Towards better strategic management

Strategic management is concerned with determining the long-term goals on an enterprise and deciding on the most appropriate course of action to achieve them, considering changing environmental conditions, resources available and risk attitudes.

The deliberate practice of strategic management is still regrettably rare and rudimentary despite wide recognition of the threats to corporate survival under conditions of rapid change. Better use must be made of the tools of business planning and many more managers skilled in strategy development will be required.

The purpose of this article is to discuss some of the difficulties in inculcating a strategic climate within an organization and to propose some approaches for improvement.     

An empirical evaluation of the management resourcing strategy of a Western multinational within a post-socialist Polish subsidiary

The continued globalization process and internationalization of business is increasingly raising issues concerning human resource strategy and practice in those organizations operating across international boundaries. This paper presents an empirical evaluation of the management resourcing strategy of a Western multinational corporation (MNC) within a post-socialist Polish subsidiary. Findings suggest a high level of pragmatism in relation to management staffing decisions. Whilst normative resourcing models emphasize the importance of environment, organization and job analysis in selecting and preparing managers for expatriate appointments, these processes are contingency constrained. Difficulties of adaptation and integration of the Polish subsidiary serve to increase reliance on expatriate managers.     

The management of strategy

This article is based upon a case which was written from General Electric's experience. It sets out to illustrate some of the lessons which might be learned from the case with respect to the management of corporate strategy. The author emphasizes the importance of effective strategy development in modern business given the rapidly changing environment in which business operates.     

Charisma and rhetoric: Communicative techniques of international business leaders

Although powerful rhetoric is often associated with charismatic leadership, little explanation is available of why leader rhetoric is related to charisma. One of the first studies to explicitly address this topic focused on speech content (Shamir. Arthur & House, 1994). Other elements contributing to the strong motivational and emotive effects of charismatic rhetoric are construction of the message, style and delivery. CEOs play an important part in creating and dispersing organizational values and visions to organization members and the external environment. Their speeches within and outside the company are important to motivate others and gain support for their vision. The CEOs in this study are from companies seeking different degrees and types of international involvement. Their corporate visions reflect different international business mentalities. This study explores how these charismatic CEOs rhetorically construct message content in their speeches, focusing on how their attitude towards internationalization and international business strategy is reflected. First, international strategy and attitudes towards internationalization as well as vision, charisma and rhetoric are discussed. Discourse analysis is described and examples of rhetorical devices are given from the analyzed speeches of the CEO's. Finally, part of a more extensive analysis of examples from speeches showing the rhetorical construction of messages reflecting their international strategy and management mentality are presented.     

Corporate planning in an international environment

In any company, corporate planning centres on deciding what kind of business it should be in, and the philosophy which should govern its method of operation. When the company is an international one, then not only does its organisational structure require closer attention, but another dimension is added to its strategy—that of choosing the countries in which to operate. This article is concerned with two aspects of management: organization and control and the factors influencing the selection of a country for investment purposes.     

论发掘和培养具有国际竞争力的高级管理人才

领导班子的管理水平高低对一个组织的生存和发展至关重要。而领导的核心即最高行政长官的表现与一个企业的命运直接相关。这一点已为众多的管理实践所证明。这也是为什么许多大的跨国公司和国际组织不惜重金从世界各地网罗顶尖管理人才。中国目前最缺乏的应该是具备国际竞争力的高级经理人才和高级专业管理人才。文章分析和论述这些人才产生的条件和特征,吸引和留住这些人才的环境和方法,以及培养这些人才的机制。文章最后对国内有关政策和措施进行一般评价,并提出一些政策性建议。     

The Internet and the International Management Literature: Its development and intellectual foundation

The Internet is now a common medium for consumers and an indispensable business tool globally. Despite this reality, research involving the Internet in international management has been limited. This is surprising in that, the Internet, as an external environmental force, is consequential in terms of its restrictions, privacy concerns, and preferred patterns of use which, as with other environmental imperatives, should supersede the smooth functioning of managerial functions. With this in mind, we examine the development of the literature in international management/businesses incorporating the Internet and unfold its intellectual structure in an effort to motivate future investigations. Specifically, we develop an interpretable spatial configuration of knowledge nodes in the strategy, general management, entrepreneurship, and international business literature. However, the literature for human resources and organizational behavior did not result in an interpretable MDS configuration. As a precursor to the three contributions to this special issue, we offer future research opportunities based on our analysis of the knowledge structure in the field as well as via a framework involving Internet regulations and firm structure.     

