We explore some empirical properties of Austria's "Investment Development Path" (IDP) on the macro level as well as on the structural and the bilateral level. Three dimensions are analyzed, namely the growth, the stability, and the sign of the Net Outward Investment Position (NOIP). While the NOIP on the macro level has been negative throughout the last two decades, there is considerable variation on the industry and the bilateral level. Given the small domestic market size, the NOIP of Austria does not reflect the high level of development in terms of GDP. Several explanations for the below-average NOIP of Austria are provided. / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar os determinantes do processo de internacionalização das empresas brasileiras do setor de carne bovina, tendo como fundamentação teórica os modelos de internacionalização disponíveis na literatura econômica. O trabalho baseia-se na hipótese de que as empresas brasileiras do setor de carne bovina adotaram estratégias bem sucedidas de internacionalização, evidenciadas pela posição de destaque que atingiram nos rankings de internacionalização em menos de uma década. A estrutura do estudo consiste no desenvolvimento de um modelo analítico de Estudo de Caso, aplicado às três maiores empresas multinacionais de carne bovina do Brasil, conforme identificado em rankings de internacionalização de multinacionais brasileiras: JBS, Marfrig e Minerva. A partir de informações coletadas via entrevistas aplicadas às empresas e dados levantados em relatórios disponíveis nos respectivos websites, artigos acadêmicos, revistas e periódicos, conclui-se que essas empresas possuíam diversas vantagens específicas em um setor que o Brasil apresenta vantagem comparativa de produção. Tais vantagens, alinhadas à busca por matéria-prima, acesso a novos mercados e fortalecimento das vendas em mercados considerados estratégicos, foram os principais determinantes para o seu processo de internacionalização. Apesar de a JBS e Marfrig se beneficiarem, por meio de aporte de capital do BNDES, de uma política ativa do governo para promover a consolidação e expansão da liderança brasileira no mercado internacional de proteína animal, não se pode dizer que este foi o único determinante da internacionalização, uma vez que a Minerva não se utilizou desse instrumento e, mesmo assim, conquistou posição de destaque no ranking de multinacionais brasileiras. O trabalho busca, também, identificar prováveis impactos da internacionalização sobre alguns indicadores das empresas. Conclui-se, ainda, que as estratégias de internacionalização adotadas pelas três empresas estão em linha com os principais modelos de internacionalização da literatura econômica, com destaque para os de Dunning (1977) e de Cuervo-Cazurra (2007), que combina o modelo de Uppsala e Dunning. / The current paper aims at analyzing the main drivers for the internationalization process of the Brazilian beef muntinationals enterprises, based on the internationalization teoretichal models available in the economic literature. The paper relies on the hypothesis that these enterprises have adopted successful internationalization strategies, whice are evidenced by the leading position that the companies have reached in the internationalization rankings in less than one decade. The structure of the paper is comprised of the development of a Case Study analytical model, which is applied to the three largest muntinational beef companies from Brazil, as identified in internationalizion rankings of Brazilian multinationals: JBS, Marfrig and Minerva. Based on information collected via enterview with the companies, data rose in reports available in ther respective websites, papers, journals, academic magazines and articles, it was possible to conclude that these companies had several specific advantages in a sector that Brazil already presents comparative advangate regarding production. Such advantages, in line with the search for raw-material supply, access to new markets and for strengthening the sales in strategic markets, were the main drivers for the internationalization process of the companies aforementioned. Although JBS and Marfrig benefited, via capital injection from BNDES, of an active policy of the Brazilian government to promote the consolidation and expansion of Brazil\'s leadership in the international animal protein market, it\'s not possible to infer that this was the only driver for the internationalization, given that Minerva didn\'t rely on these resources and still managed to acquire a leading position in the Brazilian internationalizion ranking. The paper also analyzes likely impacts of the internationalization on some indicators of the companies studied. On top of that, the current paper concludes that the internationalization strategies adopted by the three companies are in line with the main internationalation models available in the literature, highlighting the one from Dunning (1977) and Cuervo-Cazurra (2007), which combines both the Uppsala and Dunning model.