International Business Commons^™

Advances In Global Services And Retail Management: Volume 2, Cihan Cobanoglu, Valentina Della Corte

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

This is the second volume of the Advances in Global Services and Retail Management Book Series. This volume has the following parts:

• Part 1: Hospitality and Tourism
• Part 2: Marketing, E-marketing, and Consumer Behavior
• Part 3: Management
• Part 4: Human Resources Management
• Part 5: Retail Management
• Part 6: Economics
• Part 7: Accounting and Finance
• Part 8: Sustainability and Environmental Issues
• Part 9: Information Technology

ISBN: 978-1-955833-03-5

Hospitality and Tourism

• Significance of VR in the spa: A spatial analysis
  • Irini Lai Fun Tang, Schultz Zhi Bin Xu, and Eric Chan
• Social media marketing in rural hospitality and tourism destination research
  • Samuel …

Uk Consumers’ Preferences For Ethical Attributes Of Floating Rice: Implications For Environmentally Friendly Agriculture In Vietnam, Vo Hong Tu, Steven W. Kopp, Nguyen Thuy Trang, Andreas Kontoleon, Mitsuyasu Yabe

Marketing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Vietnam plays an important role in bearing global food security. However, Vietnamese rice farmers face several challenges, including pressures to develop sustainable livelihoods while reducing the environmental impacts of their production activities. Various Vietnamese agricultural restructuring policies were promulgated to promote the adoption of environmentally friendly practices to generate high value added for rice farmers, but the farmers are reluctant to adopt them because of perceived lack of demand. Decreasing consumption of rice in Asia and increasing demands in Europe shaped Vietnamese rice exporting policies. New trade agreements, such as the UK–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, offer new target markets for …

Addressing Sustainable Rural Development With Shared Value: A Peruvian Model From The Cacao Industry, Armando Borda, Oswaldo Morales, Hildy J. Teegen, Gareth H. Rees, Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez

Faculty Publications

Here we present a model aimed at contributing to the literature around sustainable supply chains by examining a novel redesign initiative of the chocolate supply chain within the Peruvian cacao (cocoa) industry. Using the Creating Shared Value (CSV) framework, we apply the case study method in examining the Peruvian Cacao Alliance's experience in redesigning both the stages and relationships within its supply of cacao to the world. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources and analyzed after coding from categories defined in the literature on CSV. The case demonstrates the opportunity to successfully participate in the supply chains …

Terrorism Hazard And Infrastructure Projects: The Moderating Role Of Home Experience And Institutions, Alfredo Jiménez, Nathaniel C. Lupton

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This paper analyzes the impact of terrorism hazard on the performance of private participation infrastructure projects. Applying transaction cost theory, we hypothesize that terrorism hazard has a negative relationship with infrastructure project completion, and that host government accountability and investor experience with terrorism hazard have opposing impacts on this relationship. Host government accountability, we argue, produces higher indirect costs of managing terrorism hazard, which reduces investor confidence, and reinforces the negative relationship between terrorism hazard and the probability of satisfactory project completion. Conversely, investor’s experience with terrorism hazard increases investor confidence and hence partially mitigates the negative consequences of terrorism …

Necessity To Integrate Operational Business During M&A: The Effect Of Employees’ Vision And Cultural Openness, Ralf Bebenroth, Robert A. Goehlich

Publications

This research investigates the impact of target-firm employees’ vision and cultural openness to integrate their operational business into a bidder firm. Our empirical analyses are performed on a sample of 176 employees of a medium-sized German engineering firm in the waste power plant industry taken over by a Japanese steelmaker. The questionnaire results show that, not the vision of German employees but their cultural openness positively correlates to the perceived need of integration. However, culturally open employees with a clear, articulated vision perceive less need to integrate their operational business into the Japanese bidder firm. This research contributes to understanding …

Optimistic Leadership For The 21st Century And Beyond, Vincent P. Techo

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

This paper proposes a future-driven leadership theory—the optimistic leadership theory—suitable for leading global organizations in the 21^st century and beyond. The author argues that a new leadership approach is needed for these organizations due to the complexities that come with globalization, including the high need for knowledge and experience, distance decay, and cultural amalgamation. Five leadership approaches (Visionary Leadership, Differentiated Leadership, Servant Leadership, Flexible Leadership, and Reflective Leadership) are identified as the components of optimistic leadership. Following a review of the rare literature on these five leadership approaches, they are found to constitute the best determinants of successful future-driven …

Kenyan Alumna Breaks Barriers In Leadership Role At Footwear Company., Jennifer R. Lloyd

