THE RELEVANCE OF SUBSIDIARY INITIATIVES FOR BRAZILIAN MULTINATIONALS

The put-pose of this paper is to analyze relationship patterns between headquarters and subsidiaries of Brazilian Multinationals Enterprises (BrMNEs). The key construct for that investigation is Subsidiary Initiative, which comprises Subsidiary Entrepreneurial Orientation, Autonomy, Integration, Local Competitive Context and Business Network. A survey was carried out in a sample of 65 subsidiaries of 29 BrMNEs. The main outcome is that subsidiaries are highly integrated and receive Entrepreneurial Orientation from Headquarters (HQs), but Initiative is limited. Actually, the main determinants of subsidiary's initiatives are Local Context and Business Networking in the host country. This apparent paradox may be explained by what we call 'rebellious subsidiaries', which take initiatives based on their business environment and connections, regardless of their HQs' directions or delegation of autonomy.

The relevance of subsidiary initiatives for Brazilian multinationals

The purpose of this paper is to analyze relationship patterns between headquarters and subsidiaries of Brazilian Multinationals Enterprises (BrMNEs). The key construct for that investigation is Subsidiary Initiative, which comprises Subsidiary Entrepreneurial Orientation, Autonomy, Integration, Local Competitive Context and Business Network. A survey was carried out in a sample of 65 subsidiaries of 29 BrMNEs. The main outcome is that subsidiaries are highly integrated and receive Entrepreneurial Orientation from Headquarters (HQs), but Initiative is limited. Actually, the main determinants of subsidiary's initiatives are Local Context and Business Networking in the host country. This apparent paradox may be explained by what we call 'rebellious subsidiaries', which take initiatives based on their business environment and connections, regardless of their HQs' directions or delegation of autonomy.

B2B Integration in Global Supply Chains: An Identification of Technical Integration Scenarios

The competitiveness of businesses is increasingly dependent on their electronic networks with customers, suppliers, and partners. While the strategic and operational impact of external integration and IOS adoption has been extensively studied, much less attention has been paid to the organizational and technical design of electronic relationships. The objective of our longitudinal research project is the development of a framework for understanding and explaining B2B integration. Drawing on existing literature and empirical cases we present a reference model (a classification scheme for B2B Integration). The reference model comprises technical, organizational, and institutional levels to reflect the multiple facets of B2B integration. In this paper we onvestigate the current state of electronic collaboration in global supply chains focussing on the technical view. Using an indepth case analysis we identify five integration scenarios. In the subsequent confirmatory phase of the research we analyse 112 real-world company cases to validate these five integration scenarios. Our research advances and deepens existing studies by developing a B2B reference model, which reflects the current state of practice and is independent of specific implementation technologies. In the next stage of the research the emerging reference model will be extended to create an assessment model for analysing the maturity level of a given company in a specific supply chain.

Prosessinostureita valmistavan liiketoimintayksikön arvoverkoston kustannusrakenne

Työn tarkoituksena on tutkia prosessinosturiliiketoiminnan rajatun arvoketjun ja - verkoston kustannuksia. Tavoitteena on selvittää valittujen vaihtoehtoisten valmistuspaikkojen toimintojen pohjalta yleinen arvoketju kustannuskertymineen. Lisäksi tavoitteena on kehittää taulukkolaskentaohjelmistoon perustuva laskentamalli tai perustyökalu kustannusten kasautumisen arviointiin. Edelleen pyrkimyksenä on löytää rakennetusta mallin avulla kehitys- ja jatkotoimenpiteiden kohteita. Työssä perehdytään aluksi arvoketju -viitekehykseen ja niihin seikkoihin joista se muodostuu kirjallisuudesta löytyvän tiedon pohjalta. Arvoketjuajattelu on yksinkertaisimmillaan yrityksen toimintojen tarkastelua kilpailukyvyn ja -edun näkökulmasta. Liiketoiminnan kehittyminen verkostomaiseksi vaatii kuitenkin laajemman ¿ arvoverkosto - tarkastelunäkökulman. Toisaalta liiketoiminnan pidemmän aikavälin kilpailukyvyn suunnittelu edellyttää syvällisempää arvoketjujen ja toimintojen tarkastelua ja hallintaa, jolloin tarvitaan kehittyneempiä laskentatoimen menetelmiä ja kustannuslaskentajärjestelmiä. Tutkimuksen empiirisessä osiossa arvoketjuajattelua ja arvoverkostoviitekehystä sekä kustannuslaskentamenetelmiä sovelletaan käytännön tapauksiin. Tulokset osoittavat tutkimukseen valittujen neljän valmistuspaikan kustannuskertymän ja -rakenteen. Kustannuskertymältään alhaisimmaksi osoittautui tuotantolaitos Saudi-Arabiassa, kunloppuasiakkaan sijainti on Qatarissa. Puolalainen tehdas osoittautui puolestaankilpailukykyisimmäksi, kun nosturin toimitusosoite on Italian pohjoisosaan. Tulosten perusteella kustannusrakenteiden suurimmat kustannuserät ovat kuljetus-, teräsrakenteen valmistus- ja suunnittelutoiminnot.

