Conceptualizing the Relationships among the Strategic Orientations, Cultural Intelligence, International Diversification and Performance of Firms

In today’s globalized world, where firms are expanding internationally across different regions and countries, it is important to understand the drivers of this international expansion. To better understand this expansion, this article conceptualizes and explores the firm’s strategic orientations and cultural intelligence (CQ) as drivers and international diversification and firm performance as outcomes. The strategic orientations explored are international entrepreneurial orientation (IEO), international market orientation (IMO) and learning orientation (LO). Cultural intelligence (CQ), which is a part of the concept of intercultural competence is also conceptualized and explored. International diversification is conceptualized as the geographical expansion of the firm, while firm performance is conceptualized as both strategic and financial. The article concludes with a discussion on the contributions, the theoretical and practical implications of the developed propositions and directions for future research.     Keywords: cultural intelligence, strategic orientations, international diversification, firm performance, entrepreneurshi

Motivating Entrepreneurial Activity in the MENA Region: Do Human Capital and Corruption Matter?

Since the time of Schumpeter, entrepreneurship has been strongly associated with positive economic development. His primary contribution stems from his core theory that ‘entrepreneurship is the engine of national economic growth’. But not all entrepreneurship creates a positive impact on the economy. Thus, it is important to develop a deep understanding of the business climate that leads entrepreneurial activity to foster economic growth. This article delves into the role of human capital (HC) and corruption (CPI) in developing the type of entrepreneurial climate that leads to economic growth. Using data gathered from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), the World Bank and various NGO data sites, this article conducts an empirical investigation of the impact of human capital (HC) and corruption (CPI) on the overall level of the total entrepreneurial activity (TEA) and follows this by further studying the impact of these antecedent factors on the disaggregated levels of total entrepreneurial activity; opportunity-motivated entrepreneurial activity (OME) and necessity-motivated entrepreneurial activity (NME)

The Dynamics of Global E-Commerce: an Organizational Ecology Perspective

Purpose - A classical model of organizational ecology dynamics which is utilized to characterize an ecosystem called the internet is proposed and a parallel is drawn between the population ecology model and the current global e-commerce environment. Design/methodology/approach - Survivorship theory is applied to global e-commerce. The Verhulst-Pearl logistic equation can be used to describe the inhibition of growth within an ecosystem. The approach is to apply the Verhulst-Pearl logistic equation to describe international growth dynamics of the internet. Findings - When applying the Verhulst-Pearl equation to the internet environment around the world, the number of domain names or host counts, the rate at which there is an increase or decrease in the number of domain names, and the availability of information technology infrastructure are all factors that are part of the equation. The model of population dynamics presented in our discussion lends itself to the description of the current pattern of growth within the internet environment. Practical implications - The application of population ecology to international growth dynamics describes the long-term survival and differentiation strategies that impact success. The next evolution of firms on the internet, which may be the ultimate survivors, should follow the path characterized as low cost producers with a focus on meeting the needs of the consumers on the internet. An ecological approach allows managers to ascertain the effectiveness of their organizations in the internet environment and accordingly devise strategies to embrace changes and challenges of the global environment. Originality/value - The population ecology conceptual framework offers promise for a more sophisticated and methodologically rigorous approach to future investigations by both researchers and practitioners. The operationalization of the organizational ecology model for application to the internet is an extension of the literature

The role of processing-by-attribute noncompensatory choice models

AbstractResearch work on modeling consumer multiple choice problems using logit, regression, and probit is gaining more attention. However, in their work, Russ (1971), Tversky (1972), Newell and Simon (1972), Tversky and Sattath (1979), and Gensch and Svestka (1979; 1984) indicate that for many problems, choice behavior appears to be context dependent and hierarchical. With this specific issue in mind, this paper discusses a mathematical model which estimates threshold tolerances, eliminates nonchosen alternatives, provides choice probabilities and finally offers diagnostic information regarding the key attributes that are responsible for making a final decision. The use of other individual specific models such as: lexicographic, conjunctive, etc., have been briefly explicated

Integrating Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Models Into the Decision Support System Framework for Marketing Decisions

The paper focuses on integrating the multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) models within the decision support system (DSS) framework to encourage greater use of these models. A DSS framework and the criteria used for the choice of a model is discussed. Based on these criteria MCDM models generally used in the marketing field are evaluated. The possibility of using a mixture of MCDM models within the DSS framework is also explored. Following this, the role of the MCDM models in DSS is delineated. It is argued that, within the problem-solving process, the confluence of MCDM models and DSS plays a vital role in developing high-quality solutions

