Peter Enderwick

A cognitive model on attitude towards technology adoption

In this research, the cognitive process, which determined an attitude towards technology adoption, was found to be affected by six beliefs: compatibility; enhanced value; perceived benefits; adaptive experiences; perceived difficulty; and suppliers’ commitment. The study also found that the individual external environmental forces did not significantly influence the formation of a behavioural intention to adopt. Future research to investigate whether and how these external factors influence the subsequent diffusion process may be useful in order to develop a better understanding of the impact of the external environments on innovation diffusion in the industrial market.

An Investigation of Market Entry Strategy Selection: Exporting vs Foreign Direct Investment Modes—A Home-host Country Scenario

A critical issue for firms considering conducting business overseas is the choice of market entry mode. The two most widely options are exporting and foreign direct investment. This study examined a number of factors which have been suggested in the literature as important determinants of the choice between these two entry modes. Key factors examined included international business experience, immigrant effect, service requirements, and market size. The study employed a logistic regression analysis method to examine the market entry mode decisions of 124 New Zealand firms operating in a single foreign market (Taiwan). Significant factors identified included product type and proxy experience (firms experience with Japan), and an “immigrant effect” which impacted on the choice of FDI mode.

Pilot Study Research Note

A sample of “successful” (defined as those winning a major export in the previous three years) and less successful New Zealand companies were compared in terms of their use of foreign language specialists. Presents the results, which provided support for the expectation of a positive relationship between export success and the deployment of such skills. “Successful” companies were found to employ more foreign language specialists, to employ specialists with a broader range of foreign language skills and to expect higher levels of language proficiency. Foreign language specialists were also more likely to be employed within the marketing function and to assist the use of direct selling modes. These findings have important implications for the training of foreign language specialists. Language training needs to be coupled with sound knowledge of at least one major functional area of management. For New Zealand language specialists employability is considerably enhanced with marketing expertise and some over...

The international operations of New Zealand companies

Theoretical reasoning based on four principal features of the New Zealand economy — small size, late entry into world markets, legacy of protectionism and dependence on comparative advantage — is used to yield a series of hypotheses relating to the likely characteristics of New Zealand companies operating internationally. Testing of these hypotheses against data gathered in a large-scale survey of New Zealand companies offers considerable support to the theoretical analysis.

Expatriate management practices of New Zealand business

In this paper data are presented from one of the first studies of expatriate management practices in New Zealand. The results reveal a number of consistencies with research reported from other countries as well as a number of apparent anomalies. In particular, New Zealand companies, like those in a number of other countries, appear to place a low value on those expatriate management practices which are linked with success (e.g., technical skills, period of incumbency and track record). Moreover, there was a low incidence of pre-departure training. However, negligible expatriate failure rates are recorded and most are attributed to ‘relational difficulties.

Europe 1992: Implications for New Zealand Business

The EC is one of the most important overseas markets for New Zealand companies. Many New Zealand companies, while claiming to be niche marketers, are actually competing in open segments on the basis of cost and price. These firms appear to place little importance on marketing variables such as advertising and promotion, market research and distribution. Post‐1992, New Zealand exporters will face growing competition and all the disadvantages of a small, outside supplier nation.

Multinational enterprises and partial privatisation of state-owned enterprises

This paper examines the incentives for both multinational enterprises and host developing countries to create, through partial privatisation, mixed-ownership enterprises. The paper argues that the likely benefits of such ventures have been overstated. Some limitations of mixed-ownership enterprises including their efficiency effects and management problems are discussed.

New Zealand and the Challenge of Global Competition

This unique, extensive Handbook illustrates that multinational enterprises can contribute substantially to the competitive advantage of small countries. It advances the notion that small nations increasingly need to rely on both home-grown and foreign multinational enterprises to achieve domestic economic success in industries characterized by international competition.

Patterns of manufacturing employment change within multinational enterprises 1977–1981

The extent of job loss has ensured a high level of interest in the corporate strategies of large firms in the UK. This study examines the employment record of a sample of leading UK-based multinational enterprises over the period 1977–81. In contrast with multinational enterprises from other nations, the UK companies were unique in combining significant domestic employment reduction with considerable overseas employment creation. While the pattern of employment change did not support the hypothesis of a direct substitutability of overseas for domestic production and employment it was consistent with a decline in the locational advantage of the UK.