Vietnam has been a popular place for Taiwanese businesses to invest in lately. Vietnam¡¦s economy has been growing since implementing a reform policy called ¡§Doi Moi¡¨ (renovation) in 1986. Vietnam is an emerging market and attracts more and more Taiwanese multinational enterprises (MNEs) to engage in foreign direct investment (FDI). Taiwan plays an important role in FDI in Vietnam and is the third biggest investing country there, only behind South Korea and Singapore. The purpose for this research is to investigate what determinants would influence Taiwanese MNEs¡¦ when deciding between joint ventures (JVs) and wholly owned subsidiaries (WOS) when they enter the Vietnamese market. According to the literature review of the resource based view, the eclectic theory, transaction cost theory and institution theory, the framework is developed by two dimensions, parent company¡¦s advantages and environment in the host country. The independent variables under this framework are R&D intensity, firm size, international experiences, debt ratio, ROA, Vietnamese government¡¦s restriction and Vietnamese economy. Through secondhand data, Taiwanese MNEs investing Vietnam were sampled for this research. By the Pearson¡¦s correlation coefficient and the binary logistic regression, hypotheses were tested by which independent variables had significant correlation to the dependent variable, the investment decision (JVs or WOS). The findings of this study reveal that when a Taiwanese parent firm has a lower debt ratio it would be more likely to invest in Vietnam by WOS. Also, Taiwanese MNEs would tend to invest there by WOS when the economy in Vietnam becomes better. But the rest of the variables do not have significant correlations with the investment decision in this research. The result of this study can offer a reference for companies wanting to enter the Vietnamese market in the future.

Since ¡§Doi Moi¡¨ (renovation) begun in 1986, Vietnam has engaged in economic reform on an on-going basis in order to create a fruitful investment environment and attract foreign investors to engage in its market. As the total investment amount is over 19 billion US dollars, the role of Taiwanese investors played is more important than before. Notwithstanding that the investment environment in Vietnam has improved more significantly than ever, the enterprises¡¦ operation still has to bear considerable risk. Due to Vietnam¡¦s special single-party state constitution, for foreign investors, it is expected that the political risk is existed with the high feasibility of government change policies and ignore investors¡¦ benefits. According to this, the purpose of this research is to realize how the host¡¦s political risk influences Taiwanese MNEs¡¦ entry mode choice. As previous studies generally focused on the discussion of the relationship between political risk and entry mode choice, however, the moderating effects of firms¡¦ own resource and advantages are less mentioned. Therefore, this thesis tries to provide a theoretical framework based on resource-based view, eclectic theory and other related theories that includes profitability, financial structure, and R&D capability as the contingency factors to examine how these factors moderate the relationship between political risk and entry mode choice. The findings of this study reveal that when the political risk in Vietnam getting higher, Taiwanese MNEs are more likely to engage in Vietnam through JVs. Besides, the positive moderating effect of profitability is also existed. It shows when a firm with higher profitability, it will more tend to choose JVs as the political risk in Vietnam rising.

The thesis investigates how FDI intra-industry spillovers are affected by MNE ownership modes and sub-national locations. A conceptual framework is developed which utilises IB theories to propose how MNE ownership modes and sub-national locations are likely to matter for FDI spillovers. The research propositions are explored quantitatively using an unbalanced firm-level panel dataset of 1624 Indian manufacturing firms (1991-2008) with 5203 firm-year observations. The model estimation is carried out in STATA 13.0 in two stages; firstly, by using semi-parametric (Levinsohn-Petrin) method to derive the dependent variable (TFP of domestic firms); and secondly, by using fixed effects model estimated in first-differences to relate TFP of domestic firms' with different measures of foreign presence. Results from the first model reveal that WOSs and MAJVs have positive spillover effects whereas MIJVs have negative spillover effects in the Indian manufacturing sector. The second model finds that the net spillover effect in non-metropolitan regions is higher than in metropolitan regions. The thesis discusses the possible major policy implications of the results and considers possible reasons for the differences in the spillovers for different ownership modes and sub-national locations.

<p>Topic:When an MNC seeks to enter a foreign country, it must choose the most appropriate entry mode for that specific market, such as exporting, licensing, a turnkey project, franchising, joint ventures or wholly-owned subsidiaries. There are many factors which affect the choice of entry modes. Influential factors contributing to the entry mode decision can have different degrees of impact for each particular country. As a consequence, an MNC has to use different entry modes in order to adapt to the specific situations it faces in its international expansion strategy.</p><p>Research Problem: Our research problem is to find the answer to two specific research questions while investigating in a particular MNC: Starbucks. The relevant questions are: (1.) What factors affected Starbucks’ entry mode decisions? (2.) Which entry mode strategies did Starbucks use foreign markets and why?</p><p>Method: We collected data through a qualitative method. We regarded that a qualitative research method would provide us the necessary data to understand entry mode decisions. We collected data through literature, books, journals, and Internet resources. We have decided to focus our qualitative research on exploring Starbucks’ entry mode decision in some specific markets. In particular, we have concentrated on Spain, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.</p><p>Conclusions: The choice of entry mode is a critical decision made by MNCs. The choice is influenced by several factors; we have divided these into internal and external factors. We have found both groups are important in the decisions made by Starbucks. However, the degree of influence is different in each case. Moreover, it is possible that some influential factors in the choice of entry mode can differ by case. Finally, we have found external factors have been critical in affecting Starbucks’ choice of entry modes. Starbucks has sought to adapt to those external factors and local needs and requirements by using different entry modes.</p>

