University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Business. / The need for more dynamic views on international joint ventures' control research has recently become a growing concern. Changes in the complexity of relationships between organisations and their environments have led to an increase in control problems and to a need to investigate a suitable framework of management control. The concept of self-organising systems that has emerged with the science of complexity produces some useful and interesting new ways to examine the behaviour of complex systems. Therefore, extending the recent development in self-organising systems into international joint ventures' control research is an opportunity to explore new insights into the development of joint ventures. This study takes an integrative approach by focusing on the integration of management control and self-organising properties of international joint ventures. The purpose of this study is to investigate the roles of management control systems in affecting international joint ventures' performance, from the perspective of alliance complexity constraints. A model of management control in international joint ventures as self-organising systems, representing a complexity-control-outcomes framework, is developed and tested empirically using the partial least square (FLS) approach, a distinctive structural equation modeling (SEM) based technique. The primary results of this study show that formal control mechanisms and control extent have significant direct effects on management automony and the international joint ventures' performance. Management autonomy as an intervening endogenous construct has a significant direct effect on the international joint ventures performance. Significant direct effects of organisational complexity on the formal control mechanisms and control extent are found, and a significant indirect effect of organisational complexity on the management autonomy is found. The overall results suggest a sound link between the complexity-control framework with the control-outcome framework, and the achievement of fit between these two frameworks is important for superior international joint ventures' performance.

Domestic companies are increasingly trying to expand to become globalised firms or multinational corporations (MNCs). Existing business strategies, visions and information systems need to be re-analysed and perhaps reconstructed to fulfil the business goals, operations and characteristics of the global organisation. Information technology is a critical element in enabling globalisation, and enterprises need to identify and consider information technology and system management issues. Depending on the structure of multinational organisations, different emphases need to be placed on issues such as business information systems management, information technology management, people management, end-user management, and culture. A global transition issue priority model is constructed to support the following hypothesis: the global transition issue priority varies depending on the type of organisational structure. With the assistance of this model, MNCs are able to pinpoint the emphasis of issues in preparing the globalisation process according to their organisational structures. Surevsy were onducted to investigate the priority of issues, and outcomes suggest that the emphasis of each issue class is dependent on the type of organisational structure. The main contribution of this research is to develop a global information systems management priority model that will assist MNCs in preparing the strategic plan in the global transition process, and develop a global transition framework for enterprises which will facilitate construction of their global information systems. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

During the 1990's, most Hong Kong companies experienced extremely high Voluntary Turnover among middle managers. This thesis attempts to find the causes of such turnover through quantitative analysis and at the same time assess the state of Succession Planning implementation in 10 subsidiaries of US multinational companies as a potential remedy to such turnover. Lack of career advancement and promotion opportunities was found by employees to be the leading cause of voluntary turnover whereas employers believe basic salary and other remuneration components are the main causes. In 9 companies out of 10, Succession Planning is found to be short on basic success criteria such as formalization, buget, support from top management, I.T. support, integra- tion with strategic HR planning, accountability and continuous review process / thesis (PhDBusinessandManagement)--University of South Australia, 2003.

Based on the application of Porter's Model for National Competitive Advantage to the state of Tamil Nadu, the author established four unique characteristics about India. These are: Tamil Nadu is India's southern gateway; Indian consumers are very price sensitive; Indians have links somehow everywhere; and India thrives on contrasts. These attributes were further distilled to arrive at three 'stones' that can pave improvements to the Indian passenger car industry, namely: 'Cornerstone', being the need to improve local propensity to earn; 'Stepping Stones', being the need to intensify engagements with regional groupings like the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR), South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC), Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC) and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN); and 'Flintstone' being Tamil Nadu as an auto hub to ignite entrepreneurship and innovations within the Indian passenger car industry. In essence Porter's Theory on National Competitive Advantage states that prosperity depends on environment, not endowments. His Diamond Model helps identify the productive clusters that can support such wealth creation. This study bridges the gap between identification and implementation with an 'International Management Grid' that divides action agenda in accordance with structure, strategy, culture and control. This matrix is bounded by classification of items according to urgency and importance, whereby delegation, empowerment, tact and leadership would be emphasized accordingly. The central thesis of this study is that wealth creation can be initiated by a progressive location in a country through the cascading effects of a high growth industry. With faster physical and communication connectivity and increased global concerns for security and health, India's major challenge is to associate her passenger car industry with: Speed in sustaining human relationships; trendy yet affordable replacements instead of renewal repairs; and life-long learning for skills that ensure employment and employability. A permanent Exhibition Centre is recommended to especially showcase new developments in textiles, leather and security technologies for cars. In addition, a virtual Auto Centre of Excellence, managed as an internet platform based in Tamil Nadu, can help international members of the industry to upgrade and research on skills that ensure individual employment and employability through a life-long knowledge management and certification process. A unique post-sale advantage of cars made in India can be the guaranteed inspection after five years to replace or overhaul vehicle parts in franchise centres located throughout India and overseas. These franchises will help train Indian youths through an honour code of 3-in-1-youth mentorship scheme. Those who have benefited from working in these franchises would be obliged to mentor three other youths within five years after completion of their own mentorship. All these initiatives can start with Tamil Nadu because she is already an automotive manufacturing hub, a southern IT centre and an export gateway. This study has reviewed criticisms on Porter's Model, especially from Krugman, Dunning, Narula, Rugman and D'Cruz as well as Davis and Ellis. Although the model has been applied to developing economies like Korea, Venezuela, Turkey, Phillippines and even India, this study is different. None of the previous academic exercises using Porter's Model has an implementation format like the 'International Management Grid' as designed and developed by the author. The Delphi Research Technique in accordance with the Gordon and Helmer Method was adopted for 58 candidates and the results of fieldwork were found to be statistically significant at 0.05 level based on the non-parametric Chi-Squared Test of Independence. The ethical aspects in Porter's Model and the new business rhythm inside India after more privatization remain major unsolved issues of this study. / Thesis (PhDBusinessandManagement)--University of South Australia, 2004

Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2003

This study investigates the link between global integration -- defined as the intra-firm cross-border transfer of operational resources -- and performance in multinational professional engineering companies. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques, we find some support for a positive association. We review two bodies of scholarship germane to our topic: the global integration - performance literature and the multinationality - performance literature. The inclusion of the latter is justified since the espoused performance benefits of multinationality are predominantly realised through global integration. Based upon an evaluation of these two bodies of scholarship and qualitative insights, we propose a positive relationship between global integration and performance as well as a mediating relationship, with global integration acting as a mediator between multinationality and performance. Hypothesis testing is performed in Partial Least Squares, a structural equation modelling technique ideally suited for small samples. Results reveal a significant positive association between global integration and MNC profitability. A separate research model testing the relationship between global integration and the alternative dependent, MNC growth, is rejected. Further analysis of the profitability-based research model provides support for the mediational hypothesis: the relationship between multinationality and profitability is fully mediated, suggesting no gains from multinationality per se. Supplementary tests reveal that the profitability effects of global integration are enhanced when it is strongly motivated by the desire to take advantage of specialised skills within the MNC; no such claim of moderation can be made when global integration is strongly motivated by a desire to improve staff utilisation on a global basis. The relationship between global integration and profitability is also unaffected by the origins (headquarters vs. subsidiaries) of the intra-firm operational resource transfers that constitute global integration.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (LL. M.)--University of Toronto, 2005.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2006. / "May, 2006." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-77). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Political Science, 1997. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 282-313).