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a relação entre o ambiente institucional brasileiro e a conquista de mandatos mundiais pelas subsidiárias estrangeiras. Como parte de um novo modelo de empresa multinacional que precisa combinar a organização de uma rede integrada que proporcione flexibilidade, facilite o aprendizado, a transferência de conhecimento com a inovação entre as diversas unidades (BARTLETT, GHOSHAL, 1998), a subsidiária se destaca como unidade de análise na literatura em estudos que investigam os seus papéis, seu processo de evolução e a maneira como concorrem entre si em diferentes países (BARTLETT, GHOSHAL, 1986; BIRKINSHAW, MORRISON, 1995). Dependendo do mercado em que atuam, da receptividade da matriz, da sua capacidade de inovação e capacidade de criar competências podem passar por um processo de aumento gradual de suas responsabilidades e relevância estratégica, podendo conquistar o mandato mundial,ou seja, o ganho do controle estratégico pela subsidiária sobre determinadas atividades e região. Concorrendo em diferentes ambientes institucionais, as subsidiárias representam a busca das multinacionais por vantagens de localização, por fatores institucionais que estimulem a inovação e desenvolvimento tecnológico e de um aparato que o sustente como por exemplo um sistema de proteção à propriedade intelectual eficiente e incentivos fiscais. Assim, a visão deste trabalho sobre as instituições abrange os pilares regulatório, normativo e cultural-cognitivo, segundo o arcabouço teórico desenvolvido por Scott (2008). A fim de analisar o mandato mundial nas subsidiárias foi realizado um survey com 172 subsidiárias estrangeiras no Brasil. Para investigar a influência institucional no \"mandato mundial\" foi utilizada a técnica de estudo de caso com a subsidiária brasileira da Siemens AG, de origem alemã. Os resultados do survey mostraram que 25,6% das subsidiárias respondentes podem ser classificadas como de mandato mundial. O estudo de caso, por sua vez, apresentou algumas evidências de que há uma relação positiva entre ambiente institucional favorável e a conquista do mandato mundial pelas subsidiárias revelada principalmente nas leis de incentivo fiscal para a atração de centros de P&D para o Brasil, principalmente por meio da redução de custos. As certificações tri-norma também são relevantes na inserção e integração da subsidiária à a cadeia de valor global. Aspectos culturais como características da mão-de-obra brasileira também são vistos como fator de destaque da subsidiária brasileira. / The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate how the achievement of world mandates by foreign subsidiaries located in Brazil is related to country\'s institutional environment. As part of a new model of multinationals companies\' organization, that need to combine the organization of an integrated network that provides flexibility, learning and knowledge transfer with innovation among the various units (Bartlett, Ghoshal, 1998), the affiliated company stands out as a distinct unit of analysis. In the literature about subsidiaries there are studies investigating their roles, the process of evolution and how they compete in different countries (Bartlett, Ghoshal, 1986; Birkinshaw, Morrison, 1995). Depending on the market in which they operate, the receptivity of their parent company, their capacity for innovation and building skills, they pass through a process of gradual increase of their strategic autonomy and relevance, gaining responsibilities and finally achieving the world mandate, the strategic control by the subsidiary on certain activities and region. Competing in different institutional environments, the subsidiaries represent the search by multinational enterprises for locational advantages and institutional factors that push innovation and technological development and a famework that supports this through, for example, an efficient intellectual property protection system and tax incentives (OLIVEIRA JR et al, 2009). Thus, the view on institutions of this study covers the regulatory, normative and cultural-cognitive pillars, according to the theoretical framework developed by Scott (2008). In order to analyze the word mandate of the subsidiaries a survey was conducted with 172 foreign subsidiaries stablished in Brazil. To investigate the institutions\' influence on \"world mandate\" a case study was conducted with Siemens AG\'s Brazilian subsidiary. The results of the survey showed that 25.6% of the participant subsidiaries can be classified as world mandate. The case study presented some evidences of a positive relationship between institutional environment and the achievement of world mandate by subsidiaries. This influence was perceived mainly through incentive laws in the attraction of R&D centers to Brazil, especially through cost reduction. The tri-standard certifications are helpful for the subsidiary\'s insertion and integration in the global value chain, an this fact makes the standard a requirement for all the providers of the company. The case showed that cultural features such as flexibility of Brazilian labor are a factor for subsidiary\'s success as well.

