It has been suggested that the Internet is the most significant driver of international trade in recent years to the extent that the term =internetalisation‘ has been coined (Bell, Deans, Ibbotson & Sinkovics, 2001; Buttriss & Wilkinson, 2003). This term is used to describe the Internet‘s affect on the internationalisation process of the firm. Consequently, researchers have argued that the internationalisation process of the firm has altered due to the Internet, hence is in need of further investigation. However, as there is limited research and understanding, ambiguity remains in how the Internet has influenced international market growth. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore how the Internet influences firms‘ internationalisation process, specifically, international market growth. To this end, Internet marketing and international market growth theories are used to illuminate this ambiguity in the body of knowledge. Thus, the research problem =How and why does the Internet influence international market growth of the firm’ is justified for investigation. To explore the research question a two-stage approach is used. Firstly, twelve case studies were used to evaluate key concepts, generate hypotheses and to develop a model of Internetalisation for testing. The participants held key positions within their firm, so that rich data could be drawn from international market growth decision makers. Secondly, a quantitative confirmation process analysed the identified themes or constructs, using two hundred and twenty four valid responses. Constructs were evaluated through an exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling process. Structural equation modelling was used to test the model of =internetalisation‘ to examine the interrelationships between the internationalisation process components: information availability, information usage, interaction communication, international mindset, business relationship usage, psychic distance, the Internet intensity of the firm and international market growth. This study found that the Internet intensity of the firm mediates information availability, information usage, international mindset, and business relationships when firms grow in international markets. Therefore, these results provide empirical evidence that the Internet has a positive influence on international information, knowledge, entrepreneurship and networks and these in turn influence international market growth. The theoretical contributions are three fold. Firstly, the study identifies a holistic model of the impact the Internet has had on the outward internationalisation of the firm. This contribution extends the body of knowledge pertaining to Internet international marketing by mapping and confirming interrelationships between the Internet, internationalisation and growth concepts. Secondly, the study highlights the broad scope and accelerated rate of international market growth of firms. Evidence that the Internet influences the traditional and virtual networks for the pursuit of international market growth extends the current understanding. Thirdly, this study confirms that international information, knowledge, entrepreneurship and network concepts are valid in a single model. Thus, these three contributions identify constructs, measure constructs in a multi-item capacity, map interrelationships and confirm single holistic model of ‗internetalisation‘. The main practical contribution is that the findings identified information, knowledge and entrepreneurial opportunities for firms wishing to maximise international market growth. To capitalise on these opportunities suggestions are offered to assist firms to develop greater Internet intensity and internationalisation capabilities. From a policy perspective, educational institutions and government bodies need to promote more applied programs for Internet international marketing. The study provides future researchers with a platform of identified constructs and interrelationships related to internetalisation, with which to investigate. However, a single study has limitations of generalisability; thus, future research should replicate this study. Such replication or cross validation will assist in the verification of scales used in this research and enhance the validity of causal predications. Furthermore, this study was undertaken in the Australian outward-bound context. Research in other nations, as well as research into inbound internationalisation would be fruitful.

The transfer pricing, literature indicates that an investigation of some aspects of this subject could usefully be undertaken in order to contribute to the understanding of transfer pricing in both domestic and international markets. This study aims at exploring the current state of transfer pricing practice and establishing the importance attached to the ranking of transfer pricing determinants (i. e. objectives and environmental variables) and the extent to which the ranking varies across markets, industry, and according to the transfer pricing method used. It also seeks to discover interrelationship among the transfer pricing determinants in order to produce a reduced set of basic factors. Lastly, it aims at evaluating the relationship between transfer pricing determinants and transfer pricing methods and at discovering a means of predicting the latter from the company's perception of the relative importance of these determinants. To achieve the above objectives, an empirical study covering both domestic and international markets was undertaken in UK companies. The conclusions are concerned with transfer pricing policy, methods currently used, and problems apparent in practice. The overall ranking-by survey respondents of the transfer pricing determinants is given as well as the results of tests of certain hypotheses which relate to this ranking. The transfer pricing determinants used in the survey for domestic and international. markets (twelve and twenty respectively) have been reduced by Factor Analysis to four and six factors. The study made use of the results to obtain measures of the ranking of discovered factors. Finally, the relationship between the transfer pricing determinants and transfer pricing methods was quantitatively evaluated in the form of a set of classification functions by using Multi-Discriminant Analysis. The classification functions are able to predict the transfer pricing method actually used in companies with an acceptable degree of success. The study's results have been reviewed with a small number of senior managers who are involved in establishing transfer pricing policy within their companies. / Egyptian Government and Al-Azher University