Verkottuva liiketoiminta, arvoverkosto, partneroituminen, prosessi-integraatio

Tutkielmassa tarkasteltiin muodostuvan RosettaNet-palvelun toteuttamiseen tarvittavia osaamisia ja valittiin osaamisien perusteella parhaat mahdolliset partnerit. Aluksi selvitettiin verkottuvan liiketoiminnan periaatteita sekä verkostoitumisen vaikutusta yritysten nykyiseen toimintaympäristöön. Verkostoista siirryttiin arvoverkostoihin sekä niiden sisälle muodostuvien arvontuotantojärjestelmien toimintaan, joiden pohjalta luotiin RosettaNet-palvelun ympärille muodostuva arvoverkosto ja havaittiin sen sisältävän useita erillisiä arvontuotantojärjestelmiä. Arvontuotantojärjestelmien ja empiirisen kokemuksen pohjalta hahmotettiin palveluun tarvittavat osaamiset, joita olivat teknologia-alustaosaaminen, myynti ja konsultointiosaaminen, ratkaisusuunnitteluja integraatio-osaaminen. Näiden osaamisten perusteella kartoitettiin kaikki mahdolliset partnerit, joiden kanssa tuleva palvelu voitaisiin toteuttaa. Tällöin pääkriteereinä olivat partnerin osaaminen ja sopivuus palveluntarjoajan nykyiseen toimintaympäristöön. Alustavien tutkimuskierrosten jälkeen jäljelle jääneille partneriehdokkaille suoritettiin teemahaastattelut ja yritysten taustojen selvitys. Näiden tutkimusten perusteella yritysten osaamiset ja soveltuvuudet arvioitiin ja tehtiin ehdotus siitä, kuinka Palveluntarjoajan tulisi partneroitua RosettaNet-palvelun osalta. Tutkielmassa muodostettu arvoverkosto ja sen perusteella tehty partnerikartoitus on tehty Palveluntarjoajan tarpeiden pohjalta, eikä se sellaisenaan sovellu käytettäväksi yleisenä toimintamallina johtuen jokaiselle yritykselle ominaisesta toimintaympäristöstä ja tarpeista.

Yritysverkostot aloittavan yrittäjän näkökulmasta. Case: Kouvolan seudun kuntayhtymä, Yrittäjäkeskus / Kouvola

Tutkielman tarkoituksena on seudullisen yritysneuvontapalvelun kehittäminen Kouvolan seudun kuntayhtymän Yrittäjäkeskuksessa. Tavoitteena on selvittää, miten alkavaa yrittäjää voidaan valmentaa yritysneuvonnalla verkostoituvaan yritysympäristöön. Tutkimus on kvalitatiivinen tutkimus, jossa menetelmien osalta pääpaino on teemahaastatteluilla. Yritysneuvonnan tulisi auttaa asiakastaan näkemään yritysten verkostoitumisen vaikutukset liiketoimintaansa sekä verkostoitumiseen liittyvät mahdollisuudet ja uhat. Tämä onnistuu parhaiten, kun yritysneuvojalla on tietoa yritysten verkostoitumisesta ja asia esitetään sen toimialan kontekstissa, jolle asiakas on sijoittumassa. Neuvonnan asiakasta tulisi myös tukea arvioimaan omia valmiuksiaan verkostotoimintaa varten esimerkiksi osaamisvajeanalyysin avulla. Verkostovalmiuksissa esille tulleita puutteita voidaan korjata neuvonnan keinoin tai ohjaamalla asiakas koulutukseen. Yritysneuvonnan asiakkaan tulisi saada valmennusta verkostoituvaan yritysympäristöön erityisesti yrityksen elinkaaren alkuvaiheessa.