O crescimento mundial e na taxa de investimento direto no exterior no ano de 2004 foram impulsionados pelas economias emergentes. Até 2050, o grupo de países BRIC (Brasil, Rússia, Índia e China) poderá superar o atual G6. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo contribuir para o avanço do conhecimento sobre internacionalização de empresas do Brasil com foco na criação de subsidiárias de produção no exterior. A partir de um estudo de caso, procura-se descrever o processo de internacionalização de uma multinacional brasileira, identificar o valor explicativo do modelo clássico de internacionalização, bem como promover a discussão sobre competências da organização e cultura relacionadas com esse processo. Ainda há poucas pesquisas sobre criação de subsidiárias de produção por empresas brasileiras e suas competências, por isso, este trabalho é exploratório e se destina a gerar subsídios para estudos subseqüentes. / The growth in the world economy and foreign direct investment in 2004 resulted from the growth in emerging economies. By 2050 the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) may surpass the current G6. In this context, this study has been developed to support the progress of the knowledge available on internationalization of Brazilian enterprises with focus on the establishment of production subsidiaries abroad. By developing a case study, the process of internationalization of a Brazilian multinational firm with subsidiary in a foreign country has been described, as well as driven a debate on organizational competencies and culture in this process. Research on the process of creating plants abroad by Brazilian enterprises and their competencies are still very limited so this is a exploratory study that provides materials for future studies.

In the area of knowledge management and knowledge governance, previous research has mostly focused on either knowledge stocks or knowledge flows of firms or organizational units. Contrary to this work, our study is among the first to integrate these two perspectives in order to shed light on the complementarity effects of different types of knowledge stocks and flows in the multinational corporation (MNC). We investigate intra-functional as well as cross-functional complementarity effects from the perspective of the knowledge recipient. We test the impact of stocks on flows on the benefit that is created for MNC units. Based on a comprehensive sample of 324 relationships between MNC units we find that both types of complementarity create benefits for these units, but that the effects from intra-functional combinations of knowledge stocks and flows are significantly stronger than from cross-functional combinations.

Abstract This thesis investigates how Finnish firms, as examples of Western firms, control and steer the operations of their subsidiaries in Russia and the Baltic countries and the role of accounting in the management control systems. The thesis consists of three essays, which focus on different aspects of the role of accounting in the management control systems. Even though the issues discussed in this thesis are probably not unique to the area of the former Soviet Union, the characteristics of business in this context highlight specific management control questions relating to organising and using power within management control systems. The first essay investigates the changing role of accounting in a knowledge transfer process between a head office and subsidiaries to show the importance of informal communication and cooperation in the development of accounting. Only after some time of intense informal cooperation and the development of social capital in the accounting-mediated knowledge transfer can more formal accounting controls can be relied on. The second essay illustrates how the central social position of an individual can be reproduced and how it affects accounting and formal reporting in the control system. The third essay investigates the role and power of an intermediate subsidiary in using accounting for controlling and steering the operations of its subsidiaries, when the intermediate acts between the subsidiaries and its own Western parent company. The intermediate can invoke the tensions between divergent social systems and thus use accounting signifiers according to its own needs, legitimating its existence despite the inflexibility the multilevel organizational structure may cause. Therefore, the whole thesis suggests that accounting plays an important role in integrating firms in very different contexts, but this can only happen with the help of more informal supportive structures and knowledgeable agents who utilise accounting. This is how accounting develops business thinking so that the practices adapted to the local demanding circumstances could also give something back to the parent companies.