Black History at St. Mary's University - 2025 Collection

At the helm of Bata Kenya PLC, one of the largest footwear companies in Kenya, Jeddidah Thotho is a trailblazer for women in business and global manufacturing. Not only is she the first person of color to lead Beta Kenya, but she is also the first woman to do so. St. Mary’s University is credited as aiding in her success as Thotho garnered a strong foundation from the university. From her days in high school, Thotho sought to gain skills in financial analysis and then utilized those skills in a role where she worked in fine jewelry and gemstone purchasing. …

Chinese-Invested Smart City Development In Southeast Asia - How Resilient Are Urban Megaprojects In The Age Of Covid-19?, Yujia He, Angela Tritto

Diplomacy and International Commerce Reports

Smart cities are emerging as major engines for deploying intelligent systems to enhance urban development and contribute to the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG). In developing economies facing rapid urbanization and technological change, new cities are being built with smart technologies and ideals, complete with business districts and residential, retail, entertainment, medical, education facilities to entice businesses and talents to relocate. Governments tout the potential of such “greenfield” smart cities for innovation and sustainability. Yet such urban megaprojects are often extremely expensive, prompting governments to partner with private players such as property developers, investors, and tech firms to …

Inclusive Growth In Africa: Are Chinese Investment And Local Industry Participation Compatible?, Emmanuel T. Kodzi

Faculty Publications

Purpose - This study set out to explore whether increasing Chinese FDI is associated with rising contributions of local industry in African countries connected to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The existence of cooperative industry linkages between Chinese investments and local businesses is a necessary condition for achieving the mutual benefits asserted by the BRI.

Design/methodology/approach - Under growing FDI, we framed increasing local industry contribution as indicative of existing industry linkages. Using principal component analysis and multiple regression on collated country-level data, we examined relationships between key industry output variables and several independent variables representing Chinese investment and …

Covid-19 And Mass Sections In Business Education: Adaptation And Innovation Stemming From The Emergency Online Transition, Marina Sebastijanovic, Olivia Miljanic, Emese Felvegi

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

This paper describes three instructional design cases impacting over 3,500 students annually and taught by midcareer female mass section faculty from one of the largest business schools at a tier-one public research university in the Southern region of the US. The three instructors of mass sections describe how they transitioned their face-to-face or hybrid courses from “Emergency Response Teaching” mode to considered distance learning implementation during the COVID-19 crisis. The cases include discussions of learning management system supplements, improvements to peer-to-peer interactions, course structure changes impacting student success, and remote experiential learning group projects featuring community partners. The challenges and …

Do Guest Worker Programs Give Firms Too Much Power?, Peter Norlander

School of Business: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Guest worker programs allow migrants to work abroad legally, and offer benefits to workers, firms, and nations. Guest workers are typically authorized to work only in specific labor markets, and are sponsored by, and must work for, a specific firm, making it difficult for guest workers to switch employers. Critics argue that the programs harm host country citizens and permanent residents (“existing workers”), and allow employers to exploit and abuse vulnerable foreign-born workers. Labor market institutions, competitive pressures, and firm strategy contribute to the effects of migration that occur through guest worker programs.

The Workplace Integration Of Veterans: Applying Diversity And Fit Perspectives, Jorge A. Gonzalez, Joseph J. Simpson

International Business and Entrepreneurship Faculty Publications

Military veterans are a valuable part of the human capital resource pool. Nonetheless, veterans often struggle with their transition into civilian life and workplaces. This problem often limits the extent to which work organizations utilize their talents. Here, we briefly review relevant work from outside the management field and nascent work within the field to build a conceptual model for understanding the integration of veterans into the workplace. We do this by applying diversity and person-environment fit perspectives. A diversity standpoint helps us to understand veterans as a social group and their inclusion in the workplace, while the person-environment fit …

Implementing The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals In International Business, Ivan Montiel, Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra, Junghoon Park, Raquel Antolín-López, Bryan W. Husted

Publications and Research

Building on the concept of externalities, we propose an explanation of how multinationals can contribute to the enactment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as part of their ordinary investments. First, we suggest grouping the 17 Sustainable Development Goals into six categories based on whether they increase positive externalities – knowledge, wealth, or health – or reduce negative externalities – the overuse of natural resources, harm to social cohesion, or overconsumption. Second, we propose placing these categories within an extended value chain to facilitate their implementation. Third, we argue that multinationals’ internal investments in host-country subsidiaries to improve their …

The I-Mode (Almost) Went Global. A Case Study In Product Export Failure., Paola Rattu

Symposium of Student Scholars

The i-mode, the world’s first commercial web browser technology for mobile phones was launched in Japan in 1999, encountering immediate success and rapidly dominating the Japanese market. Nevertheless, when the technology was launched in the US and in Europe in the early 2000s it was highly unsuccessful. Ultimately, the technology was abandoned outside Japan, and several manufacturers exited the mobile phone industry following their inability to understand foreign customers’ needs and to innovate. This paper reconstructs the history of the i-mode technology and provides a business-oriented analysis of the causes of its debacle.

