian market opportunities and risks; their main sources of information and advice; and their strategies for Russian market entry and development. The findings suggest businesses with experience of TEs and Russia may be best placed to succeed in the Russian market, provided that they draw fully on the resultant lessons. Newcomers to the Russian market can maximise their chances of success by seeking out good information and advice, forging good contacts with Russian businesses, and by adopting a well-structured, but flexible approach to their marketing strategies. Official support agencies can help UK businesses to succeed in Russia by maximising the quantity and quality of the support, information and advice that they provide

Focusing on focus groups: lessons from a research project involving a Bangladeshi community

This article examines the main issues and challenges associated with the use of the focus group method in a research study involving small business and entrepreneurship. The project concerned the education and training needs of a Bangladeshi community in a West Midlands city, commissioned by the local Chamber of Commerce Training and Enterprise. The article considers the advice provided in the literature on the conduct of focus groups, describes the application of that advice to gather empirical data from an ethnic community, and discusses the insights gained from the use of focus groups in these circumstances. Both the positive and negative features of the research process and outcomes are covered, and the impact of the focus group method on the successes and failures of the project is discussed

Exploring the impact of international business activity on security in the Baltic and Yellow Sea regions

The current paper seeks to explore the contribution that international businesses can make to the achievement and sustainability of collective ‘soft’ and economic security, smart transformation and more consensually based power relations at the regional level by instituting and developing international trade and foreign direct investment flows between countries located in the global 'shatterbelt' regions surrounding the Baltic and Yellow Seas. A country and company case study approach is employed to identify and evaluate the linkages between international trade and investment activity and the resultant impact on wealth creation, conflict mitigation and peace building amongst formerly antagonistic neighbouring countries in each of these two shatter belt regions of the worl