M.Tech. / Many organisations rely on Information Technology (IT) projects to react to competitive pressure and innovation. IT projects are divers and they may include installing off-the-shelf hardware to developing software to basic technologies that provide information to support the operations, management, decisions-making functions within the organisation. In the past years, there had been an increasing number of Multinational Organisations (MNOs) working on IT projects together to create mergers and grow business in foreign countries. While IT projects are being undertaken, Multinational Project Teams are faced with challenges and among their challenges project reviews is one of them. Project reviews are an essential process of learning new things and capturing what had been learned in the current phase/project in order for future phases/projects to benefit. Moreover it is a stage where project teams assess if they had met their key deliverables and project performance. A related study was conducted on project reviews and the results revealed that 4 out of 5 organisations did not conduct post-project reviews. However, if they did conduct project reviews, there were no guidelines on how to do it. The aim of the study was to ascertain a set of guidelines that are used by MNOs to conduct project reviews and share lessons learned and experiences gathered during and after an IT projects for future usage. The significance of this study was to highlight the importance of guidelines for conducting project reviews in order for project teams to learn from the project. The findings can be utilised in building guidelines that MNOs can use to conduct project reviews and to integrate lessons learned back into the organisation. The scope of the research was limited to an MNO with headquarters in the Netherlands and subsidiaries in China and South Africa. The study was carried out using qualitative research approach through interviews, observation and gathering of documentation. Using Atlas.ti which is a ii CAQDAS, data was analysed to compare and contrast similarities by using categories. The categories constructed offered the integrative interpretation of what was learned. From the individual and focus group interviews 5 main categories were elicited: project review meetings, intervals of conducting project reviews, lessons learned, knowledge sharing, and information extracted from project reviews. Based on the results it was evident that the MNO in question requires a set of guidelines on how to conduct project reviews. Moreover, there was no formal mechanism used to integrate lessons learned back into the organisation. A Generic Model for when project reviews should be conducted was developed using various models and guidelines that are used by other organisations and this model could be utilised by MNOs. For each project phase as illustrated on the Generic Model, there are project review guidelines on what to measure during the phase review. This research contributes to the growing literature on the organisational processes and mechanisms for project reviews and lessons learned.

With increasing foreign revenues, multinational corporations’ need for expatriate assignments shows little sign of slowing down. Maintaining an expatriate is a costly and complicated process, and if the expatriate fails in his/her assignment, the expatriate exercise becomes even more costly for all involved. A prominent issue in international staffing literature is the premature return of an expatriate to his/her home country or resignation during or shortly after the foreign assignment. An expatriate may be defined as an employee who works for a firm but is not a citizen of the country in which the firm is located (host-country). However, he is a citizen of the country in which the organisation is headquartered (parent country). Losses and damages resulting from expatriates returning prematurely or resigning during or shortly after a foreign assignment add up to considerable costs. Considering these costs, it is imperative that expatriate assignments are managed effectively. The above raises the following research questions: <ul> <li>What is the relationship between job attitudes and expatriate managers’ intention to return prematurely from foreign assignments or to resign during or shortly after foreign assignments?</li> <li>What specific aspects of job attitudes are perceived by expatriate managers’ as critical to their adjustment while on a foreign assignment?</li></ul> The main aim of this research is an empirical investigation into the variables influencing expatriates’ job attitudes and a statistical examination of the relationship between job attitudes and expatriates’ intention to quit or return prematurely. The envisioned result is to identify organisational practices that will facilitate expatriate adjustment during a foreign assignment. Successful adjustment will ultimately reduce the number of expatriates returning prematurely and resigning from a foreign assignment, thereby saving multinational corporations considerable expenses. The research was conducted through self-administered questionnaires. A convenience sample with purposive characteristics, comprising of South African managers on foreign assignments, was used. Response was received from 71 managers. The study relied on descriptive and inferential statistical procedures to analyse the quantitative data and analytical induction to analyse the qualitative data. The results of the study showed a negative relationship between certain favourable job attitudes and intention to quit a foreign assignment. Using the Spearman’s rho test the following correlations proved to be significant: role conflict (-.369), job characteristics (-.391) and co-workers (-.349). Job characteristics (-.107), promotional opportunities (.282) and roleconflict (-.312) were identified, usinglogistic regression, as the variables playing a critical role in the expatriates’ decision to quit. The qualitative data analysis added the following critical adjustment aspects: commitment to the vision of the organisation, supportive supervision, organisational support practices, reasonable compensation packages, and realistic expectations. Based on the variables identified as critical, an organisational best practice framework is proposed. This framework can serve as a managerial guideline for South African multinational corporations to facilitate expatriate adjustment. / Thesis (PhD (Organizational Behavior))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