There is an ongoing debate over the role that equity markets play in determining and influencing international equity flows. The first chapter of this dissertation describes the large portfolio equity flows into China and India, in order to understand the buying behavior of US investors. The rapid growth of the Chinese and Indian economies, coupled with the recent development and liberalization of their financial markets has attracted significant portfolio investment from U.S. investors. It is commonly assumed that domestic investors have an informational advantage over foreign investors; however, some recent empirical literature has questioned this assumption. Essay one dissects the nature of the relationship between foreign equity flows, equity returns, and related variables. The results of my empirical investigation provides evidence that U.S. institutional investors are making investment decisions based on long-run determinants of value rather than responding to price signals or ‘chasing returns'. I anticipate that the strong relationship between equity flows and fundamentals will strengthen as information asymmetries decline and US investors continue to develop more sophisticated methods of assessing underlying value in China and India. The second essay of this dissertation explores a new panel data set based on US gross cross-border equity flows to 20 industrialized nations combined with measures of market valuation for the period of 1977-2005. Empirical evidence of imperfect integration across world equity markets indicates that valuation matters. Consistent with relative value trading as a determinant of equity flow patterns, I find that equity flows decrease sharply with host-country market valuations—in particular the component of valuation that is forecasted to revert the following year. I also find that equity flows increase sharply with US equity market valuations. These results suggest the existence of a valuation channel for cross-border equity flows. The findings of this chapter show that US investors are informed about both domestic markets and foreign markets. Peripheral findings of this essay confirm the findings of other researches, but with a longer sample period. Consistent with existing literature, I find a negative influence of interest rates spreads, and information asymmetries on cross-border trade in equities.

In order for corporations to develop their business, they could apply an approach of exchanging ideas and knowledge with other corporations could contribute to new significant innovations. The international approach is called Open Innovation and could be implemented both externally and internally within firms. The purpose of this thesis was to examine how Open Innovation is used by Swedish and Chinese entrepreneurs in an international market context. By implementing a qualitative research method, the researchers obtained a deeper understanding of how networks and trust affect Open Innovation when the approach is used. This thesis derived from an inductive approach since the authors made observations and generated theories from those observations, which created a theoretical synthesis. The theoretical synthesis conducted into the operationalization and the interview guide for the data gathering of the semi- structured interviews. The gathered empirical data was compared with the theories in order to analyze the similarities and differences between them. Lastly, the study was concluded by answering the research questions, theoretical, practical, and policy implications, limitations for the study, and suggestion for future research.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore the challenges that are faced by born global SMEs and how they overcome these challenges. Method: For literature review and secondary research, data and information has been gathered from disciplines of international entrepreneurship. Primary research has been done on four born global firms; two from Sweden and two from Pakistan. Qualitative research and analysis has been used in the study. Originality: This study contributes to literature by covering some missing portions in born global discipline. In this research, effort is made to compile various challenges that are faced by born global firms, through literature review. The report further has focused on overcoming these challenges by gathering information through primary research. Conclusion: The research has concluded that there are certain challenges that are faced by born global firms in their international business development. These challenges are internal as well as external. Despite these challenges and problems, born global firms are able to achieve their position in international market by overcoming these challenges through building networks and competency alliances with partners situated internationally.

This dissertation consists of three essays in international corporate finance. It studies the impact of aggregate conditions and the institutional environment on the behavior of publicly traded firms from a broad sample of countries. In the first essay I argue that when credit constraints are widespread, as may be the case in countries with poor investor protection, we should not necessarily expect small firms´ investment to be more sensitive to monetary contractions or negative aggregate shocks. A simple model of investment with credit constraints shows that for this pattern to occur we need a high enough level of investor protection. The empirical evidence is broadly consistent with the hypothesis. In periods of tight credit conditions, small firms from countries with high creditor protection contract their investment rate more than large firms, while there is no significant difference in the investment contraction of small and large firms in from low creditor protection countries. In the second essay I explore to what extent the effect of legal origin on payout policy, ownership concentration, and valuation has been stable through time. The results suggest that previously established results should be taken with caution, and cast doubts on their strength. In particular, it appears that corporate characteristics are converging across countries, and legal origin is not longer an important determinant of them. In the final essay I study to what extent capital raising in international markets is related to firms´ ability to react to financial shocks. I provide a complete descriptive picture of the main patterns in the use of international financing between 1990 and 2009,study how issuers and non-issuers grow during financial crises, and how their growth is related to the aggregate conditions in the economy and their past financing behavior. Firms that raise capital internationally have a lower correlation with the local GDP growth, and grow more during local financial crises; however this relationship depends on the overall degree of development of the country and is highly dependent on the determinants of the issuance decision. The descriptive analysis show that international capital raising is pervasive in most countries, but the firms doing so differ depending on the development of their country of origin. / text

