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In this dissertation, I use a two-part study to examine, firstly whether preconceived notions, or perceptual differences, exist about organizational characteristics between firms based on size and age, and secondly what the relative salience of each characteristic is as well as possible individual-organizational characteristic interactions. In addition to contributing to theoretical knowledge-building, and providing guidance to practitioners, I use a methodology that has not been used extensively in organizational behavior research - conjoint analysis. Thus, the contributions I make are theoretical, normative and methodological in nature. As hypothesized, there are significant differences in how job seekers perceive organizations based on their size and age. Further, the extent to which an organization is perceived to be Boyscout (e.g., attentive to people, personal and friendly) is significantly more important than any other characteristic to job seekers when assessing fit with an organization or job. / Business Administration/Interdisciplinary

With the phenomenon of internationalization gaining in importance, it is crucial for companies to be aware of what the internationalization process involves. An important part of the process is selecting optimal entry modes for foreign target markets. The objective of this research has been to develop guidelines to aid in such a selection. A theoretical decision model was first developed based on existing research literature. The literature, however, did not adequately address the influence of company objectives on the entry-mode selection process. To overcome this deficiency, the theoretical model was super-imposed with real-world data gathered via interviews with industry personnel actively involved in the entry-mode decision making process. This yielded the final decision framework. This framework approaches the selection process in three steps--1) elimination of unfeasible entry modes, 2) selection of objective and factor concordant entry modes, and 3) selection of the optimal entry mode for a given target market. / Master of Science

Yes / Despite the significant role that multiparty international joint ventures (MPIJVs) play within multinational enterprises, we know little about the significant challenges associated with the management of these ventures. Therefore, we combine the Resource-based View of the Firm and Transaction Cost Economics to investigate the effects of the key aspects of partner diversity (i.e., variety, balance, and disparity) on MPIJV dissolution. We test our hypotheses using a dataset of 248 MPIJVs in China. We find empirical support for a U-curve shaped effect of variety and a negative linear effect of balance on MPIJV dissolution.

El título de este trabajo académico tiene como referencia a una obra maestra del cine: El Padrino de Francis Ford Coppola. Este clásico del sétimo arte es una de esas películas que uno ve cada cierto tiempo y descubre nuevos detalles que en un primer momento no había advertido. Asimismo, es de esas películas que tienen un sinnúmero de frases que se integran a la cultura o al día a día de las personas, frases como “sé cercano a tus amigos, pero más cercano a tus enemigos”, “le haré una oferta que no podrá rechazar”, “deja el arma, toma el cannoli”, entre otros. Precisamente, el título en mención proviene de una línea dicha por Al Pacino en su papel de Michael Corleone, aunque para ser más exactos, la línea reza “No es personal, Sonny, es estrictamente negocios”.

The political history of South Africa, especially that of the apartheid years, has affected the structuring and functioning of business in the country profoundly. In general, White business is highly developed and formal, with access to financial and infrastructural support. Black business is often subsistence-based, informal and struggles for access to support mechanisms. These structural inequities have had a depressing impact on the economy that will continue if they are not resolved. Following the 1994 elections, policies and legislation have been introduced aimed at redressing structural imbalances. There is thus both a political and an economic imperative to bridge the gaps that have arisen between Black and White business. The study proposes Black/White joint ventures as a mechanism to this end. The history of Black/White relationships means that these enterprises are likely to face many problems. A model has been developed through the study for the formulation, structuring and operation of Black/White joint ventures that takes into account the factors that are likely to impact on these ventures and affect their success potential. The process of applying the model in practice is directed towards results that are not prejudiced by the background of the parties to the venture. The study expands the concept of joint ventures within the South African context to incorporate initiatives along a continuum ranging from extensions to employment to full joint ventures. Depending on its nature and objectives, a venture may be placed and remain at any stage along the continuum, or may progress along it. Case studies of Black/White joint ventures were investigated in depth and analysed in terms of the application of the model, in order to determine the relevance of the model. In all cases, the success or failure of the venture under scrutiny could be ascribed to the way in which the presence of various elements identified as being components of the model had been accommodated in practice within the venture. The use of the model when applied to formulating, structuring and operating a Black/White joint venture can contribute to its success potential. / Business Management / DBL