The obsolescing bargaining model (OBM) is the cornerstone for studying host country-MNE relations. Recent research has extended the OBM to incorporate other institutional stakeholders who participate in the multi-level, multi-party iterative political bargaining over policy issues which characterises much of the bargaining now to reflect the widespread macroeconomic changes from globalization that impinge on the model. Furthermore, the emergence of developing countries like India and China as high growthend markets has conceivably changed the nature of bargaining therein. This study adopts a triadic perspective to bargaining in EMs. The conceptualization including local MNEs addresses the lack of understanding on bargaining in EMs by suitably incorporating the institutional context which frames the triadic interplay. It focuses on the role of co-opetition by local MNEs in affecting the balance of bargaining power between host governments and foreign MNEs. Co-opetition is a strategic response by multinationals where they simultaneously compete and cooperate for mutual gains. This research enables the study to empirically challenge the assertion that the propositions of the OBM have become too dated to explain current bargaining structures. The extant literature provides the theoretical underpinnings for the development of a priori propositions which guide the empirical enquiry through a case study of the life insurance industry in India. Based on the unique insights offered through the single industry study, the analysis suggests that certain EM conditions now present the context for re- emergence of obsolescence for foreign MNEs. Furthermore, it is the evolution of the EMs’ own local MNEs who are deeply embedded in the local business culture constituting their identity as strategic insiders, who shape the development of bargaining power. Local MNEs as strategic insiders affect the foreign MNEs’ long term business prospects in EMs based on their co-opetition through an issue- area approach. Local MNEs’ existing insidership becomes the reason for both - foreign MNEs’ collaboration with them and the perpetuation of their lack of strategic insidership. It is the basis for the uneven playing field and for the deterioration in their initial bargaining power. Thus, in line with the OBM, entry bargains themselves are seen to obsolesce following the ambivalence in bargaining objectives and the sequential behaviour that both the local MNEs and the host government adopt. Co- opetition emerges as the explanatory variable while discerning the nature of emergent bargaining between governments and foreign MNEs in EMs. The application of a triadic, co-opetition perspective to bargaining is revealing andprovides original insights. An extended framework and modified propositions aredeveloped for future research. This study provides grounds for revisiting the OBM inthe context of other similar markets and for guiding future MNE strategy in EMs.

This dissertation focuses on the influences of the presence of multinational enterprises (MNEs) on the overall level of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in host countries or regions through the joint effects of the presence of MNEs and the local institutional environment. It resides in the intersection of international business (IB) literature and corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature with the purpose of shedding new light on both literatures by combining and expanding both literatures. There are three essays. The first essay is a conceptual study to comprehensively examine the antecedents of CSR activities, emphasizing the factors of the presence of MNEs and the increased globalization (i.e., the increased interconnections and interdependence among individuals and countries). We propose an integrated theoretical model based on a combined theoretical lens of institutional theory, stakeholder theory and social cognitive theory. We argue that the antecedents of CSR can be framed at multiple levels (i.e., societal level, organizational level and individual level), and firms not only reactively respond to social pressures but also proactively initiate CSR practices. In order to further emphasize the effects of the presence of MNEs, two empirical studies (i.e., the second essay and the third essay) are conducted. The second essay examines the influence of the variant presence of MNEs on host countries’ institutions and the joint influence of these two factors on host countries’ overall CSR. The findings largely support our arguments that the presence of foreign MNEs positively influences overall CSR across host countries directly and indirectly via national level institutions. The third essay further exemplifies the effect of the heterogeneous presence of MNEs on local CSR across regions within an emerging economy, namely China, partially through the mediation effects of Chinese regional institutions. The findings largely support our arguments that the presence of foreign MNEs positively influences indigenous firms’ involvement in CSR-related activities directly and indirectly via regional institutions. The contributions, limitations and implications are discussed.