Kamal Fatehi

Emergent Realities of Global Competition

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to discuss the new realities of global rivalry which has been elevated to include economic competition between nations, in addition to the more traditional forms of competitive interactions between firms.Design/methodology/approach – The Introduction section discusses the changes that global geopolitics and the economy have undergone from the end of the Second World War to the present time. The 11 macro‐economic factors that have impacted international business over this time period are then discussed. The next section of the paper discusses the nature of the new relational assets of firms, their locations, and the means of harnessing and utilizing them in knowledge‐based economic competition. A series of propositions relating to the nature of these assets, how managers of corporations can access them, the roles and skill sets required of these managers, and the competitive advantages these assets provide, are then presented. The Conclusion section explores the impact...

The Gradual Slide towards Homogeneity: The Influence of Convergence Forces

Cultures and nations are losing their uniqueness to globalization forces as if they are indeed in a ‘global village’. Convergence forces of information explosion, ease of travel and transportation, and economic imperatives bring about homogeneity, and similarity to cultures, societies and the way of life. These are the defining terms of our time. It seems that we are gradually sliding towards homogeneity. Convergence forces are creating unprecedented level of similarity among various peoples and cultures. This article elaborates on these issues, not only as the way they are but as an early signal heralding the shape of things to come.

International marketing and intra-cultural heterogeneity

Most international marketing studies, taking a sociological position, assume homogeneity within and heterogeneity between cultures. Taking a psychological position and based on the Mindscape Theory, the purpose of this paper is to support the hypothesis that there is intra-cultural and intra-market heterogeneity.,The translated survey for international use has many problems. These problems can greatly be minimized by the use of pictorial/geometric shapes that were used in this study. These shapes were constructed using redundant and non-redundant complexity, and made to be culture neutral.,Data analysis supported the presence of three of the four Mindscape types as was hypothesized, indicating individual intra-market heterogeneity in the three cultures under investigation. Additionally, the corollary hypothesis of transcultural heterogeneity was confirmed.,It has been proposed that Mindscape types are partly innate and partly learned. What proportions constitute each part? Can the learned aspect be unlearned? Can different marketing strategies appeal to each? What marketing programs are better suited to influence the learned aspect? Future studies could explore these issues.,The findings of this paper have wide applicability and implications for international marketing strategy, including ways of deploying market segmentation, target marketing, positioning strategies, as well as configurations of marketing mix elements.,This paper used a novel and unique way for data collection and analysis. A geometric-pictorial survey was used for data collection. Data analysis was done with factor analysis and cluster analysis combined.

Beauty Is in the Eye of Beholder: Intracultural and Transcultural Heterogeneity of Individuals:

Most cross-cultural studies unintentionally give the impression that there is intracultural homogeneity. This research is among a few that suggests otherwise, that there is intracultural and transcultural individual heterogeneity in thinking and logic, or “Mindscape.” It is a replication and an expansion of the earlier study. It intends to verify the existence of intracultural heterogeneity in support of mindscape theory. In doing so, it employs a unique way of data collection and analysis. The analysis of data that were collected from six countries not only supports the earlier findings but also points to the existence of intracultural and transcultural heterogeneity of individuals.

Capitalism of the future

Purpose – Since the fall of international communism, there has been a growing interest and a lively discussion on the shape and future of economic systems. Also, global economic crisis has rekindled the debate about the fate of capitalism. The purpose of this paper is to explore various aspects of these issues. It suggests a future for economic activities that combines the humanistic features of socialism and the practicality, functionality and efficiency of capitalism.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a logical discussion of the present situation and understanding about the topic and extrapolates them into the future.Findings – Offering a new perspective on the topic, the paper suggests the development of a form of capitalism that is more compassionate and humane.Originality/value – The paper offers a new perspective on capitalism that challenges attention to efficiency‐focused criterion at the expense of other possible criteria.

Growth Strategies and Counter-Economic Development: The Case of Pre-Revolutionary Iran

ABSTRACT Strategic choices made for the purpose of economic development may have unintended consequences. Such consequences are the result of interplay between noneconomic and economic factors. It is argued that growth strategies that ignore noneconomic factors may result in a counter-economic development. To illustrate such a possibility, a Counter-Economic Development Model is proposed. Using this model as a framework, social, cultural, political, and economic situations in pre-revolutionary Iran are analyzed, and implications for the process of economic development in developing countries are presented.

National labour unions' quandary: the need for internationalisation

This paper highlights the predicaments of national labour unions when they deal with multinational companies (MNCs). National laws prevent labour unions from establishing formal alliances with foreign counterparts, while MNCs do not face the same restriction. Moreover, national labour unions cannot match the flexibility and power of MNCs. MNCs can shift production across national borders and play one national union against the other. What are the solutions to these problems? While there are no formal remedies, there are some informal methods to counter the power and flexibility of MNCs. These methods and the prospect for the future of national labour unions are discussed in this paper.