This dissertation describes and analyzes the perceived performance of Sino-foreign joint ventures. The dissertation is based on an in-depth qualitative longitudinal real time case study of the joint venture known as Jinan Hua Wo Truck Corporation (Hua Wo), between Volvo Trucks and China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Co. Ltd. in China. The purpose of the dissertation is to contribute to the understanding of Sino-foreign perceived performance by suggesting an elaborated model, which captures situated and dynamic features. Perceived performance is defined as the joint venture executives’ assessment of strategic goal achievement and overall satisfaction. Findings from the study of the Hua Wo joint venture indicate that what determines perceived performance is the outcome of activities initiated in order to achieve or to facilitate goals. The dissertation presents an analytical model of Sino-foreign joint venture perceived performance which comprises the four concepts: goals, stakeholder relations, political influence and control. The conclusion of the dissertation is that in order to understand what decides perceived performance, it is necessary to assess system size, in other words, the number of stakeholders able to influence goal achievement, and also the intended duration of the activities. It is proposed that the configuration of the suggested model of perceived performance will be dependent upon these two dimensions. For activities taking place in a restricted system over a restricted time period, perceived performance depends primarily on the goals of the activity. The perceived performance of activities of a restricted system carried out over an extended period of time is more influenced by control. On the other hand activities carried out in an extended system over a restricted period of time are mainly determined by stakeholder relations for perceived performance, whereas activities which take place in an extended system for an extended time period are vulnerable to political influence. / Den här avhandlingen beskriver och analyserar uppfattat utfall i Sino-utländska samriskföretag. Avhandlingen är baserad på en longitudinell kvalitativ realtidsstudie av samriskföretaget Jinan Hua Wo Truck Corporation (i dagligt tal benämnt Hua Wo) vilket ägs av Volvo Lastvagnar och China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Co. Ltd. Avhandlingens syfte är att bidra till förståelsen av uppfattat utfall i Sino-utländska samriskföretag, genom att utveckla en modell vilken tar hänsyn till situationsbaserade och dynamiska karaktäristika. Med uppfattat utfall menas i avhandlingen samriskföretagets intressenters bedömning av strategisk måluppfyllelse och generell tillfredställelse med samriskföretaget. Resultaten från fallstudien av Hua Wo indikerar att det är utfallet av aktiviteter som initierats för att uppnå mål eller möjliggöra måluppfyllelse som avgör det uppfattade utfallet. Avhandlingen presenterar vidare en modell för att analysera uppfattat utfall i Sino-utländska samriskföretag vilken kombinerar de fyra koncepten mål, intressentrelationer, politiskt inflytande och kontroll. Slutsatsen i avhandlingen är att för att förstå vad som avgör uppfattat utfall i Sino-utländska samriskföretag så bör systemstorleken (antalet intressenter som kan påverka ett samriskföretags måluppfyllelse) och tidsramen utvärderas. Vidare argumenterar avhandlingen för att det är systemstorleken och tidsramen som avgör konfigurationen av analysmodellen för uppfattat utfall. Vad gäller de aktiviteter som genomförs i ett system med få intressenter under en kort tid, så är målen i sig viktigast, medan kontroll är viktigare för aktiviteter som sker i ett system med få intressenter under en längre tid. Aktiviteter som genomförs i ett system med många intressenter under kort tid blir beroende av intressentrelationerna, medan aktiviteter som sker i ett system med många intressenter över en lång tidsperiod istället blir sårbara för politisk intervention.