Topic:When an MNC seeks to enter a foreign country, it must choose the most appropriate entry mode for that specific market, such as exporting, licensing, a turnkey project, franchising, joint ventures or wholly-owned subsidiaries. There are many factors which affect the choice of entry modes. Influential factors contributing to the entry mode decision can have different degrees of impact for each particular country. As a consequence, an MNC has to use different entry modes in order to adapt to the specific situations it faces in its international expansion strategy. Research Problem: Our research problem is to find the answer to two specific research questions while investigating in a particular MNC: Starbucks. The relevant questions are: (1.) What factors affected Starbucks’ entry mode decisions? (2.) Which entry mode strategies did Starbucks use foreign markets and why? Method: We collected data through a qualitative method. We regarded that a qualitative research method would provide us the necessary data to understand entry mode decisions. We collected data through literature, books, journals, and Internet resources. We have decided to focus our qualitative research on exploring Starbucks’ entry mode decision in some specific markets. In particular, we have concentrated on Spain, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Conclusions: The choice of entry mode is a critical decision made by MNCs. The choice is influenced by several factors; we have divided these into internal and external factors. We have found both groups are important in the decisions made by Starbucks. However, the degree of influence is different in each case. Moreover, it is possible that some influential factors in the choice of entry mode can differ by case. Finally, we have found external factors have been critical in affecting Starbucks’ choice of entry modes. Starbucks has sought to adapt to those external factors and local needs and requirements by using different entry modes.

Submitted by Juliana Sampaio (jsampaio82@gmail.com) on 2015-02-23T14:50:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Juliana Sampaio - Versão Final.pdf: 553042 bytes, checksum: 5f5e442204c8a6a912bf21c01f7868fe (MD5) / Rejected by Renata de Souza Nascimento (renata.souza@fgv.br), reason: Prezada Juliana, boa noite Seu trabalho foi rejeitado por não estar de acordo com as normas da ABNT. Encaminhei por e-mail o que deve ser alterado (Somente alguns detalhes). Att Renata on 2015-02-23T22:52:02Z (GMT) / Submitted by Juliana Sampaio (jsampaio82@gmail.com) on 2015-02-23T23:59:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Juliana Sampaio - Versão Final.pdf: 553115 bytes, checksum: c7d8f3a68dcbf604051728b13fc52f6f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Renata de Souza Nascimento (renata.souza@fgv.br) on 2015-02-24T00:18:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Juliana Sampaio - Versão Final.pdf: 553115 bytes, checksum: c7d8f3a68dcbf604051728b13fc52f6f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-24T13:41:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Juliana Sampaio - Versão Final.pdf: 553115 bytes, checksum: c7d8f3a68dcbf604051728b13fc52f6f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-01-26 / O presente estudo analisa o modo de expansão das multinacionais no Brasil, país emergente e de dimensões continentais que apresenta enormes desigualdades regionais. Assim, foram analisadas as estratégias de expansão dos dez maiores grupos estadunidenses no Brasil entre 2004 e 2013, sob a ótica das teorias tradicionais de internacionalização e da teoria dos ativos complementares de Hennart. Verificou-se que as diferentes características regionais brasileiras levam as multinacionais a realizarem aquisições quando iniciam atividades em novas regiões. Ademais, foi constatado que outros fatores, como dificuldades intrínsecas aos setores de atuação e a entrada do grupo multinacional em novas atividades que não a sua predominante, afetam o modo de expansão das multinacionais, levando-as a realizar aquisições e joint ventures. Tais aquisições e joint ventures são explicadas pela dificuldade das multinacionais em acessar ativos complementares locais, em conformidade à teoria de Hennart. Por outro lado, e em contrariedade às teorias tradicionais, foi verificado que a experiência das multinacionais no Brasil nem sempre influencia o seu comprometimento nos países hospedeiros, levando ao estabelecimento de subsidiárias integrais. / This work analyzes the expansion decision made by multinational groups in Brazil, an emerging nation showing sizeable regional differences. We analyzed the expansion strategies of the 10 major US groups in Brazil between 2004 and 2013 based on traditional local internationalization theories and Hennart’s bundling model. We found evidence that the different Brazilian regional characteristics cause multinationals to carry out acquisitions when they need to enter in a new region. Also, we found that Brazilian market factors such as concentration, growth, industries’ intrinsic features and the engagement in new activities affect the expansion mode of multinationals, causing such corporations to carry out acquisitions and establish joint ventures. The acquisitions and joint ventures are explained by the difficulty in obtaining access to local complementary assets in these specific cases, a result in line with Hennart's assertions. On the other hand, we noticed that the experience of multinationals in Brazil not always influences its commitment in the host countries and gives rise to the establishment of wholly-owned subsidiaries.

The thesis investigates how FDI intra-industry spillovers are affected by MNE ownership modes and sub-national locations. A conceptual framework is developed which utilises IB theories to propose how MNE ownership modes and sub-national locations are likely to matter for FDI spillovers. The research propositions are explored quantitatively using an unbalanced firm-level panel dataset of 1624 Indian manufacturing firms (1991-2008) with 5203 firm-year observations. The model estimation is carried out in STATA 13.0 in two stages; firstly, by using semi-parametric (Levinsohn-Petrin) method to derive the dependent variable (TFP of domestic firms); and secondly, by using fixed effects model estimated in first-differences to relate TFP of domestic firms' with different measures of foreign presence. Results from the first model reveal that WOSs and MAJVs have positive spillover effects whereas MIJVs have negative spillover effects in the Indian manufacturing sector. The second model finds that the net spillover effect in non-metropolitan regions is higher than in metropolitan regions. The thesis discusses the possible major policy implications of the results and considers possible reasons for the differences in the spillovers for different ownership modes and sub-national locations. / PhD Studentship, University of Bradford