The role of networks in early internationalizing firms: A systematic review and future research agenda

Despite considerable research, the international entrepreneurship (IE) literature lacks systematic knowledge of how early internationalizers use networks to overcome their resource deficits in different phases of internationalization. Further, a systematic guide for future research to expand the current knowledge of early internationalizers' network dynamics throughout their internationalization process is missing to date. To fill these voids, the present paper conducts a systematic review of sixty-one journal articles on the role of networks in the cross-border expansion of early internationalizing companies. We contribute to existing research by taking stock of the current state of knowledge regarding the role of networks in early internationalizing firms in different faces of internationalization. We also use the findings obtained from our review as a platform to systematically identify opportunities for future research regarding early internationalizers’ network dynamics throughout the internationalization process.     

A comparison of parametric and semi-parametric survival models with artificial neural networks

Survival models are used to examine data in the event of an occurrence. These are discussed in various types including parametric, non-parametric and semi-parametric models. Parametric models require a clear distribution of survival time, and semi-parametric models assume proportional hazards. Among these models, the non-parametric model of artificial neural network has the fewest assumptions and can be often replaced by other models. Given the importance of distribution Weibull survival models in this study of simulation shape parameter of the Weibull distribution have been assumed as 1, 2 and 3, and also the average rate at levels of 0%–75% have been censored. The values predicted by the neural network forecasting model with parametric survival and Cox regression models were compared. This comparison considering levels of complexity due to the hazard model using the ROC curve and the corresponding tests have been carried out.     

Some further results on minimum distribution cost flow problems

Manufacturing network flow (MNF) is a generalized network model that can model more complicated manufacturing scenarios, such as the synthesis of different materials to one product and/or the distilling of one material to many different products. Minimum distribution cost flow problem (MDCF) is a simplified version of MNF optimization problems, in which a general supplier wants to proportionally distribute certain amount of a particular product from a source node to several retailers at different destinations through a distribution network. A network simplex algorithm has been outlined in recent years for solving a special case of MDCF. In this paper, we characterize the network structure of the bases of the MDCF problem and develop a primal simplex algorithm that exploits the network structure of the problem. These results are extensions of those of the ordinary network flow problems. In conclusion, some related interesting problems are proposed for future research. This research is partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 10371028) and a grant from Southern Yangtze University (No. 0003182).     

Business in Metropolis: Local Governance of for-Profit Organisations in Finland

European local governments face strong pressures to privatisation and market-based reforms in the near future to combat economic austerity and demands for efficiency. This article shows how Finnish metropolitan city has been able to organise its for-profit activities in the new competitive landscape which requires balancing between political demands, legal restrictions and economic efficiency. The governance of for-profit activities in metropolitan city shows that there is both demand and room for administrative innovation to accommodate past administrative idiosyncrasies to market environment. In conclusion, local governments need to pay attention to their own role in shaping local competitive landscape.     

政企关系网络、在职消费与市场化制度建设

 在职消费是企业高管人员侵蚀公司剩余资源的一种方式,也是当前企业普遍面临的一个现实难题。本文选取沪深A股2005－2007年的数据为样本,基于企业高管政治网络关系视角,对国有企业与非国有企业的在职消费问题及其对企业经营行为的影响进行了验证。研究发现,国有企业的政企关系网络给企业带来了更大的在职消费规模,非国有经济中的政企关系网络则显著抑制了在职消费水平;市场化建设的推进能够有效的降低政府对国有企业的控制,抑制非国有企业对政企关系网络的诉求,降低在职消费水平,提高企业业绩。这一研究表明,在我国法制尚不完善、产权保护不力等制度背景下,抑制在职消费、减轻企业负担不仅仅要解决传统的代理关系问题,更重要的是还应考虑制度缺失给企业带来的高昂交易成本。从长远来看,加速推进市场化制度建设则是有效抑制企业寻租动机,削弱在职消费行为、降低交易成本的重要制度保障,也是提高企业业绩进而提高社会资源配置效率的重要举措。     

Inductive,Evolutionary, and Neural Computing Techniques for Discrimination: A Comparative Study*

This paper provides a comparative study of machine learning techniques for two-group discrimination. Simulated data is used to examine how the different learning techniques perform with respect to certain data distribution characteristics. Both linear and nonlinear discrimination methods are considered. The data has been previously used in the comparative evaluation of a number of techniques and helps relate our findings across a range of discrimination techniques.     

