Alexander T. Mohr

Testing the Regional Performance of Multinational Enterprises in the Retail Sector: The Moderating Effects of Timing, Speed and Experience

Drawing on regional strategy theory we complement the core effect of firm-specific advantages on the performance of multinational enterprises with an analysis of the performance consequences of home region concentration on firm performance. We also develop hypotheses regarding the effect of foreign entry timing, internationalization speed and international experience on the performance effect of home region concentration. We test our hypotheses against unique longitudinal data from a panel of 128 multinational enterprises in the retail sector whose geographical spread of international activities we traced between 1995 and 2010. Our findings support the predictions of regional strategy theory and highlight the importance of foreign entry timing and internationalization speed in strengthening the positive effect of home region concentration on the performance of multinational enterprises.

Intangible assets, international experience and the internationalisation speed of retailers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study draws on the resource- and knowledge based views (RBV/KBV) of the firm to explain the internationalisation speed of retail firms. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use a panel data set of 144 international retailers over a ten-year period and employ feasible generalised least squares analysis in order to assess the effect of intangible assets and international experience on internationalisation speed. Findings – The results support direct effects of intangible assets and international experience, while the latter effect is also moderated by firms’ home-region concentration. Research limitations/implications – The study investigates the determinants of retailers’ internationalisation speed. While research stresses the positive performance effects of rapid internationalisation, future research should investigate the role of internationalisation speed for the performance of retailers empirically. The findings support the usefulness of adopting a RBV/KBV...

Learning style preferences and the perceived usefulness of e-learning

This paper uses data gathered from 953 students to investigate in how far individuals’ preferences for a particular learning style are associated with the perceived usefulness of e-learning. Our findings reveal the effect of individuals’ learning styles as well as their gender and professional experience on the perceived usefulness of different forms of e-learning. The studys findings enhance our understanding of the usefulness of different e-learning tools from a learner perspective and thus have implications for curriculum design. The study also contributes to the empirical basis on the relevance of learning styles in the design of virtual learning environments.

Coping with the Job Abroad : A Correspondence Model of Expatriate Work Adjustment

This article presents a model of expatriate work adjustment in which the results obtained in previous investigations on expatriate adjustment are consolidated with the concepts and mechanisms introduced in the general Theory of Work Adjustment (Dawis and Lofquist 1984). It is held that correspondence has to be achieved between the abilities and needs of expatriate managers and the requirements and reinforcements of their jobs abroad in order to ensure that work adjustment can be reached and maintained during an international assignment. Furthermore, it is proposed that an expatriates organizational commitment relates to the level of work adjustment achieved during the assignment.

Mathematische Modelle zur Wahl der Form der Auslandsmarktbearbeitung

Im Zuge der Internationalisierung einer Unternehmung muss eine Entscheidung über die Form getroffen werden, in der sich die Unternehmung im Ausland engagieren will. Grundsätzlich kann hierbei zwischen den Optionen Lizenzierung, Export und Direktinvestition unterschieden werden. Dieser Beitrag stellt zwei Modelle vor, die auf mathematischem Wege die Wahl unter diesen drei Formen der Auslandsmarktbearbeitung unterstützen. Im Gegensatz zu Theorien der Direktinvestition wie dem eklektischen Paradigma oder dem Prozessmodell der Internationalisierung quantifizieren die hier vorgestellten Modelle die mit den verschiedenen Optionen verbundenen Kosten für die Unternehmung. Zentrale Annahme beider Modelle ist hierbei das Vorhandensein eines Wettbewerbsvorteils, der zu einer Monopolrente führt, welcher durch die mit der jeweiligen Option verbundenen Kosten gemindert wird. Durch paarweisen Vergleich der Optionen ermitteln die Modelle die kostenminimale und damit optimale Form der Auslandsmarktbearbeitung.

Local responsiveness of German firms in International Joint Ventures in the PRC

Whereas research has been carried out on multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) attempts to balance global integration and local responsiveness, there has been hardly any research into the degree to which foreign firms respond to differences that exist between themselves and their local joint venture (JV) partners in host countries. This chapter discusses MNEs’ responsiveness to inter-firm differences in IJVs as a special case of MNEs’ responsiveness to differences that exist between home and host country. We also highlight the role of perceptions for (empirical) research into firms’ decisions about the degree of responsiveness. Based on empirical data gathered by means of a questionnaire survey among 76 managers representing German partner firms of German-Chinese IJVs in the Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC), we provide some empirical evidence for the importance of individuals’ perceptions of responsiveness. A first finding of this study is that MNEs’ responsiveness in the specific context of international joint ventures warrants further scholarly attention and is of high practical relevance for firms interested in improving the management of their IJV. A second result of this chapter is that perceptions need to be taken into account when empirically studying the degree of local responsiveness of MNEs.

How does perceived underemployment influence expatriate job-related outcomes? A moderated mediation study

Abstract Although research has investigated the consequences of underemployment in domestic settings, research on the effects of underemployment among expatriates remains limited and has yielded inconsistent results. From a theoretical perspective, there is a need for a better understanding of the mechanisms through which underemployment affects various work-related outcomes and to account for potential contingencies. Drawing on the person-job fit literature and research on organizational identification, we theorise and empirically examine how and under what conditions underemployment influences expatriate performance. Using an original primary data-set of 103 Japanese expatriate managers in the UK, we find that underemployment affects expatriate work outcomes by increasing expatriates’ maladjustment and that this effect is moderated by the level to which expatriates identify with their organization.