M. Yunus Ali

Determinants of stability in international joint ventures: Evidence from a developing country context

Though the number of international joint ventures (IJVs) from developing countries has grown considerably, little has been reported on their operations and performance. The extant literature is based largely on IJVs from developed countries. To help fill this knowledge gap, this paper examines the determinants of stability from a study of 59 IJVs from developing and developed countries operating in a developing country. A multivariate model investigates the impact of a set firm, managerial and culture related factors on the stability of IJVs. Logistic regression analysis reveals that cooperation and physic distance between partners have significant impact on the stability of an IJV. There were no significant differences between stability rates for IJVs from developing and developed countries, but their determinants varied. The paper discusses the implications and limitations of the study, and identifies areas for further research.

Determinants of importer commitment in international exchange: An agenda for future research

Commitment has received great attention in the inter-organisational relationship literature but there is widespread debate and contention on what constitutes its key determinants, specifically in an import supplier context. Furthermore, inconsistencies in empirical findings of the buyer–seller relationship studies limit the theoretical development and use of internationalization theories in management practice. Yet this area warrants attention as it may assist in enabling the integration of the spectrum of importer commitment in the importer–exporter relationship. Essentially, this paper integrates and synthesises over eighty conceptual and empirical studies on commitment in the buyer–seller relationship from different contexts including grounding on internationalisation process theory, resource based theory of the firm and transaction costs economics. Conceptual arguments are assessed and empirical findings are evaluated across studies with the aim of developing a framework. With the support of three basic theories and extant literature, ten antecedents of importer commitment are identified. The causal direct and some indirect relationships are specified. Seventeen propositions are offered to guide future research efforts in this important field.

Incentives to export for Australian export market ventures

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact that various incentives to export have on the export marketing performance of Australian export market ventures.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on an empirical investigation of firms involved in exporting to foreign countries from Australia. The sample of firms came from a wide cross section of industries. The list of firms comprising the sample is provided by a state government department.Findings – The paper indicates that the export marketing performance of Australian export market ventures is positively influenced by the export incentive of the chance to diversify into new markets.Research limitations/implications – From a methodological perspective, a potential concern may be that the measures are all self‐reported. Consequently, the relationships tested may be susceptible to the influence of common method variance.Practical implications – The importance of diversifying into new markets is identified. Management should cons...

Export promotion programmes as antecedents of internationalisation of developing country firms: a theoretical model and empirical assessment

This article reports empirical results of a study on the impact of government export promotion programmes (EPPs) on internationalisation of Developing Country firms. Drawing on the internationalisation process theory and resource-based view, a conceptual model was developed to test the positive effect of EPPs on a firms export knowledge, which influences firms export commitment and export strategy that determine firm export performance. Primary data set from a sample of 203 exporters in Bangladesh was used to test the path model using AMOS programme. SEM results significantly support the hypothesised positive effect of EPPs on export performance as well as export knowledge and other relationships in the model.

Joint Ventures of Asian and Western Multinational Enterprises: A Comparative Analysis of Western, Japanese, NIC and LDC Firms

Published research on the international joint venture (IJV) operations of multinational enterprises (MNEs) has concentrated on western firms or firms from developed countries. Since the mid 1980s a growing number of Asian firms have been internationalizing their activities and investing and setting up operations in other countries, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. While the Asian currency crisis of 1997–98 has dampened their impetus, the internationalization of Asian firms is expected to continue after a period of restructuring and consolidation. While a considerable amount of research attention has focussed on this phenomenon in terms of foreign direct investment (Toh and Low, 1994; Guisinger, 1991; Ramstetter, 1991; World Bank, 1993), there is as yet limited empirical research on the nature, organization and operations of these emerging Asian international and multinational enterprises. What are the key characteristics and success of their foreign ventures? Are they different from western multinational operations? Are there differences in the characteristics and performance of these Asian firms originating from different countries at different levels of economic development, such as Japan (a developed country), newly industrializing countries (NICs) and other less developed countries (LDCs)? Comparative empirical evidence on these issues is limited. This research aims at this research gap. The foreign entry mode frequently used by the multinationals from the developing countries is joint venture (Yeung, 1994, 1999; Monkiewicz, 1986). However, little research has been reported on these IJVs from developing countries, including NICs (Lee and Beamish, 1995; Tallman and Shenkar, 1990). There is also a dearth of empirical research on the comparative analysis of joint ventures originating from developed and developing countries (Luo, 1998). The purpose of this article is to provide empirical and comparative data and analysis of international joint ventures (IJVs) of Asian multinational and international firms originating from Japan, NICs and LDCs and compare them to their western counterparts from developed countries. The broad hypothesis being pursued in this article is: The characteristics and performance of IJVs of western firms will differ from those of Japanese and

Muslim Consumers’ Halal Product Choice Behaviour: An Eye-Tracking Investigation on Visual Choice Process

Halal labelling of a product signals permissibility of the product for Muslim consumers to satisfy Islamic religious dietary prescription and helps choice decision making. Muslim consumers’ product choice decision making is complex because all products are not Halal certified, and some Halal-certified products are manufactured in non-Muslim countries. How Muslim consumers treat these alternatives in their product choice decision making process is hardly reported in the marketing literature. This paper reports preliminary findings of an eye-tracking investigation on Muslim consumers’ visual information processing in product choice behaviour. Findings indicate that Malaysian participants’ eye fixation was more concentrated on Halal logo than other alternative heuristic cues on the product packages, which significantly influenced their buying intention. In contrast, Australian participants’ gaze fixation was more on brand and ingredients over Halal logo, but their buying intention was influenced by Halal labelling. Findings challenge Halal brand categorization in the literature and found Halal labelling as more reliable heuristic cue than other alternative information cues in Muslim consumers’ visual product choice decision making.

Export assistance in the garment industry: an examination of awareness, use and perceived benefit

Data from 174 garments exporting firms in Bangladesh were analysed to determine awareness, use and the perceived benefit of 19 services provided by export promotion programmes. Awareness of the programmes among all respondents ranged from a high of approximately 100% of respondents to a low of approximately 53%. Use by exporters ranged from approximately 99% for a service that bonded warehouse facilities for imported raw materials to less than 45% for a service that matching grant facilities. Programmes that bonded warehouse, participation in international trade fairs and specialised export fairs, assistance in establishing contacts with foreign buyers, overseas promotion of the firms products, matching grant facilities were considered to be beneficial.