The transfer pricing, literature indicates that an investigation of some aspects of this subject could usefully be undertaken in order to contribute to the understanding of transfer pricing in both domestic and international markets. This study aims at exploring the current state of transfer pricing practice and establishing the importance attached to the ranking of transfer pricing determinants (i. e. objectives and environmental variables) and the extent to which the ranking varies across markets, industry, and according to the transfer pricing method used. It also seeks to discover interrelationship among the transfer pricing determinants in order to produce a reduced set of basic factors. Lastly, it aims at evaluating the relationship between transfer pricing determinants and transfer pricing methods and at discovering a means of predicting the latter from the company's perception of the relative importance of these determinants. To achieve the above objectives, an empirical study covering both domestic and international markets was undertaken in UK companies. The conclusions are concerned with transfer pricing policy, methods currently used, and problems apparent in practice. The overall ranking-by survey respondents of the transfer pricing determinants is given as well as the results of tests of certain hypotheses which relate to this ranking. The transfer pricing determinants used in the survey for domestic and international. markets (twelve and twenty respectively) have been reduced by Factor Analysis to four and six factors. The study made use of the results to obtain measures of the ranking of discovered factors. Finally, the relationship between the transfer pricing determinants and transfer pricing methods was quantitatively evaluated in the form of a set of classification functions by using Multi-Discriminant Analysis. The classification functions are able to predict the transfer pricing method actually used in companies with an acceptable degree of success. The study's results have been reviewed with a small number of senior managers who are involved in establishing transfer pricing policy within their companies.

iv ABSTRACT URBAN CONVENTION HOTEL DESIGN CRITERIA AND A DESIGN PROPOSAL FOR ANKARA CASE Gizem, Balik&ccedil / ioglu M.Arch. / Department of Architecture Supervisor: Part-time Inst. ilhan Kural September, 2004 154 Pages The aim of this study is to define the design criteria for urban convention hotels based on national and international market trends. The second aim is to design an efficient, flexible, and valid convention hotel program for Ankara case based on this research. The existing hotel structures in Ankara are assumed to be insufficient to meet the convention requirements of international and national market needs. In the study, the space requirements of different markets and their program matrix reflected on major convention hotels in different continents are analyzed. The basic design criteria in terms of architectural space requirements and functional needs of the venues are defined. The economical, social and cultural impacts of the convention hotels in urban scale are listed in order to define a sustainable and efficient program in city scale. A feasibility study is done based on the space requirements, user groups and use frequencies of the convention venues in capital city. The second assumption of this study was that Ankara needed a 500 room convention hotel in order to accommodate the existing and future tourism stock of the city. A program based on the requirements of prior research is prepared and a design proposal is given for a site located in Ankara.

The strategies to employ when a small to medium sized enterprise (SME) enters the international market are important issues for a business to consider. This research study addresses the question “What strategies will position New Zealand manufacturing small and medium sized enterprises for international markets?” It is intended to compare various strategies for going global, discovering these through a literature review and personal interviews with New Zealand businesses who have successfully globalised. The research studies globalisation within manufacturing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand. It explores strategies available in order to discover their advantages and disadvantages, and suggests key strategic directions for New Zealand manufacturing SME’s to use when entering into international markets. The research is intended to benefit New Zealand SME’s considering entering the international market place, which in turn will contribute towards benefiting New Zealand as a whole as it endeavours to position itself in the international competitive arena. Specific strategies for New Zealand manufacturing SME’s wishing to establish global markets are explored with implications for theory, research, and business practices. A case study approach was adopted, with multiple research methods used to gather information for the study. An experience survey in the form of personal interviews was used to gather a range of views from people with knowledge and experience in exporting to international markets. Documents were analysed, together with information gained through the interviews to compile case histories of the businesses that participated in this research. Strategies relevant to going global were identified in a literature review and these strategies were compared with actions and directions taken by the businesses interviewed. The analysis of the findings reveals congruence with theoretical strategies for globalisation of SMEs identified in previous studies; however it was found that decisions made when going global were highly dependent on the individual circumstances that a business finds itself in, rather than committing to strategies based on assumptions from academic studies. The businesses involved in this study went global through opportunities more so than strategic purpose. They had not set out to be a global enterprise, however when the opportunities arose their globalisation effort needed total commitment. Their experiences are discussed in this study and have relevance for other firms looking to go global.

Internationalization has long time ago been very much been undergone and sustained inseveral companies all over the world, ranging from small to large sized firms. This is sobecause there has been increased demand for companies to meet in not just their domesticmarkets but also international markets. Therefore, internationalization is an inevitablephenomenon in the business sphere. Sadly, literature covering the African perspective ofinternationalization is scarce. Emerging country markets like Nigeria proves to provide acomprehensive and detailed outlook. Moreover, Covid-19 literature is still in its developingstage due to its recency. Africa in particular has experienced Covid-19 in a peculiar mannerwhich is different from other parts of the world.Which is why this study seeks to provide additional knowledge by taking a look at theinternationalisation of firms since the pandemic, particularly in the Nigerian cement industry.The purpose of this study is to understand how Covid-19 affected the internationalisationprocess of Nigerian cement firms as well as their progress of recovery since the hit. Includedin this study are 3 major Nigerian cement firms which form a representation of the industry.All 3 have internationalised within Africa. Semi-structured interviews were carried out withcompany representatives who are knowledgeable and involved in the internationalisationprocesses of their respective firms.Empirical findings inform us that the process of internationalisation is a daunting process tosay the least due to many factors ranging from social, environmental and geographic.Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic emerged viciously and disrupted business operations.Which affected transactions, sales and regulations regarding trade. On a good note, companiesleveraged on technology and network relationships to sustain their businesses despite harsheconomic conditions.