Verkostoliiketoiminnan kehittäminen betoniteollisuudessa

Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli tutkia päähankkijan ja toimittajien välistä yhteistyötä. Tavoitteena oli selvittää voidaanko verkostoyhteistyötä kehittämällä parantaa kilpailukykyä ja saavuttaa tuotteiden parempaa laatua. Ensin selvitettiin verkoston kehityskeinoja kirjallisuuden avulla. Tämän lisäksi kartoitettiin tutkimuskohteena olleen yrityksen nykytilanne kehityksen lähtökohdaksi. Selvitystöiden perusteella määriteltiin tavoitteet verkostoyhteistyön parantamiseksi sekä luotiin malli, jonka pohjalta kohdeyrityksen toimintaa tullaan kehittämään.

The Influence of Network Competence on Internationalization of SMEs

This study focuses on the relationship between organizational network competence and the internationalization process of small- and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Over recent decades, the global business environment has become increasingly conducive to internationalization of small firms. A central facilitating factor in the process has been the emergence of networked business relationships between internationalizing firms. Research on SME internationalization has found that certain types of structures and dynamics of business networks allow SMEs access to the resources they need to enter foreign markets. This consequently means that their internationalization often becomes to depend on the networks they are embedded in. However, research so far has mostly ignored the possibility that the organizational ability to develop and manage business network relationships, network competence, may be a major underlying factor in determining how well SMEs can leverage their network relationships to enter foreign markets and consequently may determine in large part how successful their internationalization process turns out to be. This study aims to respond to those gaps, by empirically examining how the development of network competence in internationalizing SMEs influences the internationalization outcomes that they can expect, and how such network competence is conceptualized and developed. Using a mixed methods approach, survey data collected from 298 Finnish SMEs across five industry sectors is first used to examine how levels of network competence are related to internationalization propensity of SMEs and their subsequent international performance, growth and profitability as internationally operating firms. In order to illustrate in more detail the ways in which network competence is conceptualized and how it develops during the internationalization process of an SME, qualitative data from internationally operating Finnish SMEs are used. Longitudinal interview data of an internationalizing Finnish SME is accompanied by data gathered through a series of semistructured interviews of Finnish and Russian managers involved in mutual business relationship dyads. Structurally, this thesis examines the research issue as an article-based dissertation, consisting of five journal and conference publications. Three of these publications are based on the quantitative data, and the remaining two apply the qualitative interview data. The results find several aspects where network competence has a positive influence on the success of internationalizing SMEs, how it develops and what it entails conceptually in this context. Quantitatively, the level of network competence is found to have a positive relationship to various internationalization outcomes, including the propensity of SMEs to enter foreign markets and on their subsequent international performance, their growth and their profitability. Additionally, the positive relationship is divided between the relationship-specific and cross-relational dimension of network competence, in that the influence of the former is relevant for the propensity to internationalize, while the latter is for the growth and profitability of the already internationalized SMEs. Qualitatively, the results suggest, firstly, that the development process of network competence does not necessarily precede the start of the internationalization process, but may occur through a gradual learning process alongside it. And secondly, the results also imply that the conceptualization of network competence by Finnish managers of internationally operating Finnish SMEs is structurally distinct from that of their culturally distinct partner managers in Russia. This study contributes to the literature on SME internationalization in several ways. Firstly, it introduces operationalized organizational competencies to the literature on internationalization of SMEs, which has so far mainly examined the influence of business networking on the internationalization process without having such an organizational viewpoint. Furthermore, this study provides a multi-level analysis of the determinants of successful SME internationalization, by examining various strategic and performance outcomes across the process. These results also contribute to the literature on organizational strategy of internationalizing SMEs, by clarifying how different dimensions of business networking may be optimal in different phases of the internationalization process. Conceptually, the results of this study contribute to the literature on competence development and SME internationalization, by illustrating how the development process of network competence may occur during internationalization process. Thus, they also contribute to the discussion on how SMEs are able to influence the dynamics and structures of their business networks over time. Finally, this study contributes to the literature on the role of culture in the internationalization process, by implying that the cultural background of the manager of the SME may determine whether business networking and network competence is seen as an organizational-level or an individual level capability. The study also includes some additional contributions to the literature on dynamic capabilities in strategic management, and on that of strategic business networks. These include further clarifying the exact nature and tangibility of dynamic capabilities, and being one of the first studies to introduce constructs from both dynamic capabilities and business network literature to the field of international entrepreneurship. And finally, the study also has some contribution on the two streams of literature, in illustrating how both dyadic and network-level capabilities may be relevant, depending on the current strategic goals and market position of the firm. Keywords: network competence, internationalizatio