O fenômeno da contratualização do direito societário tem se intensificado nos diversos ordenamentos, sobretudo com relação a sociedades anônimas fechadas constituidas no âmbito de joint ventures e aquelas que recebem investimentos de private equity. Nesse cenário, os acordos celebrados entre acionistas para reger seu relacionamento societário de maneira complementar e paralela aos atos constitutivos das sociedades (amplamente designados shareholders agreements) são traços característicos. Designados em 1942 por GIORGIO OPPO como Contratti Parasociali , sua análise doutrinária, em geral, tem se focado no exame de sua relação com o contrato ou estatuto social, ocupando-se principalmente dos acordos incidentes sobre a organização e funcionamento da companhia (notadamente os acordos de voto) e seus efeitos societários. Com relação aos pactos relativos a direitos patrimoniais dos celebrantes, o fato de não produzirem efeitos diretos sobre a companhia reduz seu exame sob a ótica do direito societário. A tese tem como objetivo primário, assim, caracterizar esse grupo de contratos assinalando como sua função econômica a de modelar o relacionamento societário entre as partes. Verifica-se, pois, que as disposições do pactos em exame não apenas geram vínculos obrigacionais entre os signatários, mas também gravam o status de sócio de cada um deles. No Brasil, o estudo dos pactos parassociais é centrado no exame dos acordos de acionistas previstos no art. 118 da Lei 6.404/76, não tendo sido identificadas obras que avaliem os pactos parassociais como gênero de que o acordo de acionistas é espécie. Pouco se explora, sob a perspectiva societária, ajustes com conteúdo patrimonial ou mesmo aspectos gerais dos pactos parassociais, como sua interpretação e limites de validade. O escopo principal da tese seria, então, o de examinar como as peculiares circunstâncias em que se inserem os pactos parassociais patrimoniais influenciam seu processo de interpretação e propor elementos para que considerações derivadas da lógica societária orientem o intérprete, buscando superar argumentos de concepção individualista, ligados a defesa de ampla liberdade contratual das partes na celebração de ajustes relativos a seus direitos patrimonais. Com esse propósito, analisa-se regras consagradas de hermenêutica - notadamente as relativas à necessidade de exame da função econômica do contrato e da boa-fé objetiva - e elementos de sustentação da lógica societária, como o escopo comum, os deveres e direitos dos sócios. Além disso, verifica-se os principais elementos apontados na doutrina como limitadores da autonomia contratual no direito societário e, por fim, reflete-se sobre a relação dos pactos parassociais patrimoniais com os alvos de tutela do direito societário. / Il fenomeno della contrattualizzazione del diritto societario viene sempre più intensificandosi nei diversi ordinamenti, soprattutto con riferimento alle società anonime chiuse quelle costituite nellambito di operazioni di joint ventures e quelle che ricevono investimenti di private equity. In questo scenario, i patti celebrati tra gli azionisti per regolare il loro rapporto societario in maniera complementare e parallela agli atti costitutivi della società (a cui genericamente ci si riferisce col nome di shareholders agreements) costituiscono tratti caratteristici di tale fenomeno. Denominati nel 1942 da GIORGIO OPPO Contratti Parasociali , la loro analisi dottrinaria, in generale, si è incentrata sul rapporto che intercorre tra gli stessi e il contratto o lo statuto societario, approfondendo in particolar modo i patti incidenti sullorganizzazione e il funzionamento della società (specialmente gli accordi per il voto) e i loro effetti societari. Con riferimento ai patti riguardanti i diritti patrimoniali dei soci, il fatto di non produrre effetti diretti sulla società ne ha limitato lesame sotto lottica del diritto societario. La tesi ha come obiettivo iniziale, dunque, quello di caratterizzare questo gruppo di contratt i, mettendone in luce come la loro funzione economica sia quella di modellare il rapporto societario tra le parti. Si dimostra, poi, come le disposizioni dei patti in esame non solo generano vincoli obbligazionari tra i firmatari, ma informano anche lo status di socio di ognuno di questi. In Brasile, lo studio dei patti parasociali è incentrato sullesame degli acordos de acionistas previsti nellart. 118 della Legge 6.404/76, e non sono state trovate opere che considerano i patti parasociali alla stregua di un genere di cui lacordo de acionistas è una specie. Si indagano poco, sotto la prospettiva societaria, i patti con contenuto patrimoniale egli aspet ti generali dei patti parasociali , come la loro interpretazione e i limiti di validità. Lo scopo principale della tesi sarebbe, allora, quello di esaminare come le circostanze peculiari in cui si inseriscono i patti parasociali patrimoniali influiscono sul loro processo di interpretazione e proporre degli elementi affinché considerazioni derivate dalla logica societaria orientino linterprete, al fine di superare argomenti di concezione individualistica legati alla difesa dellampia libertà contrattuale delle parti nellesecuzione di contratti relativi ai loro diritti patrimoniali. Con questo proposito, vengono analizzate regole consacrate di ermeneutica specialmente quelle relative alla necessità di esaminare la funzione economica del contratto e quella della buona-fede oggettiva e gli elementi su cui si fonda la logica societaria, come lo scopo comume, i doveri e diritti dei soci. Si passano al vaglio, , inoltre, i principali elementi che la dottrina individua come limiti allautonomia contrattuale nel diritto societario e, infine, si procede ad una riflessione sul rapporto dei patti parasociali patrimoniali con gli obiettivi di tutela del diritto societario.