Evolution of industry 4.0 and international business: A systematic literature review and a research agenda

Industry 4.0 has attracted significant attention from researchers in the international business field for a decade. This paper critically analyzes the literature on the relationships between Industry 4.0 and international business. A systematic literature review of 59 studies published between 2011 and December 2020 is conducted. Using the Theory, Context, Characteristics, and Method (TCCM) framework, the review identifies various gaps in research and proposes future research agenda. The results show that (1) Industry 4.0 modifies specific domains in the field of international competitiveness and organization and (2) international business affects the choices and opportunities of adopting Industry 4.0. The need for further theoretical development in the relationships between international business and Industry 4.0 is observed especially in terms of location choices, global value chains, international organizations and international trade. The results contribute to the relevant research field and provide substantial managerial implications.     

Integration of project management,human resource development,and business teams: a partnership,planning model for organizational training and development initiatives

The changing business environment has challenged organizations to explore unique ways to ensure the success of online training initiatives. Thus, project teams, including training managers, should not only support organizational training and development initiatives; but, they also need to use project-focused, planning models for implementation. This paper proposes a model that is an extension of the model for business and training partnership developed by Price. The proposed model includes the integration of project management, human resource development (HRD), and business teams in order to enhance the success of training implementations through a sequential, planned framework. The model includes phases, best practices, and supporting tools to assist in managing and administering training and development projects. The approach developed in this research includes an account of the activities associated with initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing processes for an online training initiative conducted in an oil and gas organization. This research also discusses implications of the proposed model for HRD professionals, because they are typically the champion of training and development initiatives within organizations today.     

Bridging strategic planning and business model management – A formal control framework to manage business model portfolios and dynamics

Despite the increasing interest in the intersection between strategic planning and business model management, research and practice struggle to integrate the two activities. By applying a rationalist view and drawing on the formal control theory, we develop an integrated management framework that provides a conceptual model of how to achieve consistency between the relevant goal and the planning levels. Therefore, we decompose the complex organizational activities into the level strategy, business model portfolio, tactics, and operations. For each level, we specify the formal activities and objectives and elaborate how the levels determine each other. Furthermore, we explain how higher and lower level formal control loops ensure alignment and that the appropriate level of the organization responds to changes in the environment. Finally, we discuss how these formal control mechanisms allow for proficient management of the dynamics inherent in strategy and business model management.     

网络经济时代的商务模式变革与知识管理

企业组织基于信息的竞争优势正向基于知识创造的优势转移,如何根据商务环境的变化调整战略和商务模式是所有企业组织在跨入网络经济必然面对的课题。分析了近几十年来商务模式的发展和变革,指出了其最新形式--知识管理认识和实践上的误区,并综合阐述了如何根据电子商务战略实施知识管理,通过结合数据、信息技术的处理能力和人的创造、创新能力来提高组织在非连续性变化环境中的生存能力、创新能力和竞争能力。     

Customer Learning Processes,Strategy Selection,and Performance in Business‐to‐Business Service Firms*

Learning about customers takes place through relevant dialogues with those customers, also known as customer relationship management (CRM). As relationships develop, information about the customer is gathered in the firm's customer information systems (CIS): the content, processes, and assets associated with gathering and moving customer information throughout the firm. This research develops a measure of CIS management capabilities based on learning organization theory and measured by the ability to get, store, move, and use information throughout the business unit. This measure is then used to analyze customer learning processes and associated performance in the context of marketing strategic decision making. This study of 209 business services firms finds that generic marketing strategy positioning (low‐cost and differentiation) and the marketing tactics of personalization and customization are related to CIS development. Customer information systems development in turn is associated with higher levels of customer‐based performance, which in turn is associated with increased business growth. Since the strongest association with customer‐based performance is strategy selection, the long‐term benefits of the knowledge gained from the CIS may be in the ability to assist in measuring customer‐based performance, rather than in the ability to immediately contribute to performance. Finally, for these firms, customization and personalization are not directly associated with performance and thus may not be necessary to support every firm's marketing strategy.     