Adaptação da produção aos objetivos de competitividade e produtividade: a pesquisa-ação em uma manufatureira de cutelaria inserida em rede

One of the oldest segments in operations management, whose models are always subject to development efforts, for academics and productive organizations, is the management of production and work organization. Proposals for strategic management principles that seek to bring production to streamline processes reduce costs and add value, identifying problems with material flow and information while reducing the response time. This is realized through the pursuit of the best actions to achieve goals and targets established in a successful Planning and Production Control. This article aims to identify and implement actions that increase the speed of supply of goods produced in a enterprise cutlery; positively influencing the perception of customers. Such attitudes benefit all actors involved in the network, a fact which is expressed in the production chain. To lay the foundations of research and validate the data obtained, it was a study drawing on action research methodology. The goods produced are sold, mainly to wholesalers. Was proved seven aspects to improve and enhance the competitiveness of the organization, among them the complete design of the network, integrating upstream and downstream actors.

How mobile is tech talent? A case study of IT professionals based on data from LinkedIn. CEPS Special Report No. 140, July 2016

This study aims to provide independent and in-depth insights into how IT professionals move from one region to another within Europe and beyond. This study was carried out by Mikkel Barslund, Research Fellow, and Matthias Busse, Researcher in the Economic Policy research unit at CEPS. The work was commissioned by the business networking website LinkedIn, whose data analysts kindly provided the data used in this study, aggregated by region and in relative and anonymised terms. The authors are solely responsible for the findings and opinions expressed in this study. CEPS is an independent policy research institute in Brussels, whose mission is to produce sound policy research leading to constructive solutions to the challenges facing Europe today. The views expressed in this study are solely those of the authors and should not be attributed to CEPS or to any other institution with which they are associated or to the business networking website LinkedIn.

Strategic Context, Organizational Features and Network Performances: A Survey on Collaborative Networked Organizations of Italian SMEs

Part 15: Performance Management Frameworks

The perceived potential of business social networking sites

Business social networking is a facilitator of several business activities, such as market studies, communication with clients, and identification of business partners. This paper traduces the results of a study undertaken with the purpose of getting to know how the potential of networking is perceived in the promotion of business by participants of the LinkedIn network, and presents two main contributions: (1) to disseminate within the business community which is the relevance given to social networking; and (2) which are the social networks best suitable to the promotion of business, to support the definition of strategies and approaches accordingly. The results confirm that LinkedIn is the most suitable network to answer the needs of those that look for professional contacts and for the promotion of business, while innovation is the most recognized factor in the promotion of business through social networking. This study contributes to a better understanding of the potential of different business social networking sites, to support organizations and professionals to align their strategies with the perceived potential of each network.

Student Thesis Level: Master’s Thesis in Business Administration Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) networking : A case study on why members join CSR network and why are they sharing their knowledge

Purpose – This research focuses on finding the reasons, why members from different sectors join a cross-sector/multi-stakeholder CSR network and what motivates them to share (or not to share) their knowledge of CSR and their best practices. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of the largest cross-sector CSR network in Sweden. The sample base of 15 people was chosen to be able to represent a wider variety of members from each participating sectors. As well as the CEO of the intermediary organization was interviewed. The interviews were conducted via email and telephone. Findings – The findings include several reasons linked to the business case of CSR such as stakeholder pressure, competitive advantage, legitimacy and reputation as well as new reasons like the importance of CSR, and the access of further knowledge in the field. Further reasons are in line with members wanting to join a network, such as access to contact or having personal contacts. As to why members are sharing their CSR knowledge, the findings indicate to inspire others, to show CSR commitment, to be visible, it leads to business opportunity and the access of others knowledge, and because it was requested. Reasons for not sharing their knowledge would be the lack of opportunity, lack of time and the lack of experience to do so. Originality/value – The research contributes to existing studies, which focused on Corporate Social Responsibility and cross-sector networking as well as to inter-organizational knowledge sharing in the field of CSR.