Kent E. Neupert

The Normative Context for Women's Participation in Entrepreneruship: A Multicountry Study

Building on Global Entrepreneurship Monitor research, this study examines the impact of specific norms supporting womens entrepreneurship on the relative rates of women to men engaged in entrepreneurship in different countries. These specific norms are themselves related to both a countrys general support for entrepreneurship and its level of gender equality. Countries with higher overall levels of entrepreneurial activity also tended to evidence higher relative proportions of female participation. These findings are still seen when controlling for the substantial effect of countries’ economic development in shaping patterns of entrepreneurial activity.

Culture and National Conditions Facilitating Entrepreneurial Start-ups

Culture shapes institutional practices and policies facilitating or constraining the formation of new start-ups. This study assesses the extent to which cultural parameters and economic conditions support the development of new business start-ups in 44 nations. Cultural and economic variables provided unique contributions in predicting a profile of environmental conditions (ease of obtaining financing for new ventures, administrative burdens, legal infrastructure, and labor flexibility) favoring entrepreneurship in different nations.

NORMATIVE, SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE PREDICTORS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL INTEREST IN CHINA, VIETNAM AND THE PHILIPPINES

This study addresses normative, social and cognitive factors related to the interest in becoming an entrepreneur in China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The studys findings are based on surveys of 782 business students in these countries. A rather consistent pattern of country differences was found on most of the measures, which may reflect differences in the historical, cultural, economic and political contexts of these nations. The results of this study emphasize the importance of developing both self-efficacy and close social supports in enhancing potential for entrepreneurial activity in these countries.

SME exporting challenges in transitional and developed economies

Purpose – This research seeks to extend earlier work by Scharf et al. (2001) that examined the challenges faced by SMEs along their path of internationalization. In particular, the internationalization process in transitional and developed economies is examined.Design/methodology/approach – The central research methodology for the project uses a qualitative approach involving the in‐depth investigation of a “critical incident.” The incident explored is the firms “worst nightmare” or “biggest challenge” in conducting international business. Respondents are asked to “tell the story” of the “critical incident”, its nature and consequences.Findings – SME exporters in the transitional economy encountered export problems related to product quality acceptance and logistics management. In comparison, SME exporters in the developed economy faced issues such as country differences, general business risk, and logistics.Research limitations/implications – The research methodology provides both limitations and benefi...

Entry mode strategy and performance: the role of FDI staffing

Abstract This study investigates the role of staffing approaches as a moderator of the relationship between entry mode strategy and performance of Japanese foreign direct investments (FDIs). Based on theories of a firms resource profile, organizational structure, technology transfer, and ethnocentric and polycentric staffing, we hypothesize performance outcomes of Japanese overseas investments. For joint ventures, we find that ethnocentric staffing is negatively and significantly related to subsidiary performance. Conversely, for wholly owned ventures we find that ethnocentric staffing is positively and statistically significantly related to subsidiary performance. We discuss the implications for these findings from strategic and human resources perspectives.

International Management Skills for Success in Asia: A Needs-Based Determination of Skills for Foreign Managers and Local Managers.

Purpose – This paper identifies skills necessary in order to succeed in Vietnam and proposes a training program to develop such skills. Design/methodology/approach – To determine necessary skills, 74 managers were interviewed using critical incident methodology to identify training needs. Critical incident approach asks respondents to describe the incident, its nature and consequences to provide context for understanding the managers’ problems. Findings – Local Vietnamese managers cited professional development (42 percent), basic business skills (29 percent), communication and cultural skills (18 percent) and legal understanding skills (11 percent) as most critical to succeed in international business. Foreign managers cited cultural understanding and awareness (34 percent), professional skills (23 percent), personal skills (20 percent), and interpersonal skills, language and communication skills. For Vietnamese managers, training includes leadership, problem solving, interpersonal skills, business basics, communication and culture. For expatriate managers, training presents the particular aspects of the local culture in a way that allows the foreign manager to become more effective through understanding and awareness. Research limitations/implications – The findings of this study and its training suggestions are based on findings from Vietnam. To be relevant outside Vietnam, the program may be adapted. Originality/value – This paper identifies the skills needed by Vietnamese and expatriate managers to be successful in international business. The findings and suggestions are valuable to managers and trainers involved in international business in Vietnam and Asia.

Social capital and human resource management in international joint ventures in Vietnam: a perspective from a transitional economy

This study highlights the importance of social capital in international joint ventures (IJVs), and examines human resource practices as a factor shaping such social capital. Comprehensive measures of social capital are developed and tested, which extend prior work on ‘bonding’ and ‘bridging’ social capital. We also link social capital with its anticipated antecedents and consequences. The studys findings are based on data collected from 164 IJVs located in Vietnam. IJV performance was predicted by training and by the level of trust and cooperation between foreign and local personnel. Training (including acquisition of management skills, technology, and cross-cultural understanding) also was predictive of the measures of social capital. A key practical implication arising from this study is that the return on investment from training of joint venture personnel can stem not only from the transfer of technical and management skills needed for developing competitive advantage, but also from the positive impact on social capital, which further contributes to venture success. The establishment of written objectives and plans for the venture, as well as the IJVs level of control regarding its own HR functions also was found to be related to some components of social capital. The findings of this study reinforce the call to build on the contributions of local personnel in joint ventures, and in Vietnam in particular.

Applying Sun Tzu's terrain and ground to the study of marketing strategy

In the ancient text The Art of War, military strategist Sun Tzu suggests that to be successful in war you have to understanding the environment in which you will do battle. In this paper, the authors apply Sun Tzus discussion of ground and terrain, the controllable environmental variables, to the study of marketing strategy. The authors demonstrate how Sun Tzus ground and terrain can serve as parsimonious typologies of competitive market situations that are useful for the study of marketing theory and practice. Marketing is merely a civilized form of warfare in which most battles are won with words, ideas, and disciplined thinking. (Albert W. Emery, xxxx)

Immigration, education and entrepreneurship in developed countries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a country‐level consideration of the relationship between entrepreneurship, immigration and education. In contrast to studies that report on immigration and entrepreneurship in a region or single country, the authors seek to determine whether levels of immigration, and the level of education obtained by the immigrants, are predictive of levels of entrepreneurship activity. A common set of variables and data from developed countries are used to test the hypothesized relationships.Design/methodology/approach – Using data on 21 OECD countries and five measures of entrepreneurship from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor project, the authors assess the significance of immigration and education level on entrepreneurial activity using regression analysis.Findings – The stock of immigrants in a country was found to be predictive of the proportion of that countrys population involved in starting and managing a new business (early stage entrepreneurship), as well ...

Domestic migration and new business creation in the United States

While an extensive line of research links international migration to entrepreneurship, less attention has been devoted to mobility within a country. This study examines the relationship between new business creation and migration between states in the United States, building on prior research associating education and entrepreneurship. In addition to tracking general migration patterns among the states, the study focuses on young, single and college-educated segment of the population. This segment may be less risk averse and more geographically mobile, and brings knowledge resources to the geographic areas where they choose to live. While overall levels of net migration did not predict new business creation, prior net migration of the young, single, college-educated was a statistically significant predictor. States that are attracting young, single, highly educated people are more entrepreneurially dynamic than would be indicated by overall levels of migration.