The moderating influence of competitive intensity on the relationship between CEOs’ regulatory foci and SME internationalization

YesThe international business literature has mainly focused on the impact of top managers' psychological attributes on firms' strategic decisions. However, the potential moderating influence of industry conditions such as competition has not been well explored. Deriving insights from the regulatory focus and upper echelons theories, this paper extends the international business and regulatory focus literature by investigating how the impact influence of CEOs' regulatory foci on firms' degree of internationalization depends on the intensity of competitive market conditions. Using primary data gathered from 289 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, the findings of the study revealed when competition is intense in the domestic market, the potency of a CEO's promotion focus as a driver of internationalization is amplified. In addition, the research shows that intense domestic market competition weakens the negative influence of a CEO's prevention focus on a firm's degree of internationalization. These findings have important research and managerial implications for international business

Strategic Decision Speed and International Performance: The Roles of Competitive Intensity, Resource Flexibility, and Structural Organicity

Based on insights from the decision-making and contingency theories, this study examined the influence of strategic decision speed (SDS) on the international performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and explored the conditions under which SDS effectively drives international performance. We tested our model using structural equation modeling using a sample of 212 SMEs involved in cross-border activities. First, the results show that fast decision-making is associated with greater international performance of SMEs. Second, the analyses suggest that the relationship between SDS and international performance is amplified for organically structured SMEs, and those operating in highly competitive environments. In addition, the outcomes revealed that SDS is more positively related to international performance at greater levels of flexible internal resources. These results have important theoretical and practical implications for the international business literature

THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF SOME PLANT DERIVED TRITERPENES

Background: The increase in the prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacteria has necessitated the search for new antimicrobials from alternative sources such as traditional medicinal plants. Materials and Methods: The agar well diffusion method was employed to determine the susceptibilities of four plant derived triterpenes namely, 3β-hydroxylanosta-9, 24-dien-21-oic acid (RA5), and methyl-3β-hydroxylanosta-9, 24-dien-21oate (RA3), a mixture of oleanolic acid and betulinic acid (SF1) and a mixture of 3β-acetonyloleanolic acid and 3β-acetonylbetulinic acid (SF2), at a concentration of 10 mg/ml against seven Escherichia coli, one Bacillus cereus, five Enterococcus and nine Vibrio bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined through the micro-broth dilution assay. The checkerboard method was used to determine the antibiotictriterpene interactions while the cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase test was used to determine the membrane damaging potentials of the triterpenes in comparison to 3% Triton X-100. Results: The triterpenes RA3, RA5, SF1 and SF2 had activities against 86.4%, 54.6%, 22.7% and 9.09% of the test bacteria respectively. SF1 had the lowest MIC values ranging 0.625-10 mg/ml with lower MIC values being noted against Gram negative bacteria in comparison to Gram positive bacteria; this trend was also noted among the activities of RA3 and RA5 although they had higher MIC value ranges of 1.25-10 mg/ml and 5- 10 mg/ml respectively. MBC studies proved the triterpenes to be mostly bacteriostatic. The interaction studies with ciprofloxacin were mainly ranging between indifference and antagonism. RA3 alone showed minimal membrane damaging potential with the levels of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase released ranging from 1-36% in comparison to 3%Triton X-100 against E.coli (DSM-8695) and V. vulnificus (AL 042). Conclusion: The results hereby show the potential that the test triterpenes have as antibacterial agents, especially against the Gram negative bacteria namely E. coli and Vibrio bacteri