East-West Joint Ventures in a Transitional Economy: The Case of Slovakia

This article is a contribution to the discussion about the effects of FDI on the transitional economies. The paper is a result of the examination of a number of joint ventures in the Slovak Republic since 1993. The author shows the positive and the negative impacts of FDI on the Slovak economy in four joint venture case studies (Whirlpool, Volkswagen, BC Torsion, Samsung-Calex). In the conclusion she underlines many positive effects of the FDI on the individual firms, but at the same time she stresses the limited external effects on the Slovak economy.

Foreign Direct Investment as a Factor of Change: The Case of Slovakia

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/39588/3/wp201.pd

East-West Joint Ventures in a Transitional Economy: The Case of Slovakia

This article is a contribution to the discussion about the effects of FDI on the transitional economies. The paper is a result of the examination of a number of joint ventures in the Slovak Republic since 1993. The author shows the positive and the negative impacts of FDI on the Slovak economy in four joint venture case studies (Whirlpool, Volkswagen, BC Torsion, Samsung-Calex). In the conclusion she underlines many positive effects of the FDI on the individual firms, but at the same time she stresses the limited external effects on the Slovak economy.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/39417/3/wp27.pd

Transition at Whirlpool-Tatramat: Case Studies

These cases are about the origin and the development of the operations of the joint venture Whirlpool-Tatramat established between the Slovak washing machine producer, Tatramat and the European subsidiary of Whirlpool Corporation, Whirlpool Europe B.V. in 1992 in the former Czechoslovakia. The first case, entitled "How to Enter Emerging Markets in Central and Eastern Europe" is designed to evaluate the impact of the fall of the Iron Curtain on the business climate for foreign companies in this region as well as on the opportunities for local companies. The case study is also used to gain an understanding of why and how firms choose an alliance partner through an analysis of Whirlpool's and Tatramat's needs and intentions. It describes the situation in both Whirlpool Europe and in Tatramat at the beginning of the 1990's. These two companies faced many problems and challenges at that time because of obstacles in their internal situations and changes in their external operational environment. After looking for the right partner and the right form of cooperation, and after evaluating all possibilities, they decided to negotiate with each other to find the right form of strategic alliance. This case can be used in courses dealing with the entry of companies on emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe (e.g. World Economy, Corporate Strategy, International Business, Doing Business in Central and Eastern Europe, etc.) The second case, entitled "Management Aspects of the Operations within an Emerging Market" is focused on two issues: how to manage successfully the transition of a small local post-socialist company into an integrated and efficient part of Whirlpool's global network and how to market goods produced locally, as well as merchandise obtained from the global network, in a small local market. The case describes the operations of the joint venture Whirlpool-Tatramat, the initial struggles with production volume and quality, downsizing, building a local supplier network, a drop in demand, and the gradual process of the ownership change to eventually become Whirlpool's wholly-owned subsidiary and the final involvement of the company into Whirlpool's global network. This case can be used in courses dealing with special aspects of international expansion (e.g. International Management, doing Business in Central and Eastern Europe, etc.).

The East-West Joint Venture: BC Torsion Case Study

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/39424/3/wp34.pd

Transition at Whirlpool-Tatramat: Case Studies

These cases are about the origin and the development of the operations of the joint venture Whirlpool-Tatramat established between the Slovak washing machine producer, Tatramat and the European subsidiary of Whirlpool Corporation, Whirlpool Europe B.V. in 1992 in the former Czechoslovakia. The first case, entitled "How to Enter Emerging Markets in Central and Eastern Europe" is designed to evaluate the impact of the fall of the Iron Curtain on the business climate for foreign companies in this region as well as on the opportunities for local companies. The case study is also used to gain an understanding of why and how firms choose an alliance partner through an analysis of Whirlpool's and Tatramat's needs and intentions. It describes the situation in both Whirlpool Europe and in Tatramat at the beginning of the 1990's. These two companies faced many problems and challenges at that time because of obstacles in their internal situations and changes in their external operational environment. After looking for the right partner and the right form of cooperation, and after evaluating all possibilities, they decided to negotiate with each other to find the right form of strategic alliance. This case can be used in courses dealing with the entry of companies on emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe (e.g. World Economy, Corporate Strategy, International Business, Doing Business in Central and Eastern Europe, etc.) The second case, entitled "Management Aspects of the Operations within an Emerging Market" is focused on two issues: how to manage successfully the transition of a small local post-socialist company into an integrated and efficient part of Whirlpool's global network and how to market goods produced locally, as well as merchandise obtained from the global network, in a small local market. The case describes the operations of the joint venture Whirlpool-Tatramat, the initial struggles with production volume and quality, downsizing, building a local supplier network, a drop in demand, and the gradual process of the ownership change to eventually become Whirlpool's wholly-owned subsidiary and the final involvement of the company into Whirlpool's global network. This case can be used in courses dealing with special aspects of international expansion (e.g. International Management, doing Business in Central and Eastern Europe, etc.).http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/39611/3/wp225.pd

