Selecting International Modes of Entry and Expansion

Selecting a mode for entering or expanding in a foreign market is a crucial strategic decision for an international firm. This article identifies and compares the most influential factors that affect the international modes of entry and expansion decisions of US and Japanese firms. Using mail surveys, this is one of the first studies on this subject to collect data from top executives in both Japan and the USA. Findings reveal that the Japanese are particularly sensitive to external risk and other target market factors. For Americans, company factors, such as international experience, appear to be most important when selecting modes of entry. Joint ventures may be more appropriate for internationally‐experienced firms, than for inexperienced companies

Gut microbiota in children with split-dose bowel preparations revealed by metagenomics

ObjectiveSplit-dose polyethylene glycol (PEG) is routinely used for bowel preparation before colonoscopy. This study aimed to investigate the composition of gut microbiota and its functions in pediatric patients undergoing split-dose PEG bowel preparation for colonoscopy to understand the stability and resilience of gut microbiota.Material and methodsFrom September to December 2021, 19 pediatric patients were enrolled at Shenzhen Children’s Hospital and 76 samples (4 time points) were analyzed using metagenomics. Time points included Time_1 (one day before bowel preparation), Time_2 (one day after colonoscopy), Time_3 (two weeks after bowel preparation), and Time_4 (four weeks after bowel preparation).ResultAlpha diversity comparison at both the species and gene levels showed a decrease in community richness after colonoscopy, with little statistical significance. However, the Shannon diversity index significantly decreased (P<0.05) and gradually returned to pre-preparation levels at two weeks after bowel preparation. The genus level analysis showed six genera (Eubacterium, Escherichia, Intertinibacter, Veillonella, Ruminococcaceae unclassified, and Coprobacillus) significantly different across the four time periods. Additionally, at the species level, the abundance of Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, and Veillonella parvula significantly increased at one day after colonoscopy before gradually decreasing at two weeks after bowel preparation. In contrast, the abundance of Intertinibacter bartlettii decreased at one day after colonoscopy but then recovered at two weeks after bowel preparation, reaching the preoperative level at four weeks after bowel preparation. Furthermore, five functional pathways (base excision repair, biosynthesis of ansamycins, biosynthesis of siderophore group nonribosomal peptide, flavonoid biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of type II polyketide products) were significantly different across the four time periods, with recovery at two weeks after bowel preparation and reaching preoperative levels at four weeks after bowel preparation.ConclusionsGut microbiota at the genus level, species level, and functional pathways are impacted in pediatric patients undergoing split-dose PEG bowel preparation and colonoscopy, with recovery two weeks following bowel preparation. However, the phylum level was not impacted. Modifications in gut microbiota composition and function may be investigated in future studies of bowel preparation. This study highlights the stability and resilience of gut microbiota among pediatric patients during bowel preparation

Enhancing Consumer Attitude Toward Culturally Mixed Symbolic Products from Foreign Global Brands in an Emerging-Market Setting: The Role of Cultural Respect

The extant literature has not examined the conditions that govern integrative and exclusionary reactions to cultural hybrid products with sufficient detail. Within an emerging-market setting, this study explores how culturally mixed symbolic products (CMSPs) from foreign global brands can avoid antagonistic consumer attitudes. Building on social categorization theory, the authors argue that foreign global brands are viewed as belonging to an out-group and may thus encounter difficulties in tapping local cultural capital, resulting in a negative relationship between brand globalness and consumer attitude toward CMSPs. However, they contend that product category moderates this relationship such that there is a stronger negative effect for nonfood products than for food products. Moreover, the authors theorize that (1) cultural respect by foreign global companies directly enhances consumer attitudes toward CMSPs and (2) cultural respect attenuates the negative brand globalness–CMSP attitude link. These hypotheses are tested using a representative consumer sample from eight provinces/municipalities in China (n = 646). Results provide important implications for global companies on how to benefit from local cultural resources in their localization processes

The effects of absorptive and joint learning on the instability of international joint ventures in emerging economies

The objective of this study is to advance a theoretical framework pertaining to how interpartner learning in international joint ventures (IJV) may affect IJV instability in emerging economies. The proposed framework expands the interpartner learning theory of IJV instability in the current literature, which is focused on absorptive learning of IJV partners, by incorporating IJV partners joint learning. Using longitudinal dyadic data from IJVs in China, we found that local and foreign IJV parties absorptive learning capacity decreases one party's dependence on the other, while joint learning capacity in IJV increases both parties dependence on each other. In addition, an IJV partner's absorptive learning capacity positively moderates the effect of joint learning capacity on its dependence on another partner. These findings lend support to the expanded interpartner learning perspective of IJV instability, and have important theoretical and managerial implications for IJVs in emerging economies. The results underscore the importance of the IJV actively developing organizational rules, procedures, and structures to create and embed new knowledge in order to maintain the stability of the IJV. Finally, we found that IJV partners dependence asymmetry increases IJV instability, whereas their total dependence decreases IJV instability. © 2010 Academy of International Business All rights reserved.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Antecedents and consequences of marketing dynamic capabilities in international joint ventures

The influence of firms' dynamic capabilities on performance has been well articulated in the strategy literature. Yet conceptualization and operationalization of dynamic capabilities in marketing function have not been attempted, and empirical evidence substantiating the effect of dynamic capabilities is scarce. This research develops a conceptualization of marketing dynamic capabilities (MDCs), investigates their development in international joint ventures (IJVs), and explores their effect on IJVs' performance and competitive advantage. Using a dyadic dataset collected from top managers of IJVs in China, as well as objective performance data collected separately, the study found empirical support for the effect of MDCs on IJVs' competitive advantage and performance. In addition, MDCs are found to be influenced by IJV resource magnitude, resource complementarity, organizational culture, and organizational structure. The theoretical implications of our findings and future research directions are also discussed. © 2009 Academy of International Business All rights reserved.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

The effects of absorptive and joint learning on the instability of international joint ventures in emerging economies

The objective of this study is to advance a theoretical framework pertaining to how interpartner learning in international joint ventures (IJV) may affect IJV instability in emerging economies. The proposed framework expands the interpartner learning theory of IJV instability in the current literature, which is focused on absorptive learning of IJV partners, by incorporating IJV partners’ joint learning. Using longitudinal dyadic data from IJVs in China, we found that local and foreign IJV parties’ absorptive learning capacity decreases one party's dependence on the other, while joint learning capacity in IJV increases both parties’ dependence on each other. In addition, an IJV partner's absorptive learning capacity positively moderates the effect of joint learning capacity on its dependence on another partner. These findings lend support to the expanded interpartner learning perspective of IJV instability, and have important theoretical and managerial implications for IJVs in emerging economies. The results underscore the importance of the IJV actively developing organizational rules, procedures, and structures to create and embed new knowledge in order to maintain the stability of the IJV. Finally, we found that IJV partners’ dependence asymmetry increases IJV instability, whereas their total dependence decreases IJV instability.

The EXPERF scale: A cross-national generalized export performance measure.

A large number of studies have attempted to identify factors that are correlated with exporting success. However, much controversy exists about the key determinants of export performance and their relative importance. A major reason for this lack of consensus is the absence of a unified measure for capturing export performance. In this study, an attempt is made to develop a generalized export performance measure, the EXPERF scale, that can be applied to multiple countries. Results from a survey of top executives of U.S. and Japanese exporters support a three-dimensional scale for measuring export performance. The three dimensions of the export performance (EXPERF) scale are financial export performance, strategic export performance, and satisfaction with export venture. Implications of the study for further research and managerial practice are also discussed