by Chan Ka-leung and Wong King. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Bibliography: leaves 92-94.

Au cours des 25 dernières années, le nombre de joint-ventures internationales (JVI), qui se forment lorsque deux ou plusieurs entreprises partenaires mettent une partie de leurs ressources au sein d’une organisation légale possédée conjointement, s’est multiplié. Parallèlement à cette prolifération, les déterminants de la performance des JVI ont retenu particulièrement l’attention des chercheurs. Dans le cadre de cette recherche, nous nous focalisons sur l’aspect de l’apprentissage organisationnel en le liant à l’efficacité organisationnelle des JVI.Nous avons développé notre cadre conceptuel en nous basant sur la théorie de l’apprentissage organisationnel, la théorie fondée sur les connaissances et des revues de la littérature. Ainsi, nous avons proposé un modèle et dix-neuf hypothèses de la recherche liés aux retours positifs de l’apprentissage organisationnel sur l’efficacité organisationnelle des JVI. Ceux-ci sont ensuite examinés empiriquement en utilisant la méthode PLS sur une base de données de 176 JVI du Vietnam. Les résultats empiriques ont montré le rôle indéniable de l’apprentissage organisationnel dans l’amélioration de l’efficacité organisationnelle des JVI.Principaux résultats de la recherche : (1) plus les connaissances sont acquises dans les JVI plus leur efficacité organisationnelle s’améliore ; (2) la qualité des relations entre les partenaires de la JVI explique bien et influence fortement la performance d’acquisition de connaissances ; (3) concernant la culture d’apprentissage organisationnel, les pratiques de l’apprentissage d’équipe ont été identifiées comme un élément central influençant directement la performance d’acquisition de connaissances. / Over the past 25 years, the number of International Joint Ventures (IJV), which are formed when two or more partner companies put their resources together in a jointly owned legal organization, has multiplied. Along with this proliferation, the determinants of the IJV performance have attracted particular attention from researchers. In this study, we focus on the aspect of organizational learning by linking it to the IJV organizational effectiveness.We have developed our conceptual framework based on the theory of organizational learning, knowledge-based theory and literature reviews. Thus, we have proposed a model with nineteen research hypotheses related to the positive impact of organizational learning on the IJV organizational effectiveness. Both the model and these hypotheses are then examined empirically using the PLS method on a database of 176 IJV in Vietnam. The results showed the undeniable role of organizational learning in improving the IJV organizational effectiveness.Key research findings : (1) the more knowledge acquired in the IJV, the more its organizational effectiveness improved; (2) the quality of relationships between the IJV partners explains well and strongly influences the performance of knowledge acquisition; and (3) on organizational learning culture, the practices of team learning have been identified as a key element influencing the performance of knowledge acquisition directly.