Still feeling employable with growing age? Exploring the moderating effects of developmental HR practices and country-level unemployment rates in the age–employability relationship

A compelling issue for organizations and societies at large is to ensure external employability of the workforce across workers’ entire work-life span. Using the frameworks of age norms, stereotyping and age meta-stereotypes, we investigate whether (a) age is negatively related to perceived external employability; and (b) the age-employability link is moderated by HR developmental practices (HRDPs) and unemployment rate. We argue that being aware of stereotypes and age norms in organizations, and holding also meta-stereotypes about their group, older workers perceive themselves as less externally employable. However, the context –HRDPs that one has experienced, and the country unemployment rate – would act as buffers. Using data from a large-scale survey from over 9000 individuals in 30 institutionally diverse countries, we found that the negative relationship between age and perceived external employability was significant across all countries. In addition, at the individual level, we found that HRDPs acted as a buffer for this negative relationship, such that the effect was less pronounced for individuals who have experienced more HRDPs during their working life. At the country level, the hypothesized moderating effect of unemployment rate was not observed. Limitations, future research directions, as well as practical implications of the study are discussed

Careers in context: An international study of career goals as mesostructure between societies' career-related human potential and proactive career behaviour

Careers exist in a societal context that offers both constraints and opportunities for career actors. Whereas most studies focus on proximal individual and/or organisational-level variables, we provide insights into how career goals and behaviours are understood and embedded in the more distal societal context. More specifically, we operationalise societal context using the career-related human potential composite and aim to understand if and why career goals and behaviours vary between countries. Drawing on a model of career structuration and using multilevel mediation modelling, we draw on a survey of 17,986 employees from 27 countries, covering nine of GLOBE's 10 cultural clusters, and national statistical data to examine the relationship between societal context (macrostructure building the career-opportunity structure) and actors' career goals (career mesostructure) and career behaviour (actions). We show that societal context in terms of societies' career-related human potential composite is negatively associated with the importance given to financial achievements as a specific career mesostructure in a society that is positively related to individuals' proactive career behaviour. Our career mesostructure fully mediates the relationship between societal context and individuals' proactive career behaviour. In this way, we expand career theory's scope beyond occupation- and organisation-related factors

Careers in context: An international study of career goals as mesostructure between societies’ career-related human potential and proactive career behavior

Careers exist in a societal context that offers both constraints and opportunities for career actors. Whereas most studies focus on proximal individual and/or organisational‐level variables, we provide insights into how career goals and behaviours are understood and embedded in the more distal societal context. More specifically, we operationalise societal context using the career‐related human potential composite and aim to understand if and why career goals and behaviours vary between countries. Drawing on a model of career structuration and using multilevel mediation modelling, we draw on a survey of 17,986 employees from 27 countries, covering nine of GLOBE's 10 cultural clusters, and national statistical data to examine the relationship between societal context (macrostructure building the career‐opportunity structure) and actors' career goals (career mesostructure) and career behaviour (actions). We show that societal context in terms of societies' career‐related human potential composite is negatively associated with the importance given to financial achievements as a specific career mesostructure in a society that is positively related to individuals' proactive career behaviour. Our career mesostructure fully mediates the relationship between societal context and individuals' proactive career behaviour. In this way, we expand career theory's scope beyond occupation‐ and organisation‐related factors

Estas son algunas de las habilidades blandas demandadas en Colombia

Este producto forma parte de una serie de infografías de divulgación científica que buscan reseñar algunas de las investigaciones más importantes en las que ha tenido participación la Universidad EAFIT, publicadas en las revistas especializadas más prestigiosas del mund