The Dynamics of Global E-Commerce: an Organizational Ecology Perspective

Purpose - A classical model of organizational ecology dynamics which is utilized to characterize an ecosystem called the internet is proposed and a parallel is drawn between the population ecology model and the current global e-commerce environment. Design/methodology/approach - Survivorship theory is applied to global e-commerce. The Verhulst-Pearl logistic equation can be used to describe the inhibition of growth within an ecosystem. The approach is to apply the Verhulst-Pearl logistic equation to describe international growth dynamics of the internet. Findings - When applying the Verhulst-Pearl equation to the internet environment around the world, the number of domain names or host counts, the rate at which there is an increase or decrease in the number of domain names, and the availability of information technology infrastructure are all factors that are part of the equation. The model of population dynamics presented in our discussion lends itself to the description of the current pattern of growth within the internet environment. Practical implications - The application of population ecology to international growth dynamics describes the long-term survival and differentiation strategies that impact success. The next evolution of firms on the internet, which may be the ultimate survivors, should follow the path characterized as low cost producers with a focus on meeting the needs of the consumers on the internet. An ecological approach allows managers to ascertain the effectiveness of their organizations in the internet environment and accordingly devise strategies to embrace changes and challenges of the global environment. Originality/value - The population ecology conceptual framework offers promise for a more sophisticated and methodologically rigorous approach to future investigations by both researchers and practitioners. The operationalization of the organizational ecology model for application to the internet is an extension of the literature

Entrepreneurial Orientation, Management Commitment, And Human Capital: The Internationalization Of SMEs In India

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make sizeable contributions to the economic success of nations. Research concerning the internationalization of SMEs is available in the context of developed economies but less is can be found dealing specifically with the entrepreneurial behavior and international expansion of SMEs in emerging markets such as India. This research extends the literature addressing the relationships surrounding the internationalization of SMEs in India as related to entrepreneurial behavior, firm resources, and commitment to internationalization. Entrepreneurial orientation, a commitment to internationalization, and the ability to leverage human capital influence the international success of Indian SMEs, based on the analysis of data collected from 150 Indian SMEs

Integrating Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Models Into the Decision Support System Framework for Marketing Decisions

The paper focuses on integrating the multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) models within the decision support system (DSS) framework to encourage greater use of these models. A DSS framework and the criteria used for the choice of a model is discussed. Based on these criteria MCDM models generally used in the marketing field are evaluated. The possibility of using a mixture of MCDM models within the DSS framework is also explored. Following this, the role of the MCDM models in DSS is delineated. It is argued that, within the problem-solving process, the confluence of MCDM models and DSS plays a vital role in developing high-quality solutions

Global Economic Integration In Developing Countries: The Role Of Corruption And Human Capital Investment

Globalization is multifaceted and involves the interaction among businesses, services, governments, and societies beyond national borders. As a result, the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI), international trade in goods and services, and the economic interdependence of the nations of the world have been increasing. At the same time, much attention has been paid to the effect of corruption prevalent within many cultures and societies, and its impact on the economies, especially developing economies. This paper examines the relationship between human capital investment, the level of national corruption, and the global economic integration (GEI) of a nation in developing countries. Based on the data collected from over 60 countries, and building on the FDI and human capital theories, it was found that human capital investment and corruption are related to GEI. It was also found that the level of corruption moderates the relationship between human capital investment and GEI of developing economies. The findings of the study can help to deepen our understanding of GEI and have practical implications for developing countries in terms developing human capital, which plays a critical role in today’s knowledge-based economy

Body Stalk Syndrome: A Curiosity

Limb body wall complex (LBWC) /Body stalk syndrome anomaly refers to a rare complicated polymalformative fetal malformation syndrome of uncertain etiology firstly described by Van Allen et al in 1987. There are very few cases reported in literature and thus we report a rare case of LBWC. Twenty seven years female presented to labour room with 32 weeks of gestation with no prenatal care and delivered a low birth weight still born fetus weighing 1100gms. On fetal autopsy large abdominal wall defect was noted with difficulty in identifying abdomino-pelvic organs and ambiguous genitalia. Placenta weighed 250gms with attached short umbilical cord measuring 7cms, arising from periphery. A cyst noted attached to placental membrane measuring 9x5cms which on dissection retrieved partially maldeveloped organs. Post mortem radiological findings included Absence of right femur with short tibia and right fibula, Complex vestibral malformation, Craniosynostosis and Overcrowding of ribs