Internal Infrastructural Impacts on RFID Perceptions and Commitment: Knowledge,Operational Procedures,and Information‐Processing Standards

For many firms, radio frequency identification (RFID) suggests not only a new alternative to existing tracking methods but also a means to a range of previously cost‐prohibitive internal control and supply chain coordination innovations. In any event, and even in light of possible external pressures to adopt, the full potential of RFID for an individual firm must ultimately be viewed in consideration with the infrastructural capabilities of that firm. Furthermore, because adoption decisions are fundamentally based on managerial perceptions, it is critical to consider how certain forms of infrastructure provide the necessary transparency into other infrastructural characteristics to augment such decisions. We use multisource survey data in this work to consider several elements that contribute to this infrastructure and subsequently to perceptions of RFID benefit and actual commitment to adoption. Results demonstrate that the complementary effects of these infrastructural capabilities significantly impact both perceptions of and commitments to RFID.     

Modeling Network Latency and Parallel Processing in Distributed Database Design

The design of responsive distributed database systems is a key concern for information systems managers. In high bandwidth networks latency and local processing are the most significant factors in query and update response time. Parallel processing can be used to minimize their effects, particularly if it is considered at design time. It is the judicious replication and placement of data within a network that enable parallelism to be effectively used. However, latency and parallel processing have largely been ignored in previous distributed database design approaches. We present a comprehensive approach to distributed database design that develops efficient combinations of data allocation and query processing strategies that take full advantage of parallelism. We use a genetic algorithm to enable the simultaneous optimization of data allocation and query processing strategies. We demonstrate that ignoring the effects of latency and parallelism at design time can result in the selection of unresponsive distributed database designs.     

Integrating Social Network Effects in the Share‐Of‐Choice Problem

Accounting for social network effects in marketing strategies has become an important issue. Taking a step back, we seek to incorporate and analyze social network effects on new product development and then propose a model to engineer product diffusion over a social network. We build upon the share‐of‐choice (SOC) problem, which is a strategic combinatorial optimization problem used commonly as one of the methods to analyze conjoint analysis data by marketers in order to identify a product with largest market share, and show how to incorporate social network effects in the SOC problem. We construct a genetic algorithm to solve this computationally challenging (NP‐Hard) problem and show that ignoring social network effects in the design phase results in a significantly lower market share for a product. In this setting, we introduce the secondary operational problem of determining the least expensive way of influencing individuals and strengthening product diffusion over a social network. This secondary problem is of independent interest, as it addresses contagion models and the issue of intervening in diffusion over a social network, which are of significant interest in marketing and epidemiological settings.     

The governance of primary mental health planning by Primary Health Networks

The establishment of Primary Health Networks (PHNs) was accompanied by assignment of responsibility for funding for primary mental healthcare. To ensure this funding is spent in line with government priorities, the Federal government developed a planning document with established priorities and guidance documents for how the planning document should be completed. This paper examines how these documents shape service delivery through enabling some activities and excluding others and identifies the assumptions that underpin these documents. Data were drawn from discourse and content analysis of completed planning documents from the PHNs and of the guidance documents and from reflection upon mental health planning from 55 interviews with key personnel from six PHNs. Service delivery is shaped by outcome measures that promote service access, cost‐effectiveness and clinical effectiveness, contributing to service options that favour self‐management for mild mental illness and clinical (but not social) services for people with severe mental illness. There is also limited scope for mental health promotion with prevention activities focused upon populations identified by the government as being at‐risk. This occurs to the detriment of other at‐risk populations.