Fitting Management Control Systems to Competitive Advantage

Recent publications suggest that existing management accounting and control systems prevent business unit managers realising their desired competitive advantage. Although the concept of competitive advantage has already been thoroughly discussed in strategy literature, it has not yet been integrated in the management accounting and management control frameworks. Only a limited number of researchers have concentrated on contingency research in this area. Contingency theory simply states that organization structure, process and management control systems are contingent upon various internal and external factors, such as industry, technology, size, culture and strategy (Anthony and Young, 1988; Anthony et al., 1992). This article is an attempt to identify and investigate the management control – strategy relationship. We report the results of our exploratory field research in 18 companies (32 business units). Based on our results, we formulate some hypotheses on the observed characteristics of the management control process in case of low-cost strategy, differentiation strategy in a standard product environment and differentiation strategy for customized products (make to order, engineer to order).     

战略国际人力资源管理与企业绩效关系研究——基于在华跨国企业的经验证据

企业国际化中人力资源实践如何影响绩效,既是一个国际企业管理问题,更是人力资源管理领域的中心问题;因为任何一种国际化战略的成功都离不开恰当的人力资源管理方式,而成功的跨国公司对人力资源管理的导向选择也主要取决于它能否更好地支撑其国际化战略的实施.本文以100家在华跨国企业为研究样本,在战略国际人力资源管理(SIHRM)的框架下,将人力资源管理系统和国际化程度对企业绩效的影响作为主要研究问题,构建层级回归模型,通过实证检验考察人力资源管理与企业绩效的关系.研究结果表明,企业绩效不仅同人力资源管理与企业战略的整合程度有关,而且同人力资源管理系统与国际化程度之间存在积极的联系.该研究结论为中国企业在国际化过程中如何实施有效的战略国际人力资源管理以提升组织绩效并获取持续竞争优势提供借鉴与参考.     

全球战略:一个文献综述

全球战略是国际商务和战略管理领域的一个重要研究问题。本文通过对相关文献进行考察,试图提出一个对全球战略的综合认识。我们的文献回顾显示:(1)全球战略包含多种要素,这些要素可能单独存在,也可能同时存在并起作用;(2)组织设计、组织协调和战略制定过程的公正程度影响全球战略的执行;(3)全球战略对企业绩效的影响受到全球战略类型、企业层面因素和外部环境因素的调节;(4)竞争环境的变化影响全球战略的演变,在一定条件下,全球战略也会向多国战略和地区战略转变。     

Real Options in Management and Organizational Strategy: A Review of Decision‐making and Performance Implications

This paper contributes to the debate on the role of real options theory in business strategy and organizational decision‐making. It analyses and critiques the decision‐making and performance implications of real options within the management theories of the (multinational) firm, reviews and categorizes the organizational, strategic and operational facets of real options management in large business settings. It also presents the views of scholars and practitioners regarding the incorporation and validity of real options in strategy, international management and business processes 1 . The focus is particularly on the decision‐making and performance attributes of the real options logic concerning strategic investments, governance modes and multinational operations management. These attributes are examined from both strategic and operating perspectives of decision‐making in organizations, also with an overview of the empirical evidence on real options decision‐making and performance.     

International Human Resource Management: Review and Critique

The research agenda for the field of international human resource management (IHRM) is clear. For a better understanding and to benefit substantially, management scholars must study IHRM in context (Jackson, S.E. and Schuler, R.S. 1995. Understanding human resource management in the context of organizations and their environment. Annual Review of Psychology , 46: 237–264; Geringer, J.M., Frayne, C.A. and Milliman, J.F. 2002. In search of 'best practices' in international human resource management: research design and methodology. Human Resource Management , forthcoming). IHRM should be studied within the context of changing economic and business conditions. The dynamics of both the local/regional and international/global business context in which the firm operates should be given serious consideration. Further, it could be beneficial to study IHRM within the context of the industry and the firm's strategy and its other functional areas and operations. In taking these perspectives, one needs to use multiple levels of analysis when studying IHRM: the external social, political, cultural and economic environment; the industry, the firm, the sub-unit, the group, and the individual. Research in contextual isolation is misleading: it fails to advance understanding in any significant way (Adler, N.J. and Ghadar, E. 1990. Strategic human resource management: a global perspective. Human Resource Management in International Comparison. Berlin: de Gruyter; Locke, R. and Thelen, K. 1995. Apples and oranges revisited: contextualized comparisons and the study of comparative labor politics. Politics & Society , 23 , 337–367). In this paper, we attempt to review the existing state of academic work in IHRM and illustrate how it incorporates the content and how it might be expanded to do so.