Do You See What I See? Do You See Me? Disability In China: The Perceptions Of Wheelchair Users And Able Bodied Citizens, Michelle Fisher

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

This paper explores the state and perception of wheelchair users in China. My research outlines various disability models by which we can measure China’s level of effectiveness at providing access and services for its disabled population. In my analysis, I largely draw the conclusion that China is evolving out of a Charity state model into one which supports the rights of Chinese citizenry. There are many good laws in place in China, but they are not being enforced effectively at this point in time. There also seems to be a class division involved in the acceptance of educated disabled …

International Opportunities And Innovation Between Australia And The United States In A Post Pandemic Economy, Amanda Meegan, Scott Delanty

Honors Thesis

A 15-hour flight and 7,500 miles of water separate these two countries, but innovative ideologies and opportunities unite them. Combined, the investment relationship between the US and Australia is worth more than $1.14 trillion USD, about the size of Australia’s entire GDP. It positions the United States as Australia’s largest foreign direct investor. These two major players in the Asia Pacific Economy have forged an alliance that champions democracy and fortitude.

COVID-19, however, interrupted many investment opportunities across the Pacific. Both countries had to impose border restrictions and put many business processes on hold, forcing governments and industry alike to …

The “America First” Trade Policy Of The Trump Administration And Its Economic And Military Repercussions, Emily Jeffers

Senior Honors Theses

This paper looks at the “America first” trade policy of the Trump administration and the perception that it was used to accomplish his goals of economic and military independence from the rest of the world’s interdependent web. It looks at the history of trade policy and tariffs in the United States; this is then linked to the evolution of President Trump’s trade policy through the implementation of tariffs, renegotiation of trade deals, and revision of military policy in order to “decouple” from the rest of the world. It examines the US-China trade war and the desire for increased global trade …

Comparative Job Skill Development Initiatives In Northwest Arkansas And Barcelona, Grace Davis

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social innovation strategies are being used around the world to create new avenues to meet the social needs of people that can vary from lack of jobs or food to deforestation and loss of wildlife. In the past, simple donations and corporate programs have made an impact, but there is a new way of creating sustainable and profitable impact through newly introduced strategies that consider society as a whole and allow the perceived obstacle to work as a solution. It is important to first note what social innovation is. Social innovation is the restructuring of philanthropic endeavors by creating sustainable …

Evaluating Methods Of Calculating Country-Specific Market Risk Premium, Lora Taylor

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this paper I will discuss three different methods for calculating country specific market risk premium will be discussed. The methods that will be discussed are that of a historical moving average, Aswath Damodaran’s method, and the methodology and survey results from Pablo Fernandez. The weaknesses of the different methods will also be discussed. Additionally, the CAPM model of valuation will be explained as well as the three different concepts that are used interchangeably under the term market risk premium.

Economic Growth In Haiti, Marc Arthur L. Barthelemy

Applied Economics Theses

Poverty is a persistent problem in Haiti, resulting in an abundance of famine and suffering for many. The root of poverty and the lack of economic growth in Haiti has been associated with political instability. From this perspective, this thesis investigates the relationship between political instability and economic growth within Haiti. In relation to the same, the question that is raised is “can economic growth promotes political stability?” This research is purposely designed to be qualitative to facilitate the investigation of the source of poverty and its relation to political instability. Case studies on South Korea and China have been …

The Strategic Approach To Internationalisation, Gordon Perchthold

Asian Management Insights

Asia is the global sweet spot for multinationals (MNCs) looking to generate revenue and, over the mid-term, sustained profits.

Can Beps Project Mitigate Double Non-Taxation Of Multinational Corporations?, Sajana Tamang

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the BEPS project can mitigate double nontaxation of multinational corporations. This study performs case studies on two multinational corporations: Apple and Starbucks to figure out how they behave in order to avoid taxes and see if there are behavioral differences in response to claims by the European authorities that they did not pay their fair share. It explains and compares their tax-paying strategies to figure out how they may behave with respect to new rules implemented by the BEPS project in the future. Through case studies from Apple and Starbucks, the …

Building Relationships As An Expat In China: An Observation On How To Successfully Build And Manage Business Relations In China, Lauren Saunders

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Since opening itself to free trade in 1979, China’s economy has doubled in size on average every 8 years. With sustained growth across forty years, China now controls the second-largest economy, just behind the United States by an ever-thinning margin. Seeing opportunity, American businesses moved operations into China immediately. As China’s economy grew, America’s reliance on supply chains across China grew. 2020 U.S. trade value in goods with China surpassed 500 billion USD, with the majority trade value coming from imports to the United States. However, starting in 2018, trade war disputes, geopolitical disruption, and the largest pandemic of the …

Investors’ Reactions To Csr News In Family Versus Nonfamily Firms: A Study On Signal (In)Credibility, Naciye Sekerci, Jamil Jaballah, Marc Van Essen, Nadine Kammerlander

Faculty Publications

We study family firm status as an important condition in signaling theory; specifically, we propose that the market reacts more positively to positive, and more negatively to negative, CSR news (i.e., signals) from family firms than to similar news from nonfamily firms. Moreover, we propose that during recessions, the direction of these relationships reverses. Based on an event study of 1247 positive and negative changes in the CSR ratings for all firms listed on the French SFB120 stock market index (2003-2013), we find support for our hypotheses. Moreover, a post hoc analysis reveals that the relationships are contingent on whether …

Cultural Do's And Don'ts Of Doing Business In A Foreign Country, Samantha Strickland

Honors Projects

The improvement of one’s cultural literacy is crucial to succeed personally and as a society in the modern world of globalization. The website/blog “Cultural Do’s and Don’ts of Doing Business in a Foreign Country” was created to make this information search for BGSU students and faculty easier. The site specifically goes into detail regarding interacting with the cultures of the Emerging Seven countries of Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, and Turkey. The resource also discusses the categories of “greetings and conversation”, “social and home visits”, “business etiquette”, “dining”, “general information”, and “gender considerations”. Regardless of if someone is casually …

An Evaluation Of The Sustainability Of The Palm Oil Industry, Leah Marie Roberts

Senior Theses

The goal of this thesis is to critically analyze the sustainability of the rapidly growing palm oil industry in order to diagnose whether the benefits of production outweigh the varied costs incurred by stakeholders, how the industry can be improved, and what analytical tools consumers can use to make better purchasing decisions. The body of the thesis begins with a discussion on sustainability definitions and determines that for this paper, sustainability will be defined as analyzing the socioeconomic and environmental effects of palm oil and how they affect different actors of the value chain in order to allow for prescriptions …

Ironing Out Anemia: Assessing The Role Of Marketplace Factors And Government Investment Incentives In Shaping East African Pharmaceutical Markets, Madison M. Bradley

Senior Theses

Africa suffers from the highest disease burden in the world, with over half of the population lacking regular access to essential medicines (Owoeye, 2014, p.214; Chaudhuri & West, 2015, p.23). Following two decades of reform, the continent has now emerged one of the fastest-growing economic regions, shifting public health focus toward non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (Holt et al., 2015, p.2). Among these NCDs is anemia, which has direct and indirect economic effects as large as 4.05% of GDP (Horton & Ross, 2003, p.51). Encouraged by the rapid growth of liberalized markets, African governments and health officials are now considering local pharmaceutical …

The Financial Facet To Sino-African Cooperation: Analyzing Potential Motivations Behind Chinese Investment In African Countries, Jacob T. Carnevale

Political Science Theses and Capstones

China’s reputation transitioned from political isolation throughout the twentieth century to international influence in the twenty-first century. We see this in the continent of Africa, especially, where multiple countries experience political and economic hardships. Today, China invests in African countries to alleviate these hardships and strengthen foreign relations. Some scholars contend that much of China’s approach to foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa stems from China’s domestic interests, while other scholars contend it is more about relationship-building. Taking note that China does both, I ask which aspect to Sino-African relations primarily motivates Chinese lending in Africa. To analyze this question, …

Winning Investment: The Strategic Implications Of The Growth Of Sabermetrics In Japanese Baseball, David Trent Pagliarini

Senior Theses

This thesis examines Japanese baseball and how the use of analytics and statistical research has been implemented into Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), compared to its North American counterpart, Major League Baseball (MLB). Due to the large financial implications of the MLB, teams have fully adopted the use of advanced metrics to find competitive disparities and advantages in roster construction, game strategies, and player development. Because of the long history attached to baseball in Japan, many cultural differences have adapted the game and recently slowed the growth of sabermetrics. While the NPB is beginning to understand the competitive value that analytics …

Emergent Trends In The Chinese Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Supply Chain And Opportunities For Public-Private Reform, Mary Monk

Senior Theses

This research seeks to identify and analyze emerging trends in the Chinese counterfeit pharmaceutical trade, extending from the supply chain’s point of origin to domestic and overseas retail dispensary. To aid readability, Chapter 1 of this thesis opens with key conclusions and policy recommendations for various Chinese and U.S. stakeholders based on the shortcomings identified in Chapter 5. Chapter 2 begins with a review of international roadblocks to diagnosing the issue, such as lack of consensus on working definitions and cross-border discrepancies in pharmaceutical oversight regulation. This section also provides a general overview of existing factors